The Department of the Army’s Janus Program, in partnership with the Department of War Innovation Unit, recently selected five nuclear energy vendors, awarding up to a collective $2.2 billion to own, construct and operate nuclear microreactors on military installations.
The first five initial locations were also announced.
The vendors will receive government funding after successfully hitting specific technical goals. They also will provide their own capital investments, and each prototype reactor will be contractor-owned and operated.
The goal is to deliver safe, secure and reliable nuclear power that strengthens the Army’s ability to project power globally, and to revitalize industrial capacity and technological leadership.
“The Janus Program will be a complete success when and only when we have assisted multiple nuclear companies in developing truly reliable and affordable nuclear microreactors which they can sell to other buyers beyond just the military,” Dr. Jeff Waksman, Army principal deputy assistant secretary for installations, energy and environment, said.
Antares Nuclear will install a microreactors at Fort Bragg, N.C.; BWXT Advanced Technologies, will operate one at Fort Campbell, Ken.; General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems will operate at Fort Hood, Texas; Radiant Industries will operate at Fort Benning, Ga.; and Westinghouse Government Services will operate at Fort Drum, N.Y.