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// DOSSIER — us-army-awards-project-janus-nuclear-microreactors-contracts
U.S. Army Awards $2.2 Billion Project Janus Contracts for Base Nuclear Microreactors
REL_TIME: 29 Aug 2026 09:42Z · LANG: EN
The U.S. Army and the Defense Innovation Unit have selected five nuclear and defense companies to build microreactors across five military bases under Project Janus, a milestone-based initiative valued at up to $2.2 billion. Designed to replace reliance on vulnerable civilian electric grids and backup diesel fuel during conflicts, the initiative plans for up to 20 microreactors producing 1 to 20 megawatts each. Contracts were granted to Antares Nuclear (Fort Bragg), BWXT (Fort Campbell), General Atomics (Fort Hood), Radiant Industries (Fort Benning), and Westinghouse (Fort Drum). The program aims to deploy an operational base microreactor by late September 2028 despite U.S. supply shortages of enriched High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU).
// Background
Project Janus adapts contracting lessons from NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services program and technological insights from Project Pele. Current military bases depend on civilian regional energy grids and backup diesel generators. The move toward military microreactors faces supply chain hurdles due to limited U.S. domestic capacity for enriching High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU), requiring coordination between the Army, Department of Energy, and NNSA.
// Key Developments
- Five companies awarded up to $2.2 billion over five years to construct and operate base microreactors.
- Project Janus targets deploying up to 20 microreactors producing between 1 and 20 megawatts to power critical military infrastructure.
- Reactors will be licensed by the Army rather than the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, with nuclear waste management handled via Department of Energy agreements.
- First operational reactor is slated for deployment at a domestic installation by September 30, 2028, fulfilling a May 2025 presidential executive order.
// Timeline
-
A reactor at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, becomes the first nuclear power reactor to supply electricity to a U.S. commercial power grid for an extended period.
-
President Donald Trump signs executive orders mandating an operational advanced reactor at a domestic military installation by September 30, 2028.
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The U.S. Army and Defense Innovation Unit unveil Project Janus at the AUSA Conference and later select nine base finalists.
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The Army officially selects five companies to build microreactors across five domestic bases under contracts worth up to $2.2 billion.
// Perspectives
[U.S. Department of the Army]
Considers nuclear microreactors essential for energy independence and power projection, mitigating grid vulnerabilities and diesel supply chain risks.
[Nuclear Energy Defense Contractors]
Support the awards as a critical driver to accelerate U.S. advanced nuclear manufacturing, technology deployment, and military microreactor reliability.
[Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Project]
Opposes the initiative, characterizing Army self-licensing as dangerous and viewing military funding as an unviable subsidy for uneconomical private technology.
[Congressional Leadership (Sen. Chuck Schumer)]
Supported inclusion of local military installations, such as Fort Drum, to ensure base missions possess secure emergency power sources.
// Quotes
“We are building the energy resilience necessary to project combat power globally, without relying on potentially vulnerable external grids.”
“Right now, all critical infrastructure that the Army has is backed up by some form of liquid fossil fuel, primarily diesel. So that makes nuclear energy just a natural game changer for the Army.”
“The Army program is using the military's 'deep pockets to provide a hidden subsidy' to nuclear companies that can't find private-sector customers for their hypothetical and uneconomical reactors.”
