The US Army has selected five military installations and five private companies under its Janus Program — a contract worth up to $2.2 billion — to build and operate nuclear microreactors on American soil, reducing dependence on civilian power grids that defence officials consider potentially vulnerable. The programme, conducted in partnership with the Defense Innovation Unit, ultimately aims to deploy more than 20 microreactors across military bases.

The Five Sites and Their Contractors

The initial projects span installations across four states. Antares Nuclear Inc. was selected for Fort Bragg in North Carolina, while BWXT Advanced Technologies LLC will operate at Fort Campbell in Kentucky. General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems was chosen for Fort Hood in Texas.

Radiant Industries Inc. will develop the project at Fort Benning in Georgia, and Westinghouse Government Services will work at Fort Drum in New York. Each contractor will own and operate its prototype reactor, and all companies are required to coordinate with local utility providers.

Funding Structure and Milestones

Contract awards will span fiscal years 2027 through 2031, with payments tied to specific technical milestones — the government releases funds only after companies achieve agreed goals. The selected firms are also expected to commit significant private capital alongside federal funding, structuring the programme as a public-private partnership rather than a straightforward procurement.

The selection process drew on nuclear and technical experts from the Department of Energy, national laboratories, and military services, who assessed each company's technical risks, finances, and management capabilities. Installations were evaluated on energy requirements, seismic conditions, hydrology, and safety. Additional military sites are expected to be announced later.

What the Army Said

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll framed the programme in terms of operational readiness. 'Since launching the Janus Program, our mandate from President Trump and Secretary Hegseth has been clear: secure the power our warfighters need to train, deploy and win,' Driscoll said. 'Awarding these contracts accelerates our ability to deliver safe, reliable baseload power directly to our installations.'

Jeff Waksman, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy and environment, stressed that the goal extends beyond proof-of-concept. 'We are seeking not just reactors capable of turning on for a brief demonstration, but rather systems able to deliver power with high-capacity factors for years of operation,' he said. Janus Program manager Jason Craft added that the selected technologies are intended to set conditions for both installation energy resilience and broader commercial viability.

Why Energy Resilience Has Become a Defence Priority

US military installations currently draw much of their electricity from civilian utility networks. Defence officials have increasingly pursued on-site generation and backup systems to maintain essential operations during grid failures, natural disasters, cyberattacks, or physical disruptions. Microreactors — compact nuclear fission systems designed to generate electricity and heat at isolated or grid-limited facilities — fit that requirement because their smaller size allows factory assembly and transport to operating sites.

The programme's first reactor is targeted to be operational by September 2028, a deadline set under an executive order issued by President Donald Trump. Waksman noted that the broader ambition is to help multiple nuclear companies develop reactors commercially viable beyond military buyers — a signal that the Pentagon sees the Janus Program as a catalyst for a wider domestic nuclear revival.