U.S. Military to Deploy Nuclear Reactors at Bases Worldwide
The US Department of Defense has launched a program to strengthen the military's energy self-sufficiency with the aim of utilizing nuclear energy. It plans to deploy microreactors, which will be piloted at nine domestic bases. Washington wants to gradually rid the military of its full dependence on fossil fuels. In the future, nuclear reactors could operate at any base, even outside the United States. The first reactor is scheduled to go into operation as early as 2028.
The US Army's new energy policy has been named Janus. It was presented at the Association of the US Army (AUSA) conference in Washington by US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll (subordinate to the Pentagon) and Energy Secretary Chris Wright. Executive Order 14299 – Deployment of Advanced Nuclear Reactor Technology for National Security requires the Department of Defense, or War Department as the current Donald Trump administration calls it, to begin operating a military-controlled nuclear reactor at a domestic military facility by September 30, 2028, at the latest.
"The U.S. military is at the forefront of implementing innovative and breakthrough technologies. We are removing bureaucracy and creating next-generation capabilities in a number of critical sectors, including nuclear energy," Dan Driscoll said on the AUSA panel. "When you think about our engagement and conflict in the Indo-Pacific, it's not going to be like any war we've seen in the last 40 or 50 years. We're going to need energy to meet our goals," added Secretary of the Army Driscoll, noting China's growing provocations in the area around Taiwan and neighboring countries in connection with the increase in energy demands.
The U.S. Army has launched the Janus Program — a six-year initiative with the Defense Innovation Unit to build portable nuclear microreactors under 20 MW, capable of powering military bases or small towns. The first units are expected to be operational by September 2028,… pic.twitter.com/9W7oXk8lNG
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The main goal is to gradually rid the military of its dependence on fossil fuels, including heavy equipment, with not only the Americans but also other militaries gradually testing electric drives for military vehicles, vessels, and aircraft. "Ultimately, in the not-too-distant future, you will be able to place a reactor at a forward base that will produce several megawatts of power and operate for years, potentially decades, without refueling or major servicing," Secretary Chris Wright commented on the army's new focus at a conference in Washington.
The Department of Defense will, of course, work closely with the Department of Energy on the Janus program. In this context, Wright recalled the beginnings of cooperation between the two departments on the production of the first atomic bomb. "Since the Manhattan Project, the Department of Energy and the Department of War have formed one of the most defining partnerships in American history, developing the scientific, technical, and industrial capabilities that drive our national security. What began as a wartime effort has become the backbone of American strength in peacetime. Under President Trump's leadership, we are expanding that legacy through initiatives such as the Janus program, accelerating the deployment of next-generation reactors, and strengthening the nuclear foundation of American energy and defense," Wright added.
The program will build commercial microreactors through a flexible contractual model in collaboration with the Pentagon's Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), which is responsible for deploying advanced modern technologies in the US armed forces. The military expects this to result in rapid delivery of these energy solutions, although it anticipates a three-year window before the first such reactor is deployed. In the first phase, nine U.S. bases will participate in the pilot program. The reactors will be commercially owned and operated and are currently under development at the Idaho National Laboratory. US government officials expect a major shift in production as early as next year.
The military will then provide technical oversight and assistance, including support for the entire nuclear fuel cycle. According to Washington, the program is intended to strengthen both the defense and industrial capacities of the entire country. Among other things, it builds on the Pele mobile reactor project, which has been in development for the past several years within the Department of Defense and Energy. "The Janus program will deliver real hardware, not PowerPoint presentations. I will personally oversee this effort on behalf of the Department of War. Leveraging the Army's program management and oversight capabilities based on the success of the Pele project, the U.S. Army is poised to move forward at lightning speed and truly create next-generation nuclear energy," added Jeff Waksman, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy, and the environment.
The U.S. government has not yet released further details, such as the planned cost of the entire project. Waksman admitted that nuclear energy may be slightly more expensive overall than traditional sources—but if, in his opinion, the two amounts are at least somewhat similar, this step will pay off. "The question is, how much are we willing to pay for resilience? That's still an open question. I don't think we have to achieve absolute parity with fossil fuels, but I think we have to be pretty close," added Jeff Waksman, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Energy.
