US army to deploy nuclear microreactors at domestic bases

The U.S. Army is preparing to launch a competition that could see nuclear microreactors deployed at domestic military bases within the next few years.

The initiative, known as the Janus Program, is a joint effort with the Department of Energy to establish commercially operated nuclear microreactors, generating 1-20 megawatts of power, at Army installations, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The program supports Executive Order 14299, signed earlier this year by President Donald Trump, which mandates operational nuclear reactors on domestic military bases by September 30, 2028.

The reactors will be acquired through a partnership with the Defence Innovation Unit (DIU). Army officials said the program aims to enhance energy resilience and support operations in potential future conflicts.

“We’re going to need to be able to access power like we have never needed it before,” Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll said at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) conference.

A draft request for proposals is expected in the coming weeks, followed by an industry day and a full competition. Multiple companies will be selected to build reactors at specific bases, with local community approval a key factor in site selection, according to Jeff Waksman, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy and environment.

The Army is exploring ways to integrate these reactors with the civilian power grid and potentially supply adjacent facilities, though legal and regulatory challenges remain. While nuclear power may be slightly more expensive than traditional sources, officials say the trade-off for increased resilience could justify the cost.

By Aghakazim Guliyev