Overview
- The Army announced Wednesday that it paired Antares, BWXT, General Atomics, Radiant and Westinghouse with Fort Bragg, Fort Campbell, Fort Hood, Fort Benning and Fort Drum and committed up to $2.2 billion in milestone payments.
- The selected systems will be contractor-owned and Army-licensed rather than regulated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the program projects more than 20 microreactors with a first on‑base unit targeted to operate by Sept. 30, 2028.
- Army officials said they are working with the Department of Energy to remove radioactive waste so there will be no long‑term storage on bases, a plan they say eases installation risks.
- Critics warn the Army licensing route reduces civilian oversight and that large federal payments could subsidize uneconomic technologies, while proponents say milestone funding and expected private capital aim to speed commercial deployment.
- The Janus program builds on a May 2025 presidential directive and mid‑2026 DOE demonstrations that reached criticality, using Pentagon procurement to try to scale advanced reactors for broader markets.