U.S. Army to Deploy Nuclear Microreactors at 5 Bases

SMRs to reduce reliance on diesel generators U.S. Army Moves to Build Independent Nuclear Power Supply

2026-08-28 From Detlev Karg 2 min Reading Time

The U.S. Army plans to deploy nuclear microreactors at five military bases as part of efforts to secure reliable power supplies independent of the commercial electricity grid.

The U.S. Army plans to deploy nuclear microreactors at an initial five locations to strengthen the resilience of its energy supply.(Picture: AI-generated) — The U.S. Army plans to deploy nuclear microreactors at an initial five locations to strengthen the resilience of its energy supply.
(Picture: AI-generated)

The U.S. Army has awarded contracts worth a total of $2.2 billion to five companies for the construction and operation of small nuclear reactors. The so-called Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) will initially be deployed at military bases across the United States, Jeff Waksman, deputy head of the U.S. Army department responsible for installations, energy and environment, told the media.

Up to 20 reactors could be built

The move is intended to reduce the Army’s dependence on the potentially vulnerable domestic power grid. Critical infrastructure currently relies on diesel generators as a backup in the event of a grid outage. In a crisis, however, the fuel might not always be available where it is needed, Waksman said. The Army expects more than 20 microreactors to eventually be built and operated. The selected companies are Antares Nuclear at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; BWXT at Fort Campbell, Kentucky; General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems at Fort Hood, Texas; Radiant Industries at Fort Benning, Georgia; and Westinghouse Government Services at Fort Drum, New York.

Independent grids to reduce reliance on external power

The reactors are expected to provide between 1 MW and 20 MW each and will supplement rather than replace grid supplies. Unlike diesel generators currently used as the main backup for critical infrastructure, microreactors could operate for years without refuelling. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll said the programme was intended to provide “safe, reliable baseload power” and reduce dependence on potentially vulnerable external grids.

Additional private investments expected

The programme is designed to move advanced nuclear technology beyond experimental and prototype systems towards operational deployment. The reactors are not intended to be Army-specific designs, allowing companies to subsequently offer them for civilian applications. The Army aims to have an advanced reactor operating at a US military installation by 30 September 2028. While the reactors will be licensed by the Army rather than the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), officials say regulatory requirements are being aligned as far as possible to facilitate later commercial licensing. The programme is expected to attract billions of dollars in additional private investment.

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