WASHINGTON — The US Army has whittled down its nuclear microreactor vendor pool, divvying up to $2.2 billion to five companies to build out and test their prototypes for eventual use on military installations.
“Unlike in prior conflicts, we now know that our domestic electric grid is potentially at risk in a conflict. We also know that we will not necessarily be able to move fossil fuels easily wherever we need them to go,” Jeff Waksman — the principal deputy assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy and environment — told reporters today while announcing the awards for the Janus program, the service’s effort to field nuclear microreactors on US military installations.
“That makes nuclear energy just a natural game changer for the Army,” he added. “It makes sense for the Army to take the lead here.”
As of today, the service has tapped five companies to continue working on their respective microreactor designs with the goal of having them deliver more than 20 microreactors to Army installations and then be contractor owned and operated:
Antares will outfit Fort Bragg, N.C.;
