The U.S. Army has chosen Fort Hood in Central Texas as one of the initial sites for its nuclear microreactor deployment, part of a broader initiative to enhance energy resilience at military installations. This move is part of a plan to eventually establish more than 20 such reactors across various Defense Department locations.
General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems has been selected as the contractor for the Fort Hood project under the Army’s Janus Program. This program is designed to bolster energy security by allowing military bases to operate independently of external power grids, which may become compromised during crises.
The Army plans to allocate up to $2.2 billion to five nuclear energy companies between fiscal years 2027 and 2031 for this initiative. In addition to the federal funding, private-sector investment is anticipated to support the construction and operation of these reactors.
Other military installations that will also host nuclear microreactors include Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Fort Campbell in Kentucky, Fort Benning in Georgia, and Fort Drum in New York. The reactors are expected to provide a stable and secure power source, critical for maintaining military operations during emergencies.
According to Army officials, the selection of Fort Hood and other sites was based on a comprehensive evaluation of energy requirements, environmental factors, and safety considerations. The ultimate goal is to enhance the military’s ability to project power globally without depending on potentially vulnerable electrical grids.
Dan Driscoll, the Army secretary, emphasized that these contracts will expedite the delivery of reliable baseload power to military installations. “We are building the energy resilience necessary to project combat power globally, without relying on potentially vulnerable external grids,” he stated.
The first reactor is expected to be operational by September 2028, following an executive order related to the project. Additional military sites for future reactors will be announced as the program progresses.
