Fort Bragg is among five installations that have been selected by the US Army to host nuclear microreactors as part of the Janus program.
The goal of the program is to provide uninterrupted, independent baseload power directly to domestic military bases. This reduces reliance on public commercial power grids which are highly vulnerable to natural disasters and cyberattacks
Antares Nuclear will perform the work at Fort Bragg. Other vendors and installations include: BWXT Advanced Technologies, Fort Campbell, Kentucky; General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems, Fort Hood, Texas; Radiant Industries, Fort Benning, Georgia; and Westinghouse Government Services, Fort Drum, New York.
“The U.S. Army has selected Fort Bragg, the largest military base in the country, as one of five initial installations to host nuclear microreactors under the Janus Program,” Democratic Gov. Josh Stein commented on X Thursday. “This positive news will strengthen national security by delivering safe, reliable, and clean power to our military.”
The U.S. Army has selected Fort Bragg, the largest military base in the country, as one of five initial installations to host nuclear microreactors under the Janus Program. This positive news will strengthen national security by delivering safe, reliable, and clean power to our…
— Governor Josh Stein (@NC_Governor) August 27, 2026
According to a press release issued on Wednesday, the Army, in partnership with the Department of War Innovation Unit (DIU), is awarding up to a combined $2.2 billion to own, construct, and operate the nuclear microreactors.
“These vendors will deliver safe, secure, and reliable nuclear power, strengthening the Army’s ability to project power globally, while supporting the revitalization of American industrial capacity and technological leadership,” the release said. “With the private sector funding expected along with these government dollars, the Army expects more than 20 total nuclear microreactors will be built and operated across Department of War installations.”
The goal is to have at least one of the reactors up and running by Sept. 30, 2028.
The Army also notes that more than 20 additional nuclear microreactors are expected to be built at other military installations across the country
“Since launching the Janus Program, our mandate from President Trump and Secretary Hegseth has been clear: secure the power our warfighters need to train, deploy and win,” Dan Driscoll, Secretary of the Army said in the release. “Awarding these contracts accelerates our ability to deliver safe, reliable baseload power directly to our installations. We are building the energy resilience necessary to project combat power globally, without relying on potentially vulnerable external grids.”
The Army noted that vendors will receive government funding only after successfully hitting specific technical goals.
“This decision is laudable,” Jon Sanders, director of the Center for Food, Power, and Life at the John Locke Foundation. “Nuclear’s reliability is top-notch, and it goes without question that keeping our military bases powered is a matter of national security. It will also be interesting to see Fort Bragg’s experience with a microreactor and see what lessons it holds for North Carolina policymakers, large industrial sites, and utilities.”
The investment model brings together approximately $2.2 billion across FY2027-2031 along with significant capital investment from each vendor. According to the Army, this technology development model will speed up the delivery of next-generation energy solutions to the warfighter and promote innovation while ensuring accountability. The prototype reactors will be contractor-owned and operated.
“The Army is leading the nation in its return to nuclear preeminence via the Janus Program,” Jason Craft, Janus Program manager, said in the release. “Our selected industry awardees represent the most viable technologies to achieve this capability, setting conditions for both installation energy resilience and operational energy solutions.”
