Department of War Announces Navy's First Advanced Nuclear Microreactor Deployment at Naval Weapons Station Crane, Indiana

Sept. 9, 2026 |

The Department of War announced the planned installation of the State of Indiana's first advanced nuclear Micro Modular Reactor (MMR) at Naval Weapons Station (NWS) Crane no later than September 2028. This action implements President Donald J. Trump's Executive Orders, Deploying Advanced Nuclear Reactor Technologies for National Security and Reinvigorating the Nuclear Industrial Base, which advances a clear mandate to restore American nuclear leadership globally, remove barriers to innovation, and rebuild the domestic nuclear workforce.

The overall project is being executed jointly by the Army's Janus Program, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations and Environment, the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering (OUSW(R&E)), and the State of Indiana. Together, these partners will secure continuous power for one of the Nation's most important defense technology and weapons installations, create highly skilled American jobs, strengthen the American nuclear supply chain, and rebuild the industrial capacity required for national defense.

The commercially owned and operated MMR at NWS Crane, one of the United States' premier warfighting innovation and capability development hubs, marks the first step in a larger, unified Department-wide effort to deploy safe and secure nuclear power for national security. The MMR installation will provide reliable, around-the-clock power independent of the commercial electric grid, capable of sustaining critical operations under the most demanding conditions. As the first power-producing reactor installed in Indiana, this project expands the United States' power generation capacity and modernizes the energy infrastructure needed to serve local communities and advance missions critical to national security.

The MMR installation is being executed through the Army's Janus Program, in coordination with the Department of the Navy, the Department of War Innovation Unit, and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Critical Technologies (OASW(CT)). This cross-service effort brings together the Army's role as the Department's executive agent for installation nuclear energy, the Navy's operational mission at NWS Crane, DIU's access to commercial innovation, and the Department's critical technology enterprise.

"Under President Trump's bold leadership, the Department of War is rapidly fielding next-generation energy solutions for our warfighters," said Emil Michael, Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering. "We are unleashing the American nuclear industrial base to ensure our military installations possess the resilient infrastructure required to maintain uninterrupted operations."

OASW(CT) is leading the coordination of key stakeholders across the Department to integrate and execute the Crane project under the Janus Program. "At Critical Technologies, we start from a simple first principle: a technology matters only when it reaches the mission," said Mike Dodd, Assistant Secretary of War for Critical Technologies. "Our standard is to field and deploy capability within 24 months or less. President Trump's Executive Order gave the Department a clear mandate to move advanced nuclear power from promise to deployment. We turned that mandate into a focused sprint within our Contested Logistics Critical Technology Area to deliver this capability on time and on target, strengthen the American nuclear industrial base, and secure a decisive advantage for our warfighters."

"Janus was designed from the beginning to deliver capability beyond the Army," said the Honorable W. Jordan Gillis, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment. "This partnership demonstrates what is possible when we combine the Army's nuclear expertise and regulatory authorities with the operational installation requirements of our sister Services and the innovation of American industry. Together, we are building a pathway to resilient nuclear power that can strengthen mission assurance across the Joint Force."

"Energy security is warfighting capability. Hosting the Navy's first shore-based advanced microreactor at NWS Crane under the Janus Program underscores our commitment to hardening our shore infrastructure against evolving physical, cyber, and grid vulnerabilities," said the Honorable Brendan Rogers, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations and Environment. "Partnering with the Army and OASW(CT) allows us to move with speed, establish a resilient firm power backbone, and protect the vital research, development, and manufacturing our Fleet depends on every day."

This initiative builds on more than a year of close coordination between the Department of War and Indiana state leadership. Senator Jim Banks has been an indispensable partner in advancing the MMR initiative from concept to installation in the Hoosier State. His leadership, together with the direct support of Governor Mike Braun, Senator Todd Young, Representative Erin Houchin, and Representative Mark Messmer, has cleared the path for the Department to move with speed to secure our national defense infrastructure.

The Department will continue to work with Federal, state, and local partners throughout the required safety, environmental, regulatory, and installation processes. Nuclear safety, physical security, cybersecurity, and responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources will remain central at every stage. This project marks the first milestone of President Trump's mandate to revitalize the American nuclear industrial base and deploy next-generation energy technologies to secure an enduring advantage for the Joint Force.

Army Selects Vendors, Sites for Nuclear Microreactors

Aug. 27, 2026 | By U.S. Army Communication and Outreach Office |

The Army announced yesterday that the Janus Program selected five nuclear energy vendors and five initial locations to build and operate nuclear microreactors.

In partnership with the War Department's Defense Innovation Unit, the Army is awarding up to $2.2 billion in total for these microreactors. The project 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. 

"Since launching the Janus Program, our mandate from President [Donald J.] Trump and Secretary [Pete] Hegseth has been clear: secure the power our warfighters need to train, deploy and win," said Dan Driscoll, Army secretary. "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."

With private sector funding expected alongside government investment, the Army expects to build and operate more than 20 nuclear microreactors across War Department installations.

The five selected vendors and installations are:

• Antares Nuclear Inc. at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
• BWXT Advanced Technologies LLC at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
• General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems at Fort Hood, Texas.
• Radiant Industries Inc. at Fort Benning, Georgia. 
• Westinghouse Government Services at Fort Drum, New York

"We are seeking not just reactors capable of turning on for a brief demonstration, but rather systems able to deliver power with high-capacity factors for years of operation," said Jeff Waksman, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy and environment. "The Janus Program will be a complete success when and only when we have assisted multiple nuclear companies in developing truly reliable and affordable nuclear microreactors, which they can sell to other buyers beyond just the military."

After gathering technical and operational information from industry partners, the Army narrowed the potential industry awardees for agreements. A decision board and panel of top nuclear and technical experts from the Energy Department, national laboratories and representatives from across the services provided rigorous input on the technical risks, financial situation and management capabilities of the solutions. 

The close collaboration ensured selected vendors would provide solutions to enhance energy resilience for specific operational needs at military installations. Aligning these vendors with Army installations represents the culmination of a yearlong effort to evaluate and prioritize installations based on a multitude of factors, from energy needs to seismic and hydrological considerations, with a primary focus on safety.  

As the Janus Program moves forward, vendors will bring nuclear technologies to other military installations for continued energy resilience across the entire War Department. The Army will announce additional military sites at a later date and continues to drive toward the September 2028 target outlined in Executive Order 14299 for operation of a first reactor.

"The Army is leading the nation in its return to nuclear preeminence," said Jason Craft, Janus Program manager. "Our selected industry awardees represent the most viable technologies to achieve this capability, setting conditions for both installation energy resilience and operational energy solutions."

Using a milestone-based payment model, vendors will receive government funding only after successfully hitting specific technical goals. This investment model brings together approximately $2.2 billion across fiscal years 2027-2031, along with significant capital investment from each vendor. 

This technology development model will speed up the delivery of next-generation energy solutions to the warfighter and promote innovation while ensuring accountability, Craft said. The prototype reactors will be contractor-owned and operated. Collaboration with utility providers is needed for the success of the Army's nuclear power strategy and the Janus Program. The Army will work closely with providers on the program to ensure the best possible outcomes, while continuing to collaborate with them now and in the future.

"The Army's Janus Program has my full support," said Emil Michael, undersecretary of war for research and engineering and War Department chief technology officer. "The War Department is acting swiftly to implement President Trump's executive order. ... We are unleashing America's domestic nuclear industrial base to ensure a more resilient and secure energy supply for the joint force."