Pentagon Demonstrates Nuclear Microreactor Potential for Fast Deployment

The U.S. Departments of Energy (DOE) and Defense (DoD) have successfully transported a small nuclear reactor from California to Hill Air Force Base in Utah. This demonstration aims to showcase the potential for rapid deployment of small and micro nuclear reactors (SMRs) for military and civilian applications. The reactor, developed by California-based Valar Atomics, was flown on a C-17 aircraft, although it was moved without nuclear fuel.

During the transportation, Michael Duffey, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, highlighted the significance of this demonstration, stating, “This gets us closer to deploying nuclear power when and where it is needed to give our nation’s warfighters the tools to win in battle.” He was joined on the flight by Energy Secretary Chris Wright.

The initiative aligns with the Janus Program, launched by the U.S. military in October 2022. This strategic initiative focuses on deploying advanced nuclear microreactors at military installations to provide secure, on-demand power. Partnering with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), the program employs a commercial build-own-operate model, ensuring a reliable power supply that can safeguard military bases from grid failures and cyber threats.

Advancing Nuclear Technology

Aiming to transition from prototypes to commercially available microreactors, the program targets units producing less than 20 megawatts. These reactors are designed to power data centers, critical infrastructure, and military bases. The DOE will contribute technical assistance for the fuel cycle, while the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment will oversee implementation and regulatory matters. Nine potential installation sites have already been identified, including Fort Liberty (formerly known as Fort Bragg), Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood), and Fort Drum.

SMRs represent a new wave of nuclear technology, featuring advanced fission reactors with a capacity of up to 300 megawatts (MW) per unit. These compact and factory-built reactors offer lower capital costs, faster deployment, and enhanced safety measures, including passive cooling systems. Despite the promise of SMRs, critics express concerns regarding their economic feasibility and waste management.

Edwin Lyman, director of nuclear power safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists, remarked, “There is no business case for microreactors, which— even if they work as designed— will produce electricity at a far higher cost than large nuclear reactors, not to mention renewables like wind or solar.” Studies indicate that the cost of electricity generated from SMRs is likely to be higher than that from larger nuclear plants and renewable sources.

The now-defunct NuScale Power project in Idaho is a case in point. Initially projected to cost over $20,000 per kilowatt, this figure is nearly double the $10,784 per kilowatt for the Vogtle Project in Georgia, which itself has been criticized for high expenses. NuScale Power faced cancellation in November 2023, primarily due to rising costs, high inflation, and increasing interest rates, leading utility partners to withdraw from the project.

Economic and Environmental Challenges

The Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) for conventional reactors typically falls within the $50 to $90 per megawatt-hour (MWh) range, while estimates for SMRs range from $80 to $150 per MWh. In contrast, renewable energy sources such as utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) and onshore wind offer significantly lower LCOEs, averaging $39 to $66 per MWh and $48 to $75 per MWh, respectively. The LCOE serves as a crucial financial metric that compares the cost-effectiveness of various energy generation technologies.

Additionally, environmental and safety concerns continue to hinder the advancement of the SMR sector. A 2022 study conducted by researchers at Stanford University and the University of British Columbia found that SMRs could generate 30 to 35 times more low-to-intermediate level radioactive waste (LILW) per unit of energy produced compared to traditional large-scale reactors. The findings suggest that SMRs may also produce up to five times more spent nuclear fuel due to lower fuel burnup and increased neutron leakage from their compact cores.

The design of SMRs, characterized by a higher surface-to-volume ratio, contributes to increased neutron leakage, necessitating more reactor components to be replaced and resulting in higher quantities of radioactive material. Moreover, the use of High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) in many advanced SMR designs raises proliferation risks and complicates supply chains, particularly with dependencies on foreign sources.

As the challenges associated with SMR development persist, the industry faces significant market pressures. The lack of revenue generation among SMR companies has led to a selloff in the sector, with NuScale Power’s stock value plummeting nearly 60% from its 2025 highs. The future of SMRs hinges on overcoming these economic hurdles and proving their viability in a competitive energy landscape dominated by renewables.

In summary, while the Pentagon’s microreactor demonstration marks a notable step in the evolution of deployable nuclear power, the broader implications for economic feasibility, environmental impact, and safety remain to be thoroughly addressed.