The U.S. Army has launched its Janus Program, a groundbreaking nuclear energy initiative aimed at deploying microreactors at military installations across the globe by 2028. This project, which will see over $200 million in funding over the next five years, seeks to address the increasing energy demands of modern warfare, particularly in remote or contested locations where traditional fossil fuel supply chains are vulnerable.
Dr. Jeff Waksman, the Army official leading the Janus Program, emphasized the strategic importance of the initiative, stating that ‘Great power conflict is defined by who can move their resources around.’ He highlighted the growing role of advanced technologies such as drones, directed-energy weapons, and artificial intelligence, which require significant energy infrastructure to support.
The military has long faced challenges in providing 24/7 power to its bases, relying almost entirely on fossil fuels. Waksman noted that the limitations of solar, wind, and battery technologies make them unsuitable for sustaining modern military operations without continuous fuel resupply. He argued that nuclear power offers the only viable solution to the so-called ‘tyranny of fuel’ currently facing the armed forces.
As tensions rise with China, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, the Army has identified the need for reliable energy sources that can operate independently of vulnerable supply lines. The Janus Program aims to address this by deploying compact microreactors that can provide sustained power for years without refueling. These reactors could significantly reduce the reliance on imported oil, such as the situation on the island of Guam, where over 90% of electricity is sourced from foreign tankers navigating contested sea lanes.
The initiative is being developed in collaboration with the Department of Energy’s national laboratories, the Defense Innovation Unit, and private companies. The Army will adopt a milestone-based contracting model inspired by NASA’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program, which helped spur the growth of the commercial space industry. The goal is to accelerate development, lower costs, and foster a self-sustaining market for small reactors that could eventually power both military and civilian infrastructure.
Construction of the first microreactors is not expected to begin before 2027, which Waksman described as ‘light speed’ for a nuclear program. The current focus is on advancing materials science and supply chain capabilities, which he called major bottlenecks. The Army plans to work with multiple vendors, each expected to build at least two reactors – the first as a prototype and the second refined through lessons learned. These reactors will be commercially built and operated, rather than owned by the military.
While the program’s initial focus is on domestic installations, the Army also envisions its potential use in expeditionary operations and commercial applications. Waksman emphasized the Army’s intent to create a market for these reactors, stating, ‘The Army doesn’t want to be the only buyer of these reactors.’ If industry can reach the sixth or seventh unit, where they can sell to commercial partners, then the program will have succeeded.
Nuclear microreactors represent a significant technological advancement in energy generation. These compact systems, typically producing between one and 20 megawatts of power, can operate for years without refueling and are designed for rapid deployment. Unlike large commercial reactors, which can take a decade to build, microreactors are factory-built and can be shipped by truck or aircraft. This makes them ideal for remote locations and areas where traditional energy infrastructure is either lacking or at risk.