Radiant to provide microreactors for military base

Radiant Industries has recently signed an agreement with Defense Innovation Unit and Department of Air Force to mass produce microreactors at a U.S. military base by 2028.

The El Segundo, Calif.-based advanced nuclear company is developing a portable high-temperature gas-cooled microreactor called Kaleidos that has a net generating capacity of one megawatt. 

The contract was agreed upon under the Defense Innovation Unit and U.S. Army’s Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations (ANPI) program, according to Radiant’s Aug. 8 press release. The ANPI program allows for the design and construction of an onsite nuclear microreactor nuclear power systems on an unspecified military base to support global operations.

No base was specified in the press release.

Radiant was one of eight nuclear technology companies selected for the ANPI earlier this year. The company plans to deliver its Kaleidos microreactor to the Air Force by 2028, according to the press release.

According to Radiant, this type of microreactors could replace diesel generation at military bases and small villages. 

“We’re proud to be the first agreement designed to deliver mass-manufactured nuclear microreactors for a U.S. military base,” Radiant CEO and Founder Doug Bernauer said in the press release. “In 36 months, Kaleidos reactors will arrive via truck and within 48 hours plug in, power on, and provide resilient, cyber-secure power to our nation’s Air Force for years without refueling.”