“(LOS ANGELES – August 11, 2025) – California-based startup Radiant says it has signed a contract with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and the Department of the Air Force to deliver mass-produced nuclear microreactors to U.S. military bases — the first deal of its kind. The company’s initial announcement did not disclose the exact location, schedule and power rating, but the agreement positions the Air Force to pilot factory-built nuclear power as part of its broader push for energy resilience and island operations.
What the agreement means
At its core, the arrangement is designed to move beyond paper studies to deployment** at operating bases, where electricity demand is constant, critical and increasingly at risk from grid disruptions, cyber threats and severe weather. Unlike bespoke, once-in-a-lifetime nuclear projects, Mass-produced microreactors are to be built on a repeated production line, shipped to site, and integrated into a microgrid with standardized interfaces.
For the Air Force, the appeal is straightforward: reliable, always-on power that can power flightline operations, mission planning, SATCOM and radar, and base housing without the logistics burden of a constant fuel fleet or the burden of stand-alone renewables.
Why Microreactors, and Why Now
In recent years, the Pentagon has identified energy collateral as a mission constraint—especially for remote or contested locations. Diesel generation is ubiquitous but expensive and sensitive. Solar plus storage has matured but still faces limitations in 24/7 availability and seasonal variability**. Addresses. The microreactor promises:
- High reliability with a compact footprint, enabling 24/7 baseload for mission-critical applications.
- Portability and modularity, supporting rapid setup and eventual redeployment.
- Carbon-free production, helping meet federal climate and sustainability goals without compromising readiness.
- The Kaleidos microreactor, developed by Radiant Nuclear, is a portable, 1 MW nuclear reactor designed for a variety of applications such as emergency power and off-grid energy solutions. It uses a high-temperature gas-cooled design with TRISO fuel and helium coolant, which provides passive safety features and easy transportability. (Radiant)
From prototype to production line
A key issue in the Radiant-DIU effort is the transition from demonstration to large-scale production. To move beyond microreactor pilot projects to become viable, industry must show that factory standardization can reduce costs and schedules – similar to aerospace production lines – while still meeting stringent Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licensing requirements and Department of Defense safety standards.
Key hurdles needed to navigate the program include:
- Licensing and safety review: Aligning NRC or DOE authorization pathways with DOD operational requirements.
- Fuel supply: Ensuring timely access to high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) or other qualified fuels with robust safeguards.
- Waste and end-of-life plans: Spent Clear, pre-approved strategies for fuel management, storage, and decommissioning.
- Community Engagement: Transparent outreach to host communities and state regulators to build enduring support.
Strategic Context: Resilience and Readiness
For the Air Force, on-base microreactors provide more than kilowatt-hours — they are an operational hedge. Islandable microgrids that combine nuclear baseload with solar, storage, and smart controls can keep mission-critical systems online during grid failures or attacks. They also reduce fuel logistics exposure in emergencies and stabilize costs over the reactor’s long service life.
From a national perspective, demonstrating reusable, affordable microreactors reinvent nuclear production**, restoring *energy-security leadership*, remote communities, and defense Supports broader U.S. goals of providing *exportable models* to allies seeking resilient, low-carbon power for locations.
Competitive Landscape
Radiant joins a field of companies advancing advanced microreactors—some using heat-pipes, some using high-temperature gases, others using TRISO/HALEU fuels or micro-modular designs. Across the field, central questions are converging: Can the industry deliver factory-built units on a predictable timeline, with a licensable safety case and a credible cost curve?
The success of this program will validate:
- A procurement model that purchases capacity in recurring lots rather than one-time.
- A technical template for integrating microreactors into a base microgrid without extensive site re-engineering.
- A regulatory playbook that other services and allied ministries can follow.
- Radiant’s microreactor is designed to be the first portable, zero-emissions power source capable of operating in any environment, providing a clean and resilient alternative to fossil fuels for both commercial and military use. (Radiant)
Risks and Unknowns
U.S. Microreactors remain the first of their kind at military installations. Program risks are real—especially around licensing scope, fuel logistics, supply-chain depth, and schedule discipline. Cost savings from factory production will only occur if orders move beyond a single demonstration and if the design remains stable in units. Transparent reporting on safety cases, emergency planning, and lifecycle waste management will be essential to sustain political and community support.
What to Watch Next
- Site Selection and Interconnection: Which base goes first, and how the reactor fits into existing microgrid and cybersecurity architectures.
- Licensing Path and Timeline: **Milestones for *safety review*, *environmental assessment*, and *fuel acquisition*.
- Industrial Partners and Supply Chain: Commitments from fabrication locations, QA processes, and fuel and component suppliers.
- Cost and Schedule Disclosure: Evidence that the large-scale production model is compressing delivery times and unit costs.
Key Takeaways
The Radiant-DIU-Air Force contract is a progressive test of whether a nuclear microreactor can move from a promising prototype to mission-grade, repeatable products. If the team can deliver a licensed, factory-built unit on time and to specification, it would mark a consequential step toward resilient, low-carbon power for the U.S. military infrastructure and, potentially, a blueprint for allied adoption.”
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FAQs
This project is a new contract between Radiant, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), and the U.S. Air Force to deliver factory-built nuclear microreactors to military bases. These compact reactors will provide consistent, reliable power to support mission-critical systems, reduce fuel dependency, and enhance energy security.
Microreactors are gaining attention due to growing global energy risks, cyber threats, and the push for clean energy. With increasing grid failures, severe weather, and a growing interest in carbon-free energy (as seen on Google Trends with searches for “clean energy” and “energy resilience”), the military is looking to them as a stable, 24/7 solution that fits into a microgrid.
Radiant’s Kaleidos is a 1-megawatt portable microreactor that runs on TRISO fuel with helium cooling. Its design is lightweight, safe, and easy to move, making it useful for off-grid areas, emergency power, and defense bases. Unlike solar or diesel, it can run day and night without weather or fuel issues.
Key challenges include government licensing, a stable fuel supply, waste management and building public trust. Costs will only come down if more units are ordered beyond the first pilot. Another big test will be whether Radiant can quickly mass-produce the reactor, as aircraft or EV manufacturers do today.
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