DIU selects eight possible companies for advanced microreactor program

The Defense Innovation Unit announced April 10 next steps in its Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations program to deploy microreactor nuclear systems for power reliability at select military locations.

The companies selected are:

• Antares Nuclear
• BWXT Advanced Technologies
• General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems
• Kairos Power
• Oklo
• Radiant Industries Incorporated
• Westinghouse Government Services
• X-energy

These companies are “eligible” to receive contracts for the program for “commercially available dual use microreactor technology,” according to the press release.

The Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations program (ANPI) was launched in 2024 and is a collaboration between the DoD’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), the Army and the Air Force. The press release also said the ANPI project supports the Donald Trump administration’s executive orders “Declaring a National Energy Emergency” and “Unleashing American Energy,” and aligns with the executive order “Modernizing Defense Acquisitions and Spurring Innovation in the Industrial Base.”

“U.S. energy dominance and security are more critical than ever, especially in supporting Air Force and Space Force missions,” Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Infrastructure, Energy, and Environment, Nancy Balkus, said in the release. “To ensure our installations can respond at a moment’s notice, we must strengthen our lethality by accelerating the deployment of emerging technologies like advanced nuclear energy – delivering reliable, cost-effective, and secure power to our bases.”

According to the Department of Energy, a microreactor is transportable in size, factory-made, and able to provide 1-20 megawatts of power.