The Core Shift: Military Energy Independence Goes Nuclear

The US Department of the Air Force has selected three companies — Radiant Industries, Westinghouse, and Antares Nuclear — to develop microreactors at Buckley Space Force Base, Malmstrom Air Force Base, and Joint Base San Antonio. This is not a pilot. It is a strategic pivot. The goal: at least one operational advanced nuclear reactor on a DAF site by 2030, with the broader Reactor Pilot Program targeting three advanced reactors critical by July 4, 2026.

Why does this matter? Because the military is the ultimate anchor customer. When the Pentagon commits to a technology, it de-risks supply chains, accelerates regulatory pathways, and signals global adoption. This move could reshape the nuclear energy landscape faster than any commercial project.