US Military Triggers Global Resurgence in Nuclear Power for AI

By Jim Lundy

US Military Triggers Global Resurgence in Nuclear Power for AI

The U.S. military is fundamentally altering the trajectory of the energy market by accelerating the deployment of nuclear microreactors. This shift is not merely about tactical readiness; it represents a massive government-backed stimulus that will solve the primary bottleneck facing the artificial intelligence sector. As the Department of Defense moves to establish energy independence for its domestic bases, it is creating the industrial blueprint for the AI super factories of the future. This blog overviews the Janus Program and offers our analysis.

Why did the U.S. Army announce a microreactor program?

The Army, in partnership with the Department of Energy, recently launched the Janus Program to deploy commercial nuclear microreactors at nine domestic installations by 2028. This initiative, mandated by Executive Order 14299, aims to provide “private wire” power—generation that operates independently of the vulnerable civilian grid. By acting as the anchor tenant for advanced nuclear technology, the military is attempting to mitigate risks from cyberattacks and infrastructure instability that threaten national security. This program leverages a commercially owned and operated model, intended to catalyze the domestic nuclear supply chain and provide a pathway for mass-produced reactor production.

Analysis

The military’s entry into the microreactor market is the catalyst that the nuclear resurgence has been waiting for. For years, the civilian nuclear industry has struggled with high capital costs and regulatory hurdles, but the Janus Program provides the guaranteed demand and technical oversight necessary to de-risk the entire sector. We believe the defense sector’s strategy will serve as the immediate precursor for AI hyperscalers who are currently facing a power-generation crisis. This shift implies that the development of microreactors will transition from experimental prototypes to mass-produced industrial components within the next five years.

The competitive landscape for AI is no longer just about who has the best algorithms but who can secure the physical resources required to run them. The innovations in HALEU fuel fabrication and reactor-agnostic supply chains driven by the Janus Program will directly lower the cost of entry for tech giants like Amazon, Google, and Meta. Furthermore, the military’s focus on portable, factory-built reactors will allow AI vendors to bypass traditional utility delays, enabling the rapid stand-up of gigawatt-scale super factories in regions previously considered power-starved.

What should enterprises do about this news?

Enterprises must recognize that the stability of future AI services is now tied to the success of advanced nuclear infrastructure. Technology leaders should monitor the vendors selected for the military’s program, as these firms will likely lead the commercial market in the 2030s. Organizations should evaluate their cloud provider’s involvement in these nuclear supply chains to ensure long-term availability and price stability. It is time to consider how a resurgence in domestic nuclear energy might impact your own sustainability goals and your choice of long-term technology partners.

ANPI Selected Vendors for Nuclear Innovation

The following eight companies have been selected as eligible to provide dual-use microreactor technology to the U.S. Military.

Company	Notable Focus/Technology
Antares Nuclear	Microreactor development for remote and industrial use.
BWXT Advanced Technologies	Leading transportable reactor designs (Project Pele).
General Atomics	High-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) expertise.
Kairos Power	Fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactors (KP-FHR).
Oklo Inc.	Fast fission technology; strong focus on recycled nuclear fuel.
Radiant Industries	“Kaleidos” 1MW portable microreactor for rapid deployment.
Westinghouse	“eVinci” microreactor designed for decentralised power.
X-Energy	TRISO-X fuel and Xe-100 high-temperature gas reactors.

Bottom Line

The U.S. military has triggered a nuclear resurgence that will provide the essential fuel for the next decade of AI growth. By de-risking microreactor technology, the Janus Program is clearing the path for hyperscalers to build the autonomous, resilient power systems required for massive AI workloads. Enterprises should align themselves with providers that are leveraging this industrial-scale energy innovation to ensure their technology stacks remain operational.