Army Building New Microreactors

August 28, 2026

The US Army will build more than 20 nuclear microreactors at five military bases, the AP reports, buttressing the government’s push to advance nuclear power. But in Issues, Michael J. Ford and colleagues caution that letting the military lead “is neither a sustainable nor wise way to revitalize the nation’s brittle nuclear enterprise.” The authors do see a useful “supporting role” for the Department of Defense: helping private firms raise funds for first-of-kind reactor deployment, working with industry and academia to develop human capital in the nuclear field, and helping civilian groups learn about ways to increase the resilience of these systems.

Posted by Tom Burroughs