Launched in October 2025, Janus is run by the Army in partnership with the Defense Innovation Unit. BWXT is among five vendors selected to own, build and operate nuclear microreactors at military installations.
“The Janus Program is about transitioning from designs and experiments to reliable commercial hardware which secures our energy independence,” said Dr. Jeff Waksman, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment. “The Janus Program vendors were selected through a deeply rigorous evaluation on technical, financial, and organizational capabilities conducted by an All-Star panel of dozens of experts from across the nation.”
BWXT will carry out the project through phased contracts tied to technical and deployment milestones. Initial work will include choosing the final location within Fort Campbell, beginning the Army’s nuclear regulatory process and starting TRISO fuel fabrication at existing BWXT facilities.
The company will also help establish an operating structure for the reactor, characterize the site and prepare supply chains for long-lead purchases. BWXT is targeting the start of construction in late 2028 and the beginning of reactor operations in the early 2030s.
The selection advances BANR from technology development toward deployment at an active U.S. military installation. It also brings reactor engineering, fuel manufacturing, regulatory preparation and supply-chain planning together within a single Army energy project.
BANR is a high-temperature, gas-cooled reactor that uses TRISO, or TRi-structural ISOtropic, fuel. The system can operate behind the meter or connect to the electric grid, allowing it to provide electricity and process heat for critical infrastructure.
One reactor occupies less than five acres, while several units can be installed at the same location to increase output. The design produces 75 megawatts of thermal energy and has a four-year refueling cycle.
“Our long-standing strengths in reactor engineering innovation, TRISO fuel development and advanced nuclear manufacturing are the foundation of our BANR technology,” said Rex D. Geveden, BWXT president and chief executive officer. “As we commence work on the Janus program, we are delivering the nation’s most credible and reliable path to deployable nuclear power.”
BANR has also attracted interest outside the defense sector from companies seeking more diversified energy supplies. Tata Chemicals Soda Ash has signed a letter of intent to study the potential deployment of as many as eight units in Wyoming.
