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5d ago

Air Force Picks Antares, Radiant and Westinghouse for On-Base Microreactor Pilots

The move starts environmental reviews toward on-base power by 2030.

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INSERT ART. Radiant’s Kaleidos microreactor—a 1‑MWe, helium‑cooled, HALEU TRISO–fueled unit—is being developed for full‑power, multi‑megawatt testing at INL’s DOME facility ahead of first deployments to U.S. military bases. Courtesy: Radiant
These reactors are designed for deployment via standard shipping containers or flatbed trucks.
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Overview

  • The Department of the Air Force, which announced the vendor–base pairings Wednesday, named Antares for Joint Base San Antonio, Radiant for Buckley Space Force Base, and Westinghouse for Malmstrom Air Force Base.
  • Next steps include site and environmental studies under federal law, with no formal contracts announced.
  • The Antares R1 design uses sodium heat pipes and TRISO fuel, runs for years between refueling, and can operate without a grid connection.
  • Antares reports a DOE pilot aiming for first criticality before July 4, 2026, followed by an electricity-producing test in 2027 and initial deployments as early as 2028.
  • Local leaders in San Antonio tout energy resilience benefits, while some nearby residents raise safety concerns that Antares says federal regulators will address.