NANO Nuclear Advances to Final Round of US Army’s xTechSearch 9 Competition

NANO Nuclear Energy has been selected to compete in the final round of xTechSearch 9, a US Army initiative aimed at identifying high-potential dual-use technology solutions.

Share:

Gain full professional access to energynews.pro from 4.90$/month.
Designed for decision-makers, with no long-term commitment.

Over 30,000 articles published since 2021.
150 new market analyses every week to decode global energy trends.

Monthly Digital PRO PASS

Immediate Access
4.90$/month*

No commitment – cancel anytime, activation in 2 minutes.

*Special launch offer: 1st month at the indicated price, then 14.90 $/month, no long-term commitment.

Annual Digital PRO Pass

Full Annual Access
99$/year*

To access all of energynews.pro without any limits

*Introductory annual price for year one, automatically renewed at 149.00 $/year from the second year.

US-based company NANO Nuclear Energy Inc., specializing in the development of next-generation modular microreactors, has announced its selection for the final round of the xTechSearch 9 competition organized by the United States Army. The program seeks to evaluate advanced technology solutions that address critical defense needs while offering civilian applicability.

This edition of the competition reflects the US Army’s strategic approach to reinforcing energy resilience and operational capacity in constrained environments. By advancing to the final phase, NANO Nuclear will present its technologies to key Department of Defense decision-makers, thereby increasing its visibility and long-term collaboration prospects.

A Microreactor for Austere Environments

The solution selected by the evaluation committee is based on a deployable microreactor developed by NANO Nuclear, designed to supply energy in isolated or contested zones. This technology could address the Army’s need for mobile energy while reducing dependency on traditional logistics chains.

The growing interest of the United States Army in compact and autonomous energy systems reflects a shift in priorities regarding operational security. By integrating advanced energy sources in the field, the objective is to reduce vulnerabilities linked to fuel transport and enhance the energy autonomy of units.

A Strategic Milestone for NANO Nuclear

Participation in xTechSearch 9 aligns with NANO Nuclear’s commercial development strategy in the military and defense application segment. The program offers direct access to institutional decision-makers and allows the company to test the compatibility of its prototypes with the operational requirements of the military field.

At the same time, this institutional recognition comes amid the growing US microreactor sector, supported by federal initiatives aimed at energy diversification and infrastructure modernization. NANO Nuclear’s position within this framework could pave the way for future development or demonstration contracts.

The Vice-Chairman of Russia’s Security Council believes more countries will develop nuclear weapons and generative AI technologies as a result of increasing public sector efforts.
An international tribunal ruled in favour of French company Orano against the State of Niger, which had blocked the sale of uranium extracted from the Arlit mine since taking control of the site in 2023.
US-based Oklo and Sweden’s Blykalla join forces to coordinate supply chains and regulatory data sharing to accelerate the commercial deployment of their metal-cooled small modular reactors.
EDF plans a massive €25bn ($26.5bn) investment to modernise its nuclear fleet, focusing on reactor lifetime extension and preparing for new nuclear projects in France.
The French Energy Regulatory Commission set the full nuclear cost at €60.3/MWh by 2026, outlining the taxation thresholds applicable under the market reform scheduled for 2026.
The Ministry of Energy will initiate talks with developers of small nuclear reactors after signing a cooperation agreement with the United States to conduct preliminary studies on their deployment.
The restart of the Flamanville EPR reactor, initially scheduled for 1 October, has been delayed by more than two weeks due to a maintenance operation on the primary circuit.
The International Atomic Energy Agency says known natural uranium reserves will meet global nuclear power plant demand for the rest of the century, despite price pressures.
Site selection for Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant enters an advanced technical phase, with more than 100 experts mobilised by Rosatom to conduct complex geological and seismic analyses.
The ICSID arbitral tribunal ordered Niger to suspend any sale of uranium produced by SOMAÏR, ruling that this material falls under Orano’s contractual rights, amid a dispute with the State that has lasted for several months.
US-based TNC has entered into a strategic agreement with Nucor Corporation to expand gigawatt-scale nuclear capacity in line with federal targets of 400 GW by 2050.
Framatome and Italian agency ENEA have signed an agreement to design nuclear reactors capable of powering future human settlements on the Moon, amid growing European ambitions in space.
A technical report backed by the Government of Alberta confirms the potential of the Xe-100 reactor to meet the province’s industrial and electrical energy needs.
Drones were detected within 500 metres of the South Ukraine nuclear power plant, while Zaporizhzhia remains without off-site power.
At World Atomic Week in Moscow, the Russian president advocated for a reform of civil nuclear funding mechanisms, urging stronger involvement from multilateral financial institutions.
Seoul estimates Pyongyang holds enough highly enriched uranium to produce up to 50 atomic bombs, reigniting concerns over its growing nuclear arsenal despite international sanctions.
Romanian producer Nuclearelectrica has secured €620mn in funding to modernise Cernavoda unit 1 and launch the next phase of units 3 and 4, backed by a banking syndicate led by JP Morgan.
Iran has less than two days to avoid the reinstatement of United Nations sanctions, as Europeans and the United States deem its nuclear commitments insufficient.
The Indian government plans a legal fund dedicated to compensating major nuclear accidents to remove barriers to private and foreign investment in the sector.
TerraPower, Evergy and Kansas economic authorities are assessing the deployment of a Natrium reactor and energy storage system under a memorandum of understanding focused on site selection.

Log in to read this article

You'll also have access to a selection of our best content.

[wc_register_modal]