X-energy Reactor Company, a company specializing in advanced nuclear technologies, has entered into an agreement with the United States Department of Defense (DOD), through its Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), and the Department of the Air Force. This agreement aims to advance the development of the commercial XENITH microreactor under the Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations (ANPI) program. This initiative, led by the DIU, is designed to deliver resilient and secure power to U.S. military bases.
The contract, structured under a flexible acquisition mechanism, enables accelerated development of the microreactor through a public-private partnership. It aligns with a presidential executive order issued in May 2025 directing the DOD to deploy an advanced reactor at a military site before the end of the decade. The project is intended to meet critical energy needs for defense infrastructure and isolated microgrids.
A Microreactor Derived from an Existing Military Program
XENITH, developed by X-energy, is a high-temperature gas-cooled microreactor. It originates from “Project Pele,” an initiative by the Strategic Capabilities Office aimed at developing a mobile nuclear reactor. Under the new partnership, XENITH enters an advanced engineering phase intended to achieve preliminary design maturity. This phase also includes pre-licensing discussions with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for both military and commercial applications.
The microreactor’s design stands out for its ability to deliver stable energy, making it particularly suited to operate in isolated environments. The agreement demonstrates the U.S. government’s intent to support the development of advanced nuclear technologies for critical use cases while stimulating private-sector innovation in the field.
An Expanded Portfolio of Nuclear Technologies
In addition to the XENITH project, X-energy is also advancing the Xe-100 reactor, a larger-capacity, high-temperature gas-cooled reactor designed for utilities, heavy industries, and large-scale digital infrastructure. Simultaneously, the company is constructing a first-of-its-kind advanced nuclear fuel fabrication facility in the United States. This facility will manufacture TRISO-X fuel, a proprietary technology developed by X-energy.
Together, these initiatives represent an industrial strategy aimed at securing long-term energy supply. The autonomous operational capability of microreactors, independent of the main grid, could prove critical in military operations or major disruptions to civilian electrical infrastructure.
