X-energy and the Pentagon Accelerate Nuclear Microreactor for National Security

The U.S. Department of Defense has signed an agreement with X-energy to develop a commercial nuclear microreactor intended to power sensitive military infrastructure.

Share:

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25£/month*

*billed annually at 99£/year for the first year then 149,00£/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2£/month*
then 14.90£ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

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.

Endesa, Iberdrola and Naturgy have officially requested the Spanish government to delay the closure of the Almaraz nuclear power plant, originally scheduled for 2028, reigniting the debate on nuclear power's role in the national energy mix.
The reactor vessel for Unit 1 at Egypt’s El Dabaa nuclear plant has been delivered following a 20-day maritime transport from Saint Petersburg, marking a critical milestone in the country’s energy project.
Ontario Power Generation secures CAD3bn ($2.1bn) in public equity financing to construct four modular reactors at Darlington, aiming to ease private sector entry into next-generation nuclear infrastructure.
French developer Newcleo launches a joint venture with Nextchem through a EUR70 mn contract to design the conventional island of its upcoming 200 MW modular nuclear reactors.
NANO Nuclear strengthens its North American strategy by acquiring Global First Power in Canada, securing regulatory rights for its KRONOS MMR™ project at Chalk River.
South Korea becomes the first country to submit a safeguards technical report to the IAEA for a small modular reactor, setting a precedent for early integration of non-proliferation requirements in nuclear design.
The Environmental Authority criticises the lack of key data on health risks, chemical discharges and construction safety for EDF's two upcoming EPR2 reactors in Seine-Maritime.
Brazil and China have concluded a three-year agreement to secure access to essential radioisotopes for the medical, industrial and scientific sectors, with no financial exchange between the parties.
US-based developer Last Energy will deploy its first domestic microreactor at Texas A&M-RELLIS, marking a strategic step in the advanced modular reactor race.
PGE acquires ZE PAK's stake in the joint venture responsible for developing Poland’s second nuclear site, consolidating a strategic asset within its energy portfolio.
Amazon unveils new visuals of its upcoming nuclear site, marking a key step in its partnership with X-energy to deploy up to 960 MW of modular nuclear capacity in Washington state.
Canadian uranium producer NexGen Energy has completed a A$1bn ($639mn) equity raise split between North American and Australian markets to support the development of its Rook I project.
Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings is examining the permanent closure of units 1 and 2 at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, the oldest at the site, while continuing efforts to restart unit 6.
The formal expiration of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran comes as international sanctions have already been reinstated and diplomatic negotiations remain stalled.
Oklo, newcleo and Blykalla partner to develop advanced nuclear fuel infrastructure in the United States, backed by a planned $2bn investment.
enCore Energy has identified three new uranium roll fronts at its Alta Mesa project, with ongoing drilling aimed at defining their extent and accelerating development work.
California-based Radiant will build its first microreactor production facility in Oak Ridge, on a former Manhattan Project site, with production targeted at 50 units per year by 2028.
EDF restarted the Flamanville EPR reactor after repairing non-compliant valves, delaying the target of reaching full power output of 1,620 MW until the end of autumn.
Nano Nuclear and the University of Illinois will begin drilling operations for the KRONOS MMR™ reactor on October 24, marking a key step toward commercialisation of the nuclear project on the Urbana-Champaign campus.
Natura Resources is finalising construction of the MSR-1, an advanced liquid-fuel nuclear reactor, with a planned launch in 2026 on the Abilene Christian University campus.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25£/month*

*billed annually at 99£/year for the first year then 149,00£/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2£/month*
then 14.90£ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.