Tiny nuclear reactors headed to a Georgia U.S. Army base

Ordu yetkililerinin 26 Ağustos 2026'da yaptığı duyuruya göre, ABD Ordusu, Pentagon'un Janus Programı adı verilen yeni bir enerji direnci girişimi kapsamında nükleer mikroreaktörlere ev sahipliği yapacak beş askeri üsten biri olarak Fort Benning, Georgia'yı seçti. Fort Benning will pair with California-based Radiant Industries to install three of the company’s one-megawatt Kaleidos microreactors, adding a combined 3 megawatts of power tied directly into the base’s electrical grid. Reaktörlerin belirli bir güvenlik açığına karşı koruma sağlaması amaçlanıyor. Ordunun Manevra Mükemmeliyet Merkezi'ne ev sahipliği yapan Fort Benning, esas olarak, kriz sırasında kesintiye uğrayabilecek yakıt dağıtımlarına bağımlı olan dizel jeneratörler tarafından desteklenen ticari şebeke gücüne güveniyor. Lawson Army Airfield, the base’s main launch point for deploying airborne infantry, Rangers and other maneuver units worldwide, needs uninterrupted power for runway lighting, air traffic control and secure facilities to keep flights moving on short notice. Bölgesel şebekenin çökmesi halinde, mikroreaktörler bu sistemlerin bağımsız olarak çalışmasını sağlayacak şekilde tasarlanıyor. Bir mikroreaktör, tam ölçekli bir nükleer santralle aynı temel prensiple çalışır; buhar üreten ve bir türbini döndüren ısıyı üretmek için atomları böler, ancak boyutu daha küçüktür. Radiant’s Kaleidos units are self-contained and roughly the size of a commercial bus, skipping the large cooling towers and support buildings traditional reactors require. The company says each unit is designed to run for up to five years without refueling and has a 20-year operational lifespan, and Radiant, not the Army, will own and operate the reactors, handling fueling and eventual spent-fuel management under Army regulatory oversight. Fort Benning Bayındırlık Müdürlüğü'nün ana planlayıcısı ve tesisin Janus Projesi lideri Dr. Ed Locke, "Fort Benning mikroreaktörleri, bir kazayı önlemek için dev soğutma kulelerine veya milyonlarca galon suya ihtiyaç duyan eski, geleneksel nükleer santraller gibi değil" dedi. "Bu mikro reaktörler bağımsızdır ve kolayca uzaklaşılabilir." Locke said the design includes passive safety features that automatically reduce reactor power and remove heat without relying on outside electricity, cooling water or an operator stepping in, a system he described as governed by the laws of physics rather than active controls. Fort Benning has identified candidate parcels of land for the three units but has not finalized a site, and officials say they are looking for a location isolated from water sources and everyday facilities while still close enough to connect to the base’s power grid. The Janus Program launched in October 2025 through the Defense Innovation Unit, pairing the Department of War with commercial nuclear power companies across a group of military installations, of which Fort Benning is one of five announced so far. Radiant ayrıca, Janus tesislerine 15 mikroreaktör ünitesinin konuşlandırılması için 750 milyon dolara varan bir ordu sözleşmesine sahip olduğunu da belirtti. That deal is distinct from an earlier agreement the company signed with the Department of the Air Force in April 2026 to install a Kaleidos reactor at Buckley Space Force Base in Colorado, part of a different, earlier effort called the Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations program that also includes companies such as Oklo, X-energy, BWXT and Kairos Power. “Energy resiliency is not a luxury, it is a foundation of power projection and combat readiness,” said Maj. Gen. Colin P. Tuley, commanding general of the Maneuver Center of Excellence and Fort Benning. “Integrating microreactors into our critical infrastructure ensures that our flight lines, command nodes, and combat training pipelines remain fully mission-capable, regardless of external disruptions to the regional utility grid.” The Army is targeting 2028 for the first Janus microreactors to become operational, and Fort Benning’s exact site selection remains under evaluation. Bağımsız raporlama kaynak gerektirir. Patreon'da bize katılın.