Navy’s first terrestrial reactor coming to Indiana’s NWS Crane

The Department of Defense has announced the first deployment of a microreactor on a shore-based Navy installation will be at Indiana's Naval Weapons Station (NWS) Crane and executed jointly with the Army's Janus Program. Not only will it be a first for the Navy when it is installed by September 2028, it will be Indiana's first power-producing reactor.

Previous announcements regarding advanced reactors on military bases have revolved around the Army and Air Force. Most recently, the Army announced that five reactor developers were selected and paired with five military installations under the Janus Program. Wednesday's announcement expands the concept into another military branch.

"Janus was designed from the beginning to deliver capability beyond the Army," said W. Jordan Gillis, assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy, and environment. "This partnership demonstrates what is possible when we combine the Army's nuclear expertise and regulatory authorities with the operational installation requirements of our sister services and the innovation of American industry."

Last month, five developers were chosen for the Janus Program: Antares Nuclear, BWXT Advanced Technologies, General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems, Radiant Industries, and Westinghouse Government Services. A DOD official told Nuclear News that "NWS Crane represents one of several more installations which will receive Janus reactors already contracted for. Which of those five companies will be coming to Crane will be announced at a later date."

Siting and collaboration: The announcement is tied to two of President Trump's nuclear energy-related executive orders, "Deploying Advanced Nuclear Reactor Technologies for National Security" and "Reinvigorating the Nuclear Industrial Base." According to the DOD, this microreactor deployment will provide "reliable, around-the-clock power independent of the commercial electric grid, capable of sustaining critical operations under the most demanding conditions. As the first power-producing reactor installed in Indiana, this project expands the United States' power generation capacity and modernizes the energy infrastructure needed to serve local communities and advance missions critical to national security."

The project at the southern Indiana defense technology and weapons installation is being executed jointly by the Army's Janus Program; the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations, and Environment; the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering; and the State of Indiana.

The "cross-service effort" of the Indiana project helps bring together the "Army's role as the [DOD's] executive agent for installation nuclear energy, the Navy's operational mission at NWS Crane, [the Defense Innovation Unit's] access to commercial innovation, and the [DOD's] critical technology enterprise," the announcement said.

Other participating parties include the following:

• The Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Critical Technologies, which is leading the coordination of stakeholders to integrate and execute the NWS Crane project.
• The State of Indiana and some of its elected officials, who have been coordinating with the DOD for more than a year.

Officials in Indiana have shown an eagerness to bring new nuclear opportunities to the state, such as with the unveiling of its Advanced Nuclear Ready Communities Program or the signing of a nonbinding letter of intent with pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly to explore potential nuclear projects.

"Critical next-generation energy solutions for our warfighters will be located in Indiana, at Crane," Sen. Todd Young (R., Ind.) said. "This first-of-its-kind mission will bring the highest levels of nuclear expertise to our state and is another example of the important role Hoosiers are playing in our national security."

The DOD said it will continue to work with federal, state, and local partners to clear the required safety, environmental, regulatory, and installation processes.