U.S. Navy Selects Radiant Microreactor for Indiana Weapons Station

The U.S. Navy has selected Radiant to deploy a nuclear microreactor at Naval Weapons Station Crane in Indiana, advancing a plan to supply critical military infrastructure with electricity independent of the grid.

The Oct. 20 selection centers on Kaleidos, a factory-built reactor designed to produce 1 megawatt of electrical power. It can be transported by land, sea or air and is designed to operate without cooling water or extensive construction at the site.

Kaleidos is designed to run for up to five years between refuelings over a 20-year service life. The selection adds the Navy to Radiant’s work with the Army and Air Force, but the reactor has not begun supplying power at Crane.

Tests at Idaho National Laboratory’s DOME facility are intended to demonstrate the reactor’s performance and reliability. Radiant expects future military deployments to establish an operating record.

Vice Adm. Brad Collins, commander of Navy Installations Command, said “ensuring their resilience is essential to supporting the Fleet,” referring to Navy installations.

Before deployment at Crane, the project must advance through design refinement, prototype testing, environmental review, site preparation and regulatory coordination.