The Pentagon has chosen Alaska Eielson Air Force Base to host the military’s first nuclear micro-creator Air Force Base project. Defense officials announced the selection in June, citing the base’s isolation and history of power disruptions as key factors.
The Department of Defense expects the microreactor to be operational by late 2028, supplying steady power in extreme Arctic conditions. Located near Fairbanks, Eielson frequently endures subzero winters and has experienced power outages in 2020 and 2024.
Air Force Secretary Troy Meink explained that remote bases like Eielson rely heavily on secure, resilient energy to maintain operations. Once approved, California-based Oklo Inc. will design, own, and operate the advanced microreactor under a 30-year fixed-price agreement.
Oklo is currently developing a test version of the reactor at the Idaho National Laboratory in Idaho Falls. Although the Nuclear Regulatory Commission rejected Oklo’s initial license application in 2022, the company plans to reapply soon.
President Trump’s executive orders have since accelerated the NRC’s timeline to approve licenses in under 18 months. The reactor will produce between 3 and 10 megawatts of energy and run for years without refueling.
Pentagon officials described it as self-sufficient, requiring no connection to civilian power grids for operation. A separate Defense Department project is also testing a portable nuclear reactor for short-term deployment, aiming to support missions for up to three years.
That model developed by BWXT Advanced Technologies targets remote sites requiring 1 to 5 megawatts of energy. Col. Paul Townsend, commander of Eielson, welcomed the announcement, saying the base is ready for cleaner, more reliable energy.
