The US Department of the Air Force (DAF), in conjunction with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), has selected Buckley Space Force Base (SFB), Colorado, and Malmstrom Air Force Base (AFB), Montana, as potential locations to site nuclear microreactors under the Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations (ANPI) programme.
The ANPI partnership between the service and DIU aims to deploy advanced, contractor-owned and operated nuclear microreactors on DAF installations in partnership with commercial reactor companies. It is anticipated those companies will site, license, construct, operate and decommission the microreactors.
“By advancing the use of next-generation nuclear energy, the DAF is strengthening the energy security of our power projection platforms and contributing to long-term national energy leadership,” said Nancy Balkus, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Infrastructure, Energy and Environment. “This initiative represents a critical step in ensuring the department remains the world’s premier Air Force and Space Force.”
Experts from DAF and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory performed extensive data and on-site analysis, evaluating environment, nuclear safety and energy integration. Buckley SFB and Malmstrom AFB were selected as preferred locations because of their utility infrastructure, land availability and critical mission requirements.
In the coming months, the bases will be paired with an ANPI nuclear vendor technology that best fits the installation’s energy needs, with an anticipated deployment date of 2030 or earlier.
This ANPI programme is separate from the microreactor pilot programme at Eielson AFB, Alaska, which is a stand-alone effort focused on demonstrating the feasibility and operational benefits of a microreactor at a single installation.
