SEPTEMBER 9, 2026 – The Department of War announced the planned installation of the State of Indiana’s first advanced nuclear Micro Modular Reactor (MMR) at Naval Weapons Station (NWS) Crane no later than September 2028. This action implements President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Orders, Deploying Advanced Nuclear Reactor Technologies for National Security and Reinvigorating the Nuclear Industrial Base, which advances a clear mandate to restore American nuclear leadership globally, remove barriers to innovation, and rebuild the domestic nuclear workforce.
The overall project 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 (OUSW(R&E)), and the State of Indiana. Together, these partners will secure continuous power for one of the Nation’s most important defense technology and weapons installations, create highly skilled American jobs, strengthen the American nuclear supply chain, and rebuild the industrial capacity required for national defense.
The commercially owned and operated MMR at NWS Crane, one of the United States’ premier warfighting innovation and capability development hubs, marks the first step in a larger, unified Department-wide effort to deploy safe and secure nuclear power for national security. The MMR installation 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 MMR installation is being executed through the Army’s Janus Program, in coordination with the Department of the Navy, the Department of War Innovation Unit, and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Critical Technologies (OASW(CT)). This cross-service effort brings together the Army’s role as the Department’s executive agent for installation nuclear energy, the Navy’s operational mission at NWS Crane, DIU’s access to commercial innovation, and the Department’s critical technology enterprise.
“Under President Trump’s bold leadership, the Department of War is rapidly fielding next-generation energy solutions for our warfighters,” said Emil Michael, Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering. “We are unleashing the American nuclear industrial base to ensure our military installations possess the resilient infrastructure required to maintain uninterrupted operations.”
OASW(CT) is leading the coordination of key stakeholders across the Department to integrate and execute the Crane project under the Janus Program. “At Critical Technologies, we start from a simple first principle: a technology matters only when it reaches the mission,” said Mike Dodd, Assistant Secretary of War for Critical Technologies. “Our standard is to field and deploy capability within 24 months or less. President Trump’s Executive Order gave the Department a clear mandate to move advanced nuclear power from promise to deployment. We turned that mandate into a focused sprint within our Contested Logistics Critical Technology Area to deliver this capability on time and on target, strengthen the American nuclear industrial base, and secure a decisive advantage for our warfighters.”
“Janus was designed from the beginning to deliver capability beyond the Army,” said the Honorable 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. Together, we are building a pathway to resilient nuclear power that can strengthen mission assurance across the Joint Force.”
“Energy security is warfighting capability. Hosting the Navy’s first shore-based advanced microreactor at NWS Crane under the Janus Program underscores our commitment to hardening our shore infrastructure against evolving physical, cyber, and grid vulnerabilities,” said the Honorable Brendan Rogers, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations and Environment. “Partnering with the Army and OASW(CT) allows us to move with speed, establish a resilient firm power backbone, and protect the vital research, development, and manufacturing our Fleet depends on every day.”
This initiative builds on more than a year of close coordination between the Department of War and Indiana state leadership. Senator Jim Banks has been an indispensable partner in advancing the MMR initiative from concept to installation in the Hoosier State. His leadership, together with the direct support of Governor Mike Braun, Senator Todd Young, Representative Erin Houchin, and Representative Mark Messmer, has cleared the path for the Department to move with speed to secure our national defense infrastructure.
The Department will continue to work with Federal, state, and local partners throughout the required safety, environmental, regulatory, and installation processes. Nuclear safety, physical security, cybersecurity, and responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources will remain central at every stage. This project marks the first milestone of President Trump’s mandate to revitalize the American nuclear industrial base and deploy next-generation energy technologies to secure an enduring advantage for the Joint Force.