Breakthrough as Small Modular Reactor Achieves Critical Milestone
WHO:
AP News - Antares Nuclear Inc. is the company developing the small nuclear reactor.
AP News - Chris Wright is the Energy Secretary who announced the milestone.
AP News - The U.S. Army is a partner in the reactor's development.
AP News - Jordan Bramble is the CEO of Antares Nuclear Inc.
AP News - Isaiah Taylor is the CEO of Valar Atomics, another company involved in nuclear technology.
WHAT:
AP News - Antares expects to begin producing electricity by late 2027 and see its systems deployed in the field by the end of 2028, according to CEO Jordan Bramble.
AP News - Bramble stated, "2026 is the year where microreactors are becoming real. We’re months to years out from being able to start deploying this technology to military installations."
AP News - The reactor transported from California to Utah is a 5-megawatt microreactor, which will eventually generate enough electricity to power 5,000 homes.
AP News - The small nuclear reactor developed by Antares reached "criticality," meaning it achieved a self-sustaining chain reaction.
AP News - The reactor is not yet ready to generate power.
AP News - The Antares reactor is the first advanced reactor to reach criticality under a pilot program initiated by the Trump administration.
AP News - Antares expects to begin producing electricity by late 2027 and deploy systems in the field by the end of 2028.
AP News - The Trump administration aims to achieve criticality in at least three test reactors by July 4.
WHERE:
AP News - The reactor is being developed at the Idaho National Lab.
AP News - The small nuclear reactor was airlifted from California to Hill Air Force Base in Utah.
WHEN:
AP News - The criticality milestone was announced to have been reached on a Thursday.
AP News - The Trump administration's executive orders to speed up nuclear power development were signed in May 2025.
AP News - The goal for achieving criticality in test reactors is set for July 4.
WHY:
AP News - The Trump administration's executive orders signed in May 2025 limit some authority of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which has regulated the U.S. nuclear industry for five decades.
AP News - The milestone is part of the Trump administration's effort to remove regulatory barriers to advance nuclear technologies.
AP News - The administration's push aims to drive energy innovation, lower energy costs, and enhance national power.
HOW:
AP News - The Energy Department is in talks with Utah and other states to host sites that could reprocess nuclear fuel or handle permanent disposal.
AP News - The criticality was achieved through a demonstration conducted in partnership with the Energy Department and other contractors.
(UPDATED June 6, 2026 07:52 UTC)
Antares is set to begin producing electricity by late 2027, with plans to deploy its systems in the field by the end of 2028, as announced by CEO Jordan Bramble. He emphasized that 2026 marks a pivotal year for microreactors, stating that they are just months to years away from being deployed at military installations, with a 5-megawatt microreactor recently transported from California to Utah capable of powering 5,000 homes. Meanwhile, the Trump administration's executive orders from May 2025 have limited some authority of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Energy Department is currently in discussions with Utah and other states about potential sites for reprocessing nuclear fuel or managing permanent disposal.
--
(UPDATED June 5, 2026 23:22 UTC)
Antares Nuclear Inc. has announced a significant milestone in the development of its small nuclear reactor, having achieved criticality, which means it has reached a self-sustaining chain reaction. Energy Secretary Chris Wright highlighted that this reactor, developed in partnership with the U.S. Army, is the first advanced reactor to achieve this milestone under a pilot program initiated by Trump, with plans to begin producing electricity by late 2027 and deploying systems in the field by the end of 2028. The criticality was reached through a demonstration at the Idaho National Lab, showcasing the administration's efforts to advance nuclear technologies and drive energy innovation.