Pele microreactor core fabrication begins for 2028 military launch

The Pele microreactor, a 1.5-megawatt transportable nuclear reactor, has entered the core fabrication phase at BWX Technologies’ Innovation Campus in Lynchburg, Virginia. Designed for the U.S. Department of Defense Strategic Capabilities Office, the reactor aims to begin producing energy by 2028. Compact enough to fit into four 20-foot shipping containers, Pele is a gas-cooled system powered by TRISO fuel, a high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) that can withstand extreme heat and offers low environmental risk. It is intended primarily to power forward military bases but also has potential applications in disaster response and remote research stations, providing electricity for up to three years without refueling. BWXT is collaborating with key partners including Rolls-Royce, which is developing the power conversion module, and Northrop Grumman, responsible for the control module. The project began in 2016 after the Department of Defense identified a need for transportable power