US Air Force-backed mini gas-cooled reactor gets high-power nuclear fuel deal support

US-based NANO Nuclear Energy and Quadrant Nuclear Industries have signed an initial agreement to secure specialized nuclear fuel. Under this arrangement, the companies will develop plans for the future supply of high-assay low-enriched uranium, known as HALEU. The fuel will come from Quadrant’s planned Vanguard facility at Idaho National Laboratory. This site aims to produce up to eighteen metric tons of enriched fuel each year with support from the United States Department of Energy. The primary user of this fuel will be NANO Nuclear’s KRONOS micro modular reactor. This system is a stationary, high-temperature gas-cooled reactor. Each unit produces between 10 and 45 megawatts of thermal energy. That heat converts to an electrical output of 3.5 to 15 megawatts per unit. Packing more energy into smaller volume The choice of fuel is directly tied to the reactor’s compact size. Standard commercial nuclear plants run on uranium enriched up to 5 percent. In contrast, advanced microreactors need uranium enriched up to 20 percent. This higher level of enrichment packs more energy into a smaller volume. It allows the core to operate for much longer periods without refueling. It also lets engineers build far smaller reactor vessels and core structures. However, commercial supplies of this fuel remain scarce. Setting up production and delivery pipelines now is critical for testing, regulatory approvals, and eventual deployment. Notably, conventional reactors mostly rely on large volumes of water to cool their cores. However, the KRONOS system replaces water with inert helium gas, which remains in a single gas phase throughout the cooling cycle without boiling. Because the system requires no external water source, it can run in dry, remote environments where traditional power plants cannot operate. Continuous electricity without grid connection The reactor also operates independently from regional power grids. This technical setup led to an earlier Phase I development contract with the United States Air Force through its AFWERX innovation initiative. Military planners are evaluating the design as a standalone power source for remote bases. The system can provide continuous baseline electricity without connecting to civilian grids or depending on regular fossil fuel deliveries. Over the coming years, both companies will work to align their technical systems. Reactor cores require strict tolerances for fuel shape, cladding materials, heat transfer rates, and neutron behavior. The partnership will address these engineering needs alongside shipping logistics, demand projections, and regulatory oversight. “Access to reliable, domestically produced HALEU will be a key element in supporting the growth of advanced nuclear energy,” said James Walker, CEO of NANO Nuclear Energy. By linking fuel manufacturing directly to reactor development, the project aims to solve the technical and supply hurdles facing modern microreactors. “The companies intend to collaborate on areas including fuel supply planning, technical interface requirements, commercial structuring, regulatory coordination, logistics considerations, and demand forecasting associated with future HALEU supply arrangements,” concluded the company in a press release. Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.An active and versatile journalist and news editor. He has covered regular and breaking news for several leading publications and news media, including The Hindu, Economic Times, Tomorrow Makers, and many more. Aman holds expertise in politics, travel, and tech news, especially in AI, advanced algorithms, and blockchain, with a strong curiosity about all things that fall under science and tech.