BWX Technologies Inks TRISO Nuclear Fuel Contract

The Lynchburg-based manufacturer will produce uranium fuel for Antares Nuclear's upcoming series of microreactors.

Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Nuclear

BWX Technologies Inks TRISO Nuclear Fuel Contract

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BWX Technologies has entered a multi-year agreement to supply TRISO nuclear fuel for Antares Nuclear. The fuel will be manufactured at the company's facility in Lynchburg to support the deployment of advanced microreactors.

Why it matters

This partnership facilitates Antares Nuclear's transition from small-scale reactor demonstration to full-scale electricity production and military deployment.

The production process utilizes the established fabrication line previously used for the Project Pele and Mark-0 reactors. This contract covers an initial allocation of 1 metric ton of uranium fuel.

The players

BWX Technologies

This manufacturing firm is a supplier of nuclear components and fuel based in Lynchburg.

Antares Nuclear

This organization develops advanced microreactor technology for energy production and defense applications.

The details

The manufactured fuel will support the development of the Mark-1 electricity-producing reactor and subsequent production units for military installations. This production line leverages the same manufacturing techniques previously used for the Mark-0 microreactor that achieved criticality in 2026.

Antares achieved initial criticality of its Mark-0 microreactor in 2026.
BWX Technologies announced the contract on October 27, 2026.
Antares plans to power its Mark-1 electricity-producing reactor in 2027.
Initial military deployment of the production reactors is expected in 2028.

The Big Picture

The contract leverages the fabrication protocols established by the Department of Defense's Project Pele program. By utilizing these existing processes, BWX Technologies is scaling modular reactor fuel production beyond initial research trials.

The transition to modular production of TRISO fuel aims to support the deployment of compact reactors capable of powering electricity grids and military installations. This scaling effort could influence future energy security by enabling decentralized power generation.

The takeaway

This agreement signals a shift toward the commercialization of microreactor fuel production for specialized applications. The use of existing, proven manufacturing lines is expected to streamline the transition to field deployments over the next several years.