US Air Force to Build Advanced Nuclear Facility at Space Force Base

The U.S. Air Force has signaled the latest trends in military energy technology by recently announcing plans to construct an Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations (ANPI) facility on Space Force grounds. The ANPI program the Air Force is pursuing utilizes small modular reactors (SMRs) that are faster to build and have a lower risk of radiation leakage compared to conventional nuclear power plants. This is expected to enhance the energy efficiency of military bases by reliably supplying electricity and heating energy without relying on external power grids. Buckley Space Force Base in Colorado and Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana have been selected as sites for ANPI facility construction, and the U.S. military plans to select nuclear technology suppliers within the next few months and deploy the SMRs by 2030.

Amid discussions about the potential participation of domestic companies in this project, DL E&C has been involved in the U.S. company X-energy's SMR project since 2023, performing standardized design and signing an implementation contract in March. Doosan Enerbility has also strengthened its cooperation with X-energy since 2021 through the manufacturing of main nuclear components and equity investment. Hyundai Engineering & Construction is preparing to break ground for its first SMR-300 unit in collaboration with the U.S. firm Holtec. While some domestic companies have stated that there have been no ANPI-related discussions yet, industry evaluations suggest abundant opportunities for South Korean firms based on their extensive experience in direct reactor construction.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Space Force is increasingly strengthening its defense technology through collaborations with South Korean companies such as 'SpaceMap' and 'Green Optical,' underscoring the expanding global cooperation in space operations and defense.