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Pentagon's new contracts could mean creation of mobile nuclear reactors

Smaller, mobile nuclear reactors could be the future.

Shelby Brown Editor II
Shelby Brown (she/her/hers) is an editor for CNET's services team. She covers tips and tricks for apps, operating systems and devices, as well as mobile gaming and Apple Arcade news. Shelby also oversees Tech Tips coverage. Before joining CNET, she covered app news for Download.com and served as a freelancer for Louisville.com.
Credentials
  • She received the Renau Writing Scholarship in 2016 from the University of Louisville's communication department.
Shelby Brown
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Nuclear reactors could be smaller and mobile soon. 

Classen Rafael / EyeEm/ Getty Images

The Pentagon issued three new contracts that reportedly signal the start of work on small, mobile nuclear reactors, according to a report from Defense News on Monday. This is reportedly part of a two-step plan to achieve nuclear power for US forces at home and overseas. 

BWX Technologies of Virginia (a company that supplies nuclear components and fuel to the US government), X-energy of Maryland, and Westinghouse Government Services of Washington, D.C., were awarded a combined almost $40 million in contracts to begin a two-year design competition for a small nuclear microreactor, according to Defense News. 

The contracts are from "Project Pele," which is run through the Strategic Capabilities Office on the Pentagon's research and engineering side. 

"[Pele] involves the development of a safe, mobile and advanced nuclear microreactor to support a variety of Department of Defense missions such as generating power for remote operating bases," Lt. Col. Robert Carver, a department spokesman, told Defense News. "After a two-year design-maturation period, one of the companies funded to begin design work may be selected to build and demonstrate a prototype." 

CNET reached out to the Department of Defense, and we'll update when we hear back.