A Milestone for U.S. HALEU Supply

In September 2026, Centrus Energy and Antares Nuclear signed a definitive multi-year contract for the supply of U.S.-origin High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU). This strategic agreement marks a significant step forward in securing domestic fuel supply for advanced nuclear applications, specifically targeting national security and space exploration missions.

Unobligated Enrichment for Defense and Space

Under the terms of the deal, Antares will make prepayments that directly fund Centrus' expansion toward commercial-scale HALEU production. Deliveries are scheduled to commence before the end of the decade. Crucially, the fuel provided will be unobligated, meaning it is free from international use restrictions, which is a strict requirement for sensitive U.S. military and space programs.

Centrus' AC100 centrifuge design is the only deployment-ready technology capable of producing unobligated enriched uranium for U.S. national security applications.

Antares is developing compact, transportable microreactors for these exact sectors. The company was recently selected by the U.S. Army for deployment at Fort Bragg under the Janus programme, aiming for operation by September 2028. Additionally, Antares is slated to provide power for Joint Base San Antonio under the U.S. Air Force's program and recently secured a $161 million Space Force Strategic Breakthrough award for a space reactor demonstration.

Expanding Domestic Capacity

This contract follows Centrus' earlier agreement with Radiant and builds upon its ongoing operations at the American Centrifuge Plant in Piketon, Ohio. As the only licensed HALEU production facility in the western world, Centrus is uniquely positioned to meet the surging demand for unobligated fuel, reinforcing U.S. energy independence and national security infrastructure.

Antares has already made significant technical strides, with its Antares 0 reactor achieving initial criticality on June 4, 2026, at the Idaho National Lab. This milestone, achieved under the DOE Reactor Pilot Program, makes Antares the first private company to reach this stage, validating the urgent need for reliable HALEU supply chains.

This article was assisted by AI analysis. Please refer to the original source for official information.