El Segundo-based Radiant Industries has secured a U.S. Army contract worth up to $750 million to deploy approximately 15 nuclear microreactors, a major win for Los Angeles County’s growing advanced energy and defense technology sector.
According to the Los Angeles Business Journal, the contract represents one of the largest defense energy technology awards in recent years and validates the commercial viability of compact nuclear power for military applications.
Radiant Industries, which develops transportable nuclear microreactors designed for remote and off-grid power generation, has been a rising star in LA’s aerospace and defense corridor. The company’s technology addresses a critical military need: reducing dependence on vulnerable diesel fuel supply chains for forward operating bases and remote installations.
The contract also signals broader interest from the Department of Defense in deploying small modular reactors and microreactors as part of a strategy to enhance energy resilience. The Army has identified nuclear microreactors as a priority technology for reducing casualties associated with fuel convoys and improving operational independence.
For El Segundo and the South Bay, the deal reinforces the region’s position as a hub for defense innovation. The area around Los Angeles International Airport has become a cluster for aerospace, defense, and advanced energy companies, benefiting from proximity to aerospace engineering talent and defense procurement infrastructure.
Radiant will need to navigate regulatory hurdles with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for deployment licenses, though military applications operate under separate Department of Energy and DOD frameworks. The company has been testing prototype units and plans to deliver initial reactors under the contract timeline over the next several years.
