Nuclear technology startup Antares has successfully closed a $96 million Series B funding round to accelerate the development of its advanced microreactors. The capital infusion will fuel the company's mission to address critical energy shortages in national security and space exploration sectors. This significant investment marks a pivotal step in Antares' ambitious plan to rapidly build and test next-generation nuclear hardware for strategic government applications.
Addressing a Critical Energy Gap
Antares was founded just over two years ago to tackle what it identified as a crucial vulnerability in American strategic capabilities. The company observed that energy scarcity was hindering the deployment of critical defense systems and that the nation had lost its edge in iterative nuclear hardware development. This new funding directly supports its goal of revitalizing the develop-build-test cycle that is essential for technological advancement in the nuclear field.
A Roadmap for Rapid Development
The newly acquired capital is earmarked for tangible progress, including hardware development, subsystem testing, fuel fabrication, and manufacturing infrastructure. Antares emphasizes an iterative philosophy, rejecting the linear design-then-build process that has slowed nuclear innovation for decades. This approach is central to their strategy for turning designs into operational systems on an accelerated timeline, fostering continuous improvement and learning.
The company's immediate goal is a low-power reactor demonstration, dubbed Mark-0, scheduled for 2026 at Idaho National Laboratory. This initial test will validate the core physics and control systems of its primary R1 reactor design. Successfully completing this milestone will also provide invaluable experience with the Department of Energy's authorization standards, paving the way for faster future development.
Following the Mark-0 demonstration, Antares plans to build its Mark-1 reactor, a full-power, electricity-producing unit, as early as 2027. This next-generation system will validate performance under real-world operating conditions and test its closed Brayton cycle power conversion technology. The Mark-1 represents the critical bridge between development and the production of commercially viable microreactors for its target customers.
Targeting Strategic Government Contracts
With this funding, Antares is strategically positioned to pursue major federal contracts that require reliable, advanced power sources. The company has identified the U.S. military and NASA as its primary first-mover customers, aligning its technology with pressing national priorities. These government agencies represent a clear and immediate market for the secure and resilient energy solutions Antares is developing.
Specific initiatives like the U.S. Army's JANUS program, which seeks microreactors for base and mission power, are a key focus for the company. Additionally, Antares is targeting NASA's Fission Surface Power program, which aims to deploy a reactor on the lunar surface by 2030. These programs underscore the growing government demand for safe, continuous power in terrestrial, space, and underwater environments.
A Vision for the Future of Energy
Antares' long-term vision extends beyond Earth, aiming to enable an era of abundant energy throughout the solar system. The company aspires to become the premier engineering firm for strategic energy, delivering complete fission-powered systems to a diverse clientele. This ambition is not just about replacing generators but about enabling entirely new mission capabilities for its government and commercial partners.
This $96 million investment serves as a powerful catalyst for Antares, significantly accelerating its timeline to deliver operational nuclear reactors. By focusing on tangible hardware and an iterative development cycle, the company is poised to revitalize American leadership in a critical technological domain. The funding solidifies Antares' path toward providing secure energy solutions for the nation's most demanding security and exploration challenges.