Electricity demand is soaring across every sector. Analysts forecast that global consumption could more than double, or even triple, by 2050. Nowhere is this strain more visible than on the front lines of national security.

Today’s defense installations are dense networks of sensors, communications gear, and autonomy systems, drawing far more power than legacy grids and generators can reliably provide. Nearly all U.S. forward operating bases rely on diesel for power and attacks on fuel convoys have accounted for roughly 20% of U.S. casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan. When grid outages occur or supply lines are disrupted, critical systems like radars, command centers, and launch facilities can go dark.

That’s why we’ve invested in Antares, a company designing a deployable fission micro‑reactor capable of delivering between 100 and 500 kW of power for four to six years without refueling. Their technology offers defense customers a way to leapfrog the fragile diesel chain and unlock secure, reliable electricity wherever it’s needed. Today the company announced their $96 million Series B round, led by Shine Capital, with participation by Alt Capital, Caffeinated, Industrious Ventures, and others.

Jordan Bramble and Julia DeWahl founded Antares in 2023 to close the gap between escalating energy needs and fragile supply chains. To do this, the team is building a rapidly deployable micro‑reactor designed for mission‑critical energy. Their kW-scale R1 microreactor is purpose‑built for earth, space, and underwater applications.

Developing advanced nuclear for federal use is as much about process as product. Antares is working through engineering validation, fuel readiness, and regulatory pathways in parallel, and recently achieved a major technical milestone with the successful demonstration of their Electrically-Heated Demonstration Unit at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. The team has invested in vertical capabilities like high‑temperature heat‑pipe design and precision graphite machining to control key parts of the supply chain. Keeping R&D in‑house lets them iterate quickly and maintain quality. The business model anticipates early revenue from engineering services and prototype deliveries while progressing toward full‑scale deployments, which is uncommon in a field known for long timelines.

Why We Chose to Partner

At 53 Stations, we invest in companies solving persistent friction in complex systems. Our conviction comes from combining deep research with unvarnished feedback from operators and executives. In the energy domain, that means talking to the people who run bases, build reactors, and manage supply chains. Their message has been clear: installations are electrifying, diesel is a liability, and dependable on‑site power is an urgent necessity of modern warfare.

Those insights align with our broader investment pillars: modernizing mission‑critical infrastructure, accelerating energy resilience, and deploying industrial AI for the physical world. Julia and Jordan fit the profile we seek in founders, backed by a 40-person multidisciplinary team that combines world-class engineers from SpaceX, Relativity, Los Alamos, and government agencies with seasoned leaders from the DoD and Capitol Hill. We look for teams who treat regulation as infrastructure, see compliance and safety as product features, and design for resilience first. 

Building for What Comes Next

Antares’ defense‑first orientation complements programs like the Department of Defense’s Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations, and their roadmap reflects the discipline required to work in regulated environments. The company is advancing toward a Department of Energy-managed testing milestone at Idaho National Laboratory in 2026 – an important proof point, but only one step in a longer progression. 

Ahead lies continued collaboration with federal partners, scaling manufacturing, and preparing for the shift from demonstration to field use. Advanced nuclear is moving from concept to necessity for U.S. defense and critical infrastructure; the combination of national‑security urgency, evolving policy support, and Antares’ defense‑first design makes this an effort we’re excited to back at exactly the right moment.

We’re proud to support the Antares team as they build a new generation of secure, reliable energy for U.S. defense.