Website: [ga.com](https://www.ga.com) ### Introduction General Atomics (GA) is a privately held American energy and defense corporation founded in 1955 as a division of General Dynamics, with its nuclear energy efforts initially focused on Project Orion, a nuclear propulsion concept. Headquartered in San Diego, California, GA has evolved into a diversified technology company specializing in nuclear energy, unmanned aerial vehicles, and electromagnetic systems. While specific employee counts are not publicly disclosed in recent data, the company is known to employ thousands across its various divisions, reflecting its significant scale and scope. GA’s mission centers on developing advanced technology solutions for government and commercial applications, with a strong emphasis on nuclear energy innovation, both in fission and fusion, to address global energy challenges. As a private entity, General Atomics does not have a publicly traded ticker symbol, which allows it to operate with flexibility in long-term research and development investments without the pressures of quarterly earnings reports. Its nuclear fission efforts, managed primarily through General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS), focus on advanced reactor designs and supporting existing reactor fleets, building on decades of experience in nuclear technology research. ### Key Products and Technology General Atomics has a robust portfolio in nuclear fission technology, with several notable products and concepts under development or in operation. Below are the key offerings related to nuclear fission: - **TRIGA® Research Reactor (Training, Research, Isotopes, General Atomics)** - **Type**: Research reactor - **Technical Specifications**: Power output typically ranges from 100 kW to 16 MW thermal, depending on the model; designed for low-power, inherently safe operation. - **Fuel Type**: Uranium-zirconium hydride (UZrH) fuel, which provides inherent safety through a negative temperature coefficient. - **Key Differentiators**: Features a flawless safety record over 50+ years, with over 60 units built worldwide; inherently safe design minimizes accident risk even under extreme conditions. - **Development Stage**: Operational, with ongoing support and upgrades for existing reactors. - **Target Customers**: Universities, research institutions, and government agencies for isotope production and nuclear research. - **Energy Multiplier Module (EM2)** - **Type**: Advanced gas-cooled fast reactor - **Technical Specifications**: Targets 265 MWe output per module; designed for high efficiency with a conversion ratio greater than 1, allowing it to breed more fuel than it consumes. - **Fuel Type**: Uses a "convert-and-burn" approach with uranium carbide fuel, initially starting with enriched uranium or plutonium and converting depleted uranium into fissile material over time. - **Key Differentiators**: Addresses core nuclear energy challenges—safety, waste reduction, cost, and proliferation resistance—through a novel design that minimizes refueling needs (30-year core life) and reduces high-level waste. - **Development Stage**: Conceptual design phase, with long-term R&D focus by GA’s Nuclear Technologies & Materials (NTM) division. - **Target Customers**: Utilities and governments seeking sustainable, long-term baseload power solutions. - **Fast Modular Reactor (FMR)** - **Type**: Fast-spectrum modular reactor - **Technical Specifications**: Specific power output not publicly detailed in recent sources, but designed to be compact and scalable for modular deployment. - **Fuel Type**: Likely to use advanced fuels such as TRISO (tri-structural isotropic) particles, based on GA’s historical expertise. - **Key Differentiators**: Focuses on modularity for easier deployment and scalability; leverages GA’s experience with fast-spectrum designs for enhanced safety and efficiency. - **Development Stage**: Conceptual design recently completed, as reported in late 2025 posts on social media platforms like X ([Tomorrow's World Today](https://x.com/twtexplore)). - **Target Customers**: Utilities, industrial users, and potentially data centers requiring reliable, carbon-free power. ### Regulatory and Licensing Status General Atomics has a long history of engagement with regulatory bodies like the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) due to its operation of TRIGA® reactors and involvement in nuclear research. However, specific NRC application statuses for newer designs like the EM2 or Fast Modular Reactor are not publicly detailed in the most recent data. The TRIGA® reactors are fully licensed and operational worldwide, demonstrating GA’s ability to navigate regulatory frameworks successfully. For advanced reactors like EM2, GA is likely in the pre-application or conceptual design phase with the NRC, focusing on design development before formal licensing submissions. No specific milestones or timelines for commercial deployment of EM2 or FMR were found in current public records, indicating that these projects remain in early to mid-stage R&D. Estimated timelines for first commercial deployment of these advanced reactors could stretch into the 2030s, given the typical decade-long process for design certification and licensing of novel nuclear technologies ([NRC.gov](https://www.nrc.gov)). ### Team and Leadership General Atomics maintains a leadership team with deep expertise in nuclear technology and energy systems. Key executives include: - **Neal Blue** - Chairman and CEO. A co-founder of GA, Blue has led the company for decades, overseeing its expansion into nuclear energy and defense sectors. His strategic vision has driven GA’s focus on long-term innovation. - **Dr. Christina Back** - Vice President, Nuclear Technologies and Materials. Back leads GA’s nuclear fission and fusion research efforts, with a background in plasma physics and extensive experience in advanced reactor development. Specific X handles for these individuals are not verified or publicly available in the current dataset, so they are omitted. Leadership information is based on profiles from the company website and historical data ([ga.com](https://www.ga.com)). ### Funding and Financial Position As a private company, General Atomics does not disclose detailed financials or funding rounds in the public domain. No specific information on total funding raised or recent investment rounds was found in current web searches or regulatory filings. GA’s financial stability is inferred from its long-standing contracts with government entities, particularly the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Department of Defense (DOD), as well as its diversified revenue streams from defense and energy sectors. GA has made strategic investments in nuclear technology, such as a $20 million, 10-year commitment to Canada’s Fusion Fuel Cycles Inc. (FFC) in 2025 for fusion-related projects, which indirectly supports its fission expertise through shared R&D resources ([ANS Nuclear Newswire](https://www.ans.org/news/2025-08-28/article-7327)). The company remains pre-revenue for advanced fission designs like EM2 and FMR, relying on government contracts and internal funding for R&D. No major institutional investors or recent financial performance data were identified in the latest sources. ### Recent News and Developments | Date | Event | Details | |---------------|------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Dec 22, 2025 | Fast Modular Reactor Design | GA completed the conceptual design of a new Fast Modular Reactor, advancing its fission portfolio ([Tomorrow's World Today](https://x.com/twtexplore)). | | Nov 17, 2025 | Investment Update | Confirmation of GA’s $20 million investment in Fusion Fuel Cycles’ UNITY-2 project reiterated in industry updates ([ANS Nuclear Newswire](https://www.ans.org/news/article-7470)). | | Aug 28, 2025 | Strategic Investment in Fusion | GA announced a $20 million, 10-year investment in Canada’s Fusion Fuel Cycles Inc. for the UNITY-2 testing facility, supporting nuclear tech R&D ([ANS Nuclear Newswire](https://www.ans.org/news/2025-08-28/article-7327)). | | Apr 29, 2025 | Industry Context Update | GA’s ongoing nuclear projects noted in broader industry updates, though no specific fission milestones reported ([ANS Nuclear Newswire](https://www.ans.org/news/2025-04-29/article-6962)). | | Jan 30, 2025 | Fusion Progress Mention | While focused on fusion, GA’s broader nuclear expertise highlighted in news about plasma shots and international facilities ([KPBS](https://www.kpbs.org/news/local/2025/01/30/general-atomics-sees-an-end-to-the-long-road-toward-nuclear-fusion)). | ### Partnerships and Collaborations - **Fusion Fuel Cycles Inc. (FFC)**: A $20 million, 10-year strategic investment in FFC, a joint venture with Canadian Nuclear Laboratories and [[Kyoto Fusioneering]], to develop the UNITY-2 deuterium-tritium fuel cycle test facility at Chalk River Laboratories. While fusion-focused, this partnership enhances GA’s nuclear technology expertise, potentially benefiting fission R&D through shared resources ([ANS Nuclear Newswire](https://www.ans.org/news/2025-08-28/article-7327)). - **U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)**: Long-standing collaboration on nuclear research, including operation of facilities like DIII-D for fusion and historical fission projects. Provides funding and technical support for GA’s nuclear initiatives ([DOE.gov](https://www.energy.gov)). - No specific utility or offtake agreements for fission reactors were identified in recent data, suggesting that commercial partnerships for EM2 or FMR remain in early stages. ### New Hampshire Relevance General Atomics’ nuclear fission technologies, particularly the EM2 and Fast Modular Reactor, could have potential relevance for [[New Hampshire]], though no direct connections or expressed interest in the state or Northeast U.S. were found in current data. NH’s proximity to [[Seabrook Station]], an existing nuclear power plant, and integration with the ISO-NE grid could make it a feasible location for advanced reactor deployment, especially for modular designs like FMR that prioritize scalability and lower upfront costs. GA’s focus on safety and waste reduction aligns with NH’s legislative initiatives, such as HB 710, which explores small modular reactors (SMRs) for future energy needs. However, GA’s fission technologies (outside of TRIGA®) are not yet at a commercial readiness level for near-term deployment in NH, as they remain in conceptual or early design phases. Potential applications include grid power to support ISO-NE’s decarbonization goals, powering data centers (a growing load in the region), or providing industrial heat for manufacturing. Without specific regulatory or partnership progress, deployment timelines likely extend beyond NH’s immediate energy planning horizon (2025-2030). ### Competitive Position General Atomics faces competition from other advanced nuclear developers like [[TerraPower]], [[[[NuScale Power]]]], and [[[[X-energy]]]], each pursuing distinct fission technologies: - **[[TerraPower]]**: Backed by Bill Gates, TerraPower’s Natrium reactor (a sodium-cooled fast reactor) is further along, having passed NRC environmental review in 2025 for a Wyoming project. GA’s EM2 shares fast-spectrum goals but lags in regulatory progress ([X Post by Mario Nawfal](https://x.com/MarioNawfal)). - **NuScale Power**: Focused on light-water SMRs, NuScale has NRC design certification and is closer to commercial deployment. GA’s gas-cooled and fast-spectrum designs offer different safety and efficiency advantages but are less mature. - **X-energy**: Developing the Xe-100 high-temperature gas reactor, X-energy has secured partnerships (e.g., with Centrica in the UK) and DOE funding. GA’s unique focus on long-life cores (EM2) could be a differentiator, though it carries higher technical risk due to novel fuel cycles. GA’s strength lies in its decades of nuclear expertise and diversified R&D portfolio, but its slower progress on advanced fission commercialization poses a competitive risk against peers with clearer deployment timelines. ### Closing Note General Atomics remains a pioneering force in nuclear fission innovation with promising concepts like EM2 and Fast Modular Reactor, though its trajectory toward commercial deployment is still in early stages with a long-term outlook. (Note: Despite a thorough search on [ga.com](https://www.ga.com) and related pages, no official RSS feed for press releases or news was identified.) *Report generated December 24, 2025*