Fusion power startups are increasingly engaging with the defence sector, a move that reconnects the industry with its historical national security origins. This shift is occurring as venture capital funding for climate technology, a significant source of support for fusion startups, has reportedly stalled.
Last week, laser-based fusion startup Xcimer announced a partnership and investment from RTX, a conglomerate that includes defence contractor Raytheon. The deal provides Xcimer with funding from RTX Ventures, while RTX gains the opportunity to explore using Xcimer's powerful lasers.
Xcimer operates what it states is the world's largest privately owned laser system, the Phoenix, which it plans to use for developing a power plant. Although its current system operates at a lower power than required for a power plant, it has attracted the attention of the defence industry.
Another company, Pacific Fusion, announced a memorandum of understanding last month with the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to collaborate on high-energy-density fusion experiments. Pacific Fusion's co-founder and chief technical officer, Keith LeChein, stated that the facility they are building also has utility in defence applications, with co-founder Carrie von Muench noting that defence applications were "always on our mind."