Nano Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) announced it has been selected by AFWERX for a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I contract centered on its KRONOS MMR™ Energy System for the Department of the Air Force (DAF).

The contract, which began July 21, 2026, is part of the DAF's Open Topic SBIR/STTR program, a initiative launched in 2018 that broadened the range of innovations the DAF funds. The program is administered through a partnership between the Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX, which aims to streamline the proposal-to-award process for small businesses.

James Walker, chief executive officer of Nano Nuclear Energy, said the award represents "another meaningful step" in the company's defense commercialization strategy, noting the company now has "multiple active engagements with the Department of the Air Force."

Jay Yu, founder and chairman, described energy resilience as "a strategic priority across the U.S. military" and said the award expands the company's opportunity with the Air Force while providing commercial validation of its technology roadmap.

The KRONOS MMR™ is described as a stationary high-temperature gas-cooled reactor currently in construction permit pre-application engagement with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, developed in collaboration with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Nano Nuclear is also developing two other reactor products: "ZEUS," a portable solid core battery reactor, and the LOKI MMR™, a space-focused portable reactor.