National Security at a Crossroads: Fusion Energy’s New Strategic Role
How next-generation fusion testing is reshaping U.S. defense resilience and accelerating the clean energy future
The most urgent national security threat facing the fission and fusion energy sector today isn't just maintaining ageing arsenals—it’s the rapid modernisation of testing capabilities to ensure that vital systems can operate under extreme radiation and electromagnetic conditions.
Without robust, cutting-edge testing infrastructure, even the most sophisticated weapons or spacecraft could fail catastrophically at the worst possible moment.
At Fusion Fest 2025 in London, Admiral Charles Richard, former commander of U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), and JC Btaiche, CEO of Fuse Energy, warned that global security—and the future of sustainable energy—depend on whether the United States and its allies can close the growing gap in resilience testing.
"We have great confidence in our strategic systems," Richard said, "but the infrastructure that provides for that has to be recapitalised along with the rest of the strategic deterrent."
Critical technologies must be hardened against conventional threats, nuclear effects, and the harsh realities of space warfare in today's environment.
From hypersonic missile systems to satellite constellations, adversaries are developing capabilities that could disrupt U.S. defences unless every component is rigorously stress-tested against radiation, electromagnetic pulse (EMP), and high-energy plasma effects.
Btaiche stressed that fusion energy innovation and national security resilience are two sides of the same coin.
"Radiation is critical for safeguarding strategic assets—the nuclear stockpile, critical space infrastructure—as we think about space becoming the next frontier of warfare," he said.
The stakes rise as new fusion technologies, such as direct pulse power systems, emerge alongside national initiatives to modernise defence capabilities. Innovations like Fuse Energy’s TITAN platform allow more affordable, repeatable radiation testing, promising to bridge the widening gap left by ageing facilities such as the National Ignition Facility (NIF).
Bridging the Nuclear Testing Gap
Today's national security needs are deeply intertwined with advancements in fusion research and radiation resilience. While the NIF has long been a cornerstone for studying material behaviour under extreme conditions, it relies on laser-driven fusion experiments, primarily using an indirect drive method.
Fuse Energy’s approach is different. "At Fuse, we use direct pulse power—a direct drive, electrically connected to the target," Btaiche explained. "The National Ignition Facility is a massive laser system focusing beams. In our case, we're using an energy delivery system connected directly, which results in very different cost and efficiency outcomes."
This technology recently set new records, achieving one terawatt power levels at nanosecond-scale rise times. The ability to fire rapid, powerful radiation pulses supports near-term defence needs and lays critical groundwork for long-term fusion energy generation.
Richard highlighted the broader implications: "It's not just strategic systems that must operate under extreme conditions. Missile defence, space systems, and even our infrastructure and power grids must be hardened. Testing in environments that simulate nuclear effects is no longer optional—it is essential."
The need for updated testing isn't hypothetical. In recent years, the U.S. has seen adversaries rapidly grow their strategic capabilities.
"China's advancement in strategic nuclear forces was breathtaking," Richard told the audience. "They doubled their nuclear stockpile in three years while I was at STRATCOM."
Through partnerships with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and AFWERX innovation hubs, Fuse Energy is already contributing to modern nuclear effects testing, helping operators better understand survivability and adaptability under nuclear threat conditions.
From Radiation to Resilience
As fusion research advances to commercialisation, the parallel development of advanced testing systems is an unexpected but critical enabler.
Fuse Energy, headquartered in California, represents a new business model: building radiation testing infrastructure first, then scaling gradually toward full fusion power plants.
"Our team is already working with the U.S. government and Fortune 500 companies," Btaiche said. "We’re solving tractable engineering problems today that toughen us for future commercial fusion systems."
According to Btaiche, the incentives for today's national security projects and tomorrow's energy solutions are deeply aligned—at least through the early, high-yield phases of fusion development.
"We're producing radiation efficiently and repetitively," he said. "Until we get to the stage of full commercial power plants, the path is the same."
Still, the eventual transition to producing fusion energy at scale will bring new engineering challenges. "There's still science to be done," Btaiche admitted, emphasising that significant increases in yield are necessary to achieve cost-effective commercial plants.
Admiral Richard compared the situation to Admiral Rickover’s famous distinction between "paper reactors" and real-world nuclear power plants.
"There's plenty of paper fusion plants out there," he said. "But who will do the hard work and real-world engineering to make them a reality? That’s where success will be determined."
Toward Fusion's Real-World Future
Both speakers are looking toward rapid scaling in the years ahead. Fuse plans to link multiple TITAN machines into a larger system called Z-STAR, which is capable of producing high-energy-density plasmas for defence, aerospace, and fusion research applications. It is also designing a fission-fusion hybrid device, Apeiron I, to create new avenues for energy and testing solutions.
For Richard, supporting Fuse’s mission through its advisory board represents an investment in the country's future. "It was an opportunity to contribute not only to national security but to mankind's need for fusion energy," he said.
When asked by an audience about European contributions to China’s nuclear sector, Richard was cautious but clear: "Anything that improves access to energy is good, as long as it isn't used for destructive purposes. But we must remain vigilant and protect our security interests."
Btaiche and his team's near-term goal is ambitious yet straightforward: Build a sustainable, revenue-generating business that matures the technology necessary for large-scale fusion plants.
"We live in really fascinating times," he said. "Just like SpaceX commercialised launch, we want Fuse to test what SpaceX became for NASA."
New Leaders, New Missions
Richard’s experience at USSTRATCOM reflects a lifetime spent securing America's strategic capabilities. From commanding nuclear submarines to overseeing the nation's global deterrence strategy, Richard’s insights continue to shape the future of defence resilience.
Now advising Fuse Energy, he applies his strategic mindset to help bridge the military and commercial fusion sectors.
Btaiche, meanwhile, represents a new kind of energy entrepreneur: self-taught, deeply technical, and driven by a vision that spans national security and sustainable energy. Founding Fuse at just 19 after years of hands-on plasma physics experience, Btaiche has already attracted major investors and key government contracts, positioning Fuse Energy as a pivotal player in fusion innovation.
Together, their collaboration offers a rare synthesis of experience and audacity—necessary ingredients for tackling the daunting national security and energy challenges of the decades ahead.