Staged Deployment: FOAK, NOAK, BOAK
Even after the first commercial burner, deployment is staged first-of-a-kind, then nth-of-a-kind, then best-of-a-kind, so each unit learns from the last.
Why stage after commercial
The first commercial machine is still a first. Staged deployment — first-of-a-kind (FOAK), then nth-of-a-kind (NOAK), then best-of-a-kind (BOAK) — means each unit incorporates operating lessons from those before it, especially on availability and component life.
What improves across the stages
- Availability, as failure modes are removed with fleet hours
- Maintenance intervals, as component wear is measured
- Fuel efficiency in handling, tightening the ³He balance
- Build repeatability across both Aegis and MetroVolt housings
Consistency with the breeder
This mirrors the breeder's own FOAK→NOAK→BOAK progression. The two fleets scale together: breeder units feed burner units, and both mature through the same staged learning.
Staging continues after the first commercial machine because that machine is still a first, with unproven availability and unmeasured lifetimes. Each subsequent unit incorporates operating lessons from those before it, so the fleet improves as it grows. This mirrors the breeder's own FOAK→NOAK→BOAK progression, and the two fleets scale together because breeder units feed burner units.
See commercial criteria and fleet feeds fleet.