FOAK First Tritium ~2030

The first-of-a-kind breeder targets its first bred tritium around 2030, the milestone that proves the foundry function end to end.

The defining milestone

First tritium is the milestone that matters most for a breeder. It means the machine has produced fusion neutrons, those neutrons have bred tritium in the blanket, and the tritium plant has recovered and accounted for it. First tritium is targeted around 2030 for the first-of-a-kind (FOAK) unit.

What first tritium demonstrates

• Sustained D-T plasma at or near the design gain point
• A neutron flux consistent with 85.0 MW-class fusion power
• A breeding blanket that converts neutrons to tritium at a measured breeding ratio
• A fuel loop that recovers, measures, and accounts for bred tritium

Why it is the product proof, not a power proof

First tritium proves the foundry, not net electricity. It shows the neutron economy works: neutrons are produced, captured, and converted to a saleable isotope stream. It does not claim net power, and none is claimed before FOAK. The distinction is deliberate and stated plainly throughout the program.

Measurement and honesty

First tritium will be reported against pre-registered predictions for neutron yield and breeding ratio, so the demonstrated value can be compared to the design point rather than presented on its own. The design point today, breeding ratio treated as a lever across 1.1, 1.5, and 1.8, and products near 4 kg/yr tritium class plus 1.97 kg/yr helium-3, is a simulation result until first tritium confirms it on hardware.