Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom completed the installation of three gyrotron complexes at the construction site of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) in southern France, marking a significant milestone in one of the world's most ambitious scientific efforts to develop commercial fusion energy.
The gyrotrons, high-frequency microwave generators used to heat and control plasma inside the reactor, represent a critical component of ITER's advanced plasma-heating system. Their successful installation strengthens Russia's contribution to the multinational project aimed at demonstrating the scientific and technological viability of fusion power as a future source of clean and virtually limitless energy.
Installation work was carried out by specialists from the Institute of Applied Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Nizhny Novgorod-based scientific and production company Gycom, in cooperation with Rosatom's ITER Project Center. The teams completed the assembly and installation of the core Russian systems and associated auxiliary equipment within six weeks, in line with the project's schedule.
The gyrotron complexes were manufactured by Gycom and delivered to the ITER Organization's site in Saint-Paul-lès-Durance, France. Rosatom's ITER Project Center coordinated transportation and logistics before Russian engineers finalized the installation process.
According to Anatoly Krasilnikov, Director of Russia's ITER Project Center, plasma temperatures inside the ITER reactor are expected to reach approximately 300 million degrees Celsius, around 20 times hotter than the core of the Sun. Achieving and sustaining such extreme conditions requires highly sophisticated heating technologies operating at an unprecedented scale.
"The Russian gyrotron systems incorporate advanced technical capabilities that will play a vital role in achieving one of the most significant scientific breakthroughs in fusion energy research," Krasilnikov said.
Rosatom also revealed plans to deliver gyrotron control towers to the ITER Organization during the autumn of 2026. The shipment will form part of the largest annual supply of gyrotron-related equipment following the signing in 2025 of the biggest contract in the project's history for the manufacture and delivery of 20 additional gyrotron towers by Gycom.
Russia remains one of the principal contributors to ITER, with commitments covering the development, production, and delivery of 25 major reactor systems. The country's responsibilities also include manufacturing strategic components such as all Central Divertor Assemblies, approximately 40 percent of the First Wall Panels, power conversion equipment, diagnostic systems, and Blanket Module Connectors.
Gyrotrons are regarded as one of the most advanced technologies in fusion research. Beyond providing supplemental plasma heating, they help generate and sustain the electric currents required for stable reactor operation, both essential elements for achieving efficient fusion performance.
ITER, currently under construction in southern France, is the world's first large-scale international fusion reactor project.
Follow the latest news on Google News
