Russian Teams Install Initial Plasma Heating Systems at ITER Fusion Reactor in France

• June 13, 2026

Russian specialists have finalized the installation of the first plasma heating systems on the ITER experimental fusion reactor located in France. The three gyrotron complexes, critical for plasma heating in the reactor, were developed and manufactured by the Nizhny Novgorod-based company AO NPP GIKOM.

Key Milestone in ITER Project

This achievement marks a significant step forward in the international ITER project aimed at creating sustainable nuclear fusion energy. The gyrotron complexes, which use high-frequency microwaves to heat plasma to extremely high temperatures, were delivered to the ITER site in autumn 2022.

The installation process was carried out through a joint effort involving specialists from the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Applied Physics, AO NPP GIKOM, and the Project Center ITER under the Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation, Rosatom. Their collaborative work highlights ongoing cooperation between Russian scientific and industrial organizations and the broader ITER international community.

The plasma heating systems are essential for initiating and maintaining the temperature conditions necessary for fusion reactions within the ITER reactor. By installing these gyrotron complexes, Russian teams have contributed crucial technology to one of the world’s most ambitious projects focused on harnessing fusion power as a future clean energy source.

Further developmental phases of the ITER reactor will depend on integrating and validating equipment like these plasma heating systems, which are designed to energize and stabilize plasma inside the reactor chamber. The successful deployment of Russian-made gyrotrons reinforces the role of international partnerships in advancing fusion technology.

While specific technical details and timelines related to the integration and operation of the gyrotron complexes at ITER have not been disclosed, this installation milestone underscores significant progress in the experimental fusion reactor’s path toward operational readiness.

ITER continues to rely on collaborative input from member countries to develop the technical infrastructure required for demonstrating the feasibility of controlled nuclear fusion as a practical energy source. The delivery and installation of Russian plasma heating modules represent a tangible output of this multinational endeavor.

Russian experts have completed the installation of three gyrotron plasma heating systems on the ITER fusion reactor in France.