Fusion power startups find new partners in the defense world

Fusion startups are turning to defense partners as climate-tech funding stalls, with laser-based fusion firms offering high-energy beams suitable for emerging laser-weapon systems. Xcimer secured RTX Ventures investment to explore its Phoenix laser for both power-plant development and defense use, while Pacific Fusion signed an MOU with the NNSA to run high-energy-density experiments at its new New Mexico facility.