The United States Department of War and Department of Energy collaborated on February 15 to transport the next-generation nuclear reactor from the March Air Reserve Base in California to the Hill Air Force Base in Utah using a military transport plane. This nuclear reactor will undergo testing at an energy research center in Utah.
On that day, the WardZero reactor developed by Valar Atomics was transported from California (where Valar Atomics is located) to Utah by a military transport plane. Upon reaching Hill Air Force Base, it was further transported by land to the San Rafael Energy Research Center. Valar Atomics will conduct testing and evaluation on the WardZero reactor there.
The collaboration between the U.S. Department of War and Department of Energy in development and energy aims to integrate advanced nuclear technology into the national security infrastructure. According to the Defense Blog, officials stated that this collaboration aligns with federal policies to support national defense energy resilience and modernize the U.S. nuclear sector.
Transporting the WardZero reactor to the energy research center in Utah to begin the next phase of testing is a crucial step in implementing Executive Order 14301. This executive order, signed on May 23, 2025, aims to promote energy innovation, strengthen nuclear technology research and deployment. While the U.S. had been a global leader in nuclear research, deployment of commercial advanced nuclear reactors has stagnated in recent decades. Nuclear energy is now seen as a critical force driving modernization in U.S. energy, technology, defense, and industry, necessitating reforms in existing review and testing processes.
In August 2025, Valar Atomics announced that it had been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy to achieve a “critical state” on U.S. soil by July 4, 2026, and expressed gratitude to President Trump and Secretary Wright for their leadership roles in enhancing U.S. nuclear capabilities.
The announcement stated, “This selection marks a crucial moment in the revival of U.S. nuclear energy. Under the framework of Executive Order 14301, we are participating in a nationwide coordinated effort aimed at restoring U.S. dominance in nuclear technology; we once held this dominance, but due to decades of regulatory stagnation and underinvestment, this position has gradually eroded.”
The “critical state” is a key threshold for a nuclear reactor to transition from design to physical operation. Achieving a “critical state” for the reactor signifies a successful startup, physical feasibility of the design, stable energy generation, and entry into the operational phase.