On Sunday, February 15, the US military for the first time transported a small nuclear reactor from California to Utah using a transport plane. This move is of significant importance as it not only demonstrates the rapid deployment potential of nuclear energy for military and civilian use in the United States, but also brings the US military closer to achieving the goal of deploying nuclear energy anytime, anywhere, thereby creating conditions for winning wars.
In collaboration with the US Department of Energy, the Department of War, and Valar Atomics, three C-17 transport planes airlifted components of Valar Atomics’ Ward 250 nuclear reactor (excluding nuclear fuel) from March Air Reserve Base in California to Hill Air Force Base in Utah on Sunday.
Officials from Valar Atomics distributed black hats with the slogan “Make Nuclear Great Again.” Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Deputy War Secretary Michael Duffey, responsible for procurement, sat near the reactor module covered by an organic glass dome, completing the transportation mission together. They praised this operation as a breakthrough in the field of US nuclear energy and military logistics.
“This will bring us closer to deploying nuclear energy when and where it is most needed, providing our American fighting forces with the tools to win wars,” Duffey said.
The Trump administration views small nuclear reactors as one of several pathways to expand US energy production. In May of last year, Trump signed four executive orders aimed at promoting domestic nuclear deployment to meet the growing energy demands of national security and artificial intelligence (AI) development. In December of last year, the Department of Energy issued two grants to help accelerate the research and development of small modular reactors.
Wright stated that the Department of Energy plans to have three micro nuclear reactors reach a “critical state,” where the nuclear reactions can self-sustain, by July 4th.
Supporters of the technology argue that the new system can provide megawatt-level electricity safely and cost-effectively, addressing fuel supply vulnerabilities and providing reliable and scalable energy systems for remote areas. However, some critics point out that the Trump administration’s rapid advancement of untested reactor designs built by private companies may pose safety risks.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox stated that energy is not just an economic issue, but also a national security concern. If the US lacks reliable and deployable power domestically and on the frontlines, the country cannot maintain its freedom.
Valar Atomics funded this airlift operation. CEO Isaiah Taylor mentioned that the company will test the Ward 250 system at a facility near Hill Air Force Base. The testing will start at 250 kilowatts, with the system ultimately able to reach 5 megawatts, enough to meet the electricity needs of 5,000 households.
The reactor uses TRISO fuel, where uranium particles are encased in ceramic layers rather than using conventional uranium fuel directly. It also uses helium instead of water as a coolant.
(This article references reports from Reuters and The Wall Street Journal.)