The United States has carried out its first air transport of a nuclear microreactor on a cargo plane, flying the unit from California to Utah in a demonstration designed to show the technology can be rapidly deployed for military and civilian use.
The agencies partnered with California-based Valar Atomics to fly one of the company’s Ward microreactors on a C-17 aircraft - without nuclear fuel - to Hill Air Force Base in Utah.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Under Secretary of Defence for Acquisition and Sustainment Michael Duffey were on board the flight and described the operation as a milestone for U.S. nuclear energy and military logistics.
Duffey said the test brings the U.S. closer to deploying nuclear power “when and where it is needed” to support its warfighters.
The Department of War published images on X showing the reactor being loaded onto the aircraft before departure.
“We’re advancing President Trump’s executive order on nuclear energy,” the department said in the post.
“Moments from now, we will airlift a next-generation nuclear reactor.”
The department said the successful delivery and installation of the reactor could expand options for energy resilience and strategic independence across defence infrastructure, describing the effort as part of what it called an agile, commercially driven approach to strengthening critical systems.
President Donald Trump’s administration has promoted small nuclear reactors as part of efforts to expand U.S. energy production, particularly to meet rising demand linked to national security and artificial intelligence (AI) development.
In May last year, Trump signed four executive orders aimed at accelerating domestic nuclear deployment. In December, the Energy Department awarded two grants to support the development of small modular reactors.
Microreactors are designed to provide compact, transportable power in remote or off-grid locations, offering an alternative to diesel generators that require frequent fuel deliveries. Supporters say the technology could strengthen energy resilience at military installations and isolated communities.
Valar’s reactor, slightly larger than a minivan, has a maximum generating capacity of five megawatts, enough to supply electricity to roughly 5,000 homes, according to the company’s chief executive Isaiah Taylor.
The unit is scheduled to begin operating in July at 100 kilowatts, rising to 250 kilowatts later this year before ramping up to full capacity. The Energy Department aims to bring three microreactors to “criticality” by 4 July, Wright said, referring to the point at which a nuclear chain reaction becomes self-sustaining.
Valar plans to begin limited commercial power sales in 2027 and move to full commercial operations in 2028. Taylor said that while private industry funds reactor development, it requires federal support in areas such as fuel fabrication and uranium enrichment.
However, critics question whether the technology can operate at a competitive cost. Edwin Lyman, Director of Nuclear Power Safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists, said microreactors would generate electricity at significantly higher prices than large nuclear plants or renewable sources such as wind and solar.
Despite the push to advance the technology, questions remain over radioactive waste management. Lyman said even small reactors produce significant nuclear waste. Other experts have noted that long-term disposal planning is not always central to reactor design.
At the moment, disposal of nuclear waste remains unresolved at the federal level. However, Wright said the Energy Department is in discussions with several states, including Utah, about potential sites for fuel reprocessing or permanent waste storage.
A senior Iranian military officer warned that American troops will become &lsq...
Cuba and the United States have been at odds for more than six decades, with tensions rooted in the 1959 revolution that transformed the island&rsq...
Russian drone attacks on Ukraine have killed four people, Ukrainian officials said on Saturday (28 March). ...
The four astronauts selected for NASA’s Artemis II mission have arrived in Florida, entering the final phase of...
More than 372,000 people were left without electricity in Russia’s southern region of Dagestan after heavy rain triggered severe flooding, of...
A senior Iranian military officer warned that American troops will become ‘food for sharks’ on Sunday if the U.S. launches a ground offensive in Iran. The threat came as contingents of U.S. Marines began to arrive in the Middle East, with thousands expected to be deployed in the region.
Cuba and the United States have been at odds for more than six decades, with tensions rooted in the 1959 revolution that transformed the island’s political and economic system. Renewed focus on relations comes as Donald Trump’s rhetoric intensifies and conditions on the island worsen.
Russian drone attacks on Ukraine have killed four people, Ukrainian officials said on Saturday (28 March).
The four astronauts selected for NASA’s Artemis II mission have arrived in Florida, entering the final phase of preparations for the first crewed journey towards the Moon in more than five decades
The involvement of Yemen’s Houthis has heightened regional tensions as the Iran-aligned group joins the conflict. The U.S. says it is hopeful of holding talks with Iran in the coming days, while Tehran has said that "talking and bombing is intolerable". Welcome to our live coverage of the conflict.
Cuba and the United States have been at odds for more than six decades, with tensions rooted in the 1959 revolution that transformed the island’s political and economic system. Renewed focus on relations comes as Donald Trump’s rhetoric intensifies and conditions on the island worsen.
The four astronauts selected for NASA’s Artemis II mission have arrived in Florida, entering the final phase of preparations for the first crewed journey towards the Moon in more than five decades
Iranian Military Spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Ibrahim Zulfiqari has warned that American soldiers will become 'food for sharks' if U.S. President Donald Trump launches ground attacks against Iran. The threat comes after the U.S. military said it was deploying thousands of Marines to the region.
China is moving ahead with plans to establish a nationwide long-term care insurance system, aimed at supporting its rapidly ageing population and easing the financial burden on families caring for elderly relatives.
Cuba and the United States have been at odds for more than six decades, with tensions rooted in the 1959 revolution that transformed the island’s political and economic system. Renewed focus on relations comes as Donald Trump’s rhetoric intensifies and conditions on the island worsen.
Russian drone attacks on Ukraine have killed four people, Ukrainian officials said on Saturday (28 March).
Nepal’s ousted former prime minister, KP Sharma Oli, and former home minister Ramesh Lekhak have been arrested over alleged negligence linked to the deaths of protesters during anti-corruption demonstrations last September.
China is moving ahead with plans to establish a nationwide long-term care insurance system, aimed at supporting its rapidly ageing population and easing the financial burden on families caring for elderly relatives.
The U.S. Congress failed on Friday (27 March) to resolve a six-week funding impasse that has disrupted airports and left tens of thousands of federal workers without pay, raising fears of further travel chaos during the busy spring break period.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment