Energy and Defense officials say the transport showcases rapid deployment potential for small-scale nuclear power in civilian and military applications.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The U.S. Departments of Energy and Defense have completed what officials described as the first-ever air transport of a nuclear microreactor, flying the unit aboard a military C-17 aircraft to demonstrate rapid deployment capabilities.
According to Reuters’ report on the demonstration flight, the two departments partnered with California-based Valar Atomics to transport its Ward microreactor to Hill Air Force Base in Utah.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Michael Duffey accompanied the reactor during the flight.
“This gets us closer to deploy nuclear power when and where it is needed to give our nation’s warfighters the tools to win in battle,” Duffey said.
The airlift was designed to illustrate how compact nuclear systems could be moved quickly to remote or strategic locations. Nuclear microreactors are significantly smaller than traditional nuclear power plants and are intended to provide reliable electricity in areas lacking grid infrastructure or during contingency operations.
Reuters reported that the Ward microreactor is slightly larger than a minivan and is designed to generate up to 5 megawatts of electricity—enough to power approximately 5,000 homes, according to Valar CEO Isaiah Taylor. The unit is expected to begin operating in July at 100 kilowatts, increase to 250 kilowatts later this year, and eventually ramp up to full capacity.
Valar plans to begin selling electricity on a test basis in 2027, with full commercial operations targeted for 2028. Taylor noted that while private industry funds development of nuclear technologies, federal support remains necessary for enabling infrastructure such as domestic fuel fabrication and uranium enrichment.
The demonstration aligns with broader federal efforts to expand domestic nuclear energy production. In May, President Trump issued four executive orders aimed at accelerating nuclear generation capacity, and the Department of Energy has announced grants to support development of small and advanced reactors.
Officials said the air transport underscores both logistical feasibility and strategic flexibility for microreactor deployment in civilian disaster response scenarios as well as military operations.
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