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22h ago

Pentagon Airlifts Modular Nuclear Reactor to Utah for Testing

The first C-17 transport of reactor components launches DOE-led evaluation toward a July 4, 2026 criticality target.

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U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Michael Duffey on board a C-17 cargo plane that transported Valar Atomics' Ward nuclear microreactor from March Air Force Base in California to Hill Air Force Base in Utah, at the Hill Air Force Base in Utah, U.S., February 15, 2026. REUTERS/Valerie Volcovici
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Michael Duffey on board a C-17 cargo plane that transported Valar Atomics' Ward nuclear microreactor from March Air Force Base in California to Hill Air Force Base in Utah, at the Hill Air Force Base in Utah, U.S., February 15, 2026. REUTERS/Valerie Volcovici
Valar Atomics CEO Isaiah Taylor, Utah Governor Spencer Cox and U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright stand near U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Michael Duffey as he speaks to the media, in front of a C-17 cargo plane carrying a nuclear microreactor, at the Hill Air Force Base in Utah, U.S., February 15, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. REUTERS/Valerie Volcovici

Overview

  • USAF C-17s moved Valar Atomics’ modular Ward 250 components from March Air Reserve Base in California to Hill Air Force Base in Utah for overland transfer to the Utah San Rafael Energy Lab in Orangeville.
  • The Department of War describes the Ward 250 as a five‑megawatt, transportable reactor that fits inside a C‑17 and could provide grid‑independent power for military installations.
  • The airlift, dubbed Operation Windlord, is conducted under a DOE pilot program created in response to President Trump’s Executive Order 14301 to accelerate advanced nuclear development.
  • Testing and evaluation at USREL now commence under a commercial‑first model pairing Valar Atomics with federal logistics and oversight to advance defense energy resilience.
  • Reports indicate multiple aircraft carried modular units, with some technical specifics such as module counts still being clarified as the program proceeds.