In a first, U.S. military flies minivan-sized microreactor nearly 700 miles aboard a C-17 aircraft
In a first, the Pentagon and the Department of Energy airlifted a small nuclear reactor from California to Utah, showcasing what they describe as the U.S. capability to rapidly deploy nuclear power for both defense and civilian applications.
The roughly 700-mile flight over the weekend, which moved an unfueled 5-megawatt microreactor, underscores the Trump administration’s push to advance nuclear energy for military use.
Energy Secretary and Undersecretary of Defense Michael Duffey, who accompanied the privately constructed reactor, praised the February 15th journey aboard a C-17 as a major step forward in expediting the commercial licensing of microreactors, a component of a wider Trump administration initiative to transform the national energy sector.
A new emphasis on nuclear energy
President Donald Trump endorses nuclear power—a source of carbon-free electricity—as a dependable energy source.
Critics caution that nuclear energy carries dangers, arguing that microreactors might be neither safe nor practical and have not demonstrated an ability to meet demand cost-effectively.
Wright dismissed these worries while promoting advancements on Trump’s agenda. Last year, Trump signed executive orders enabling Wright to authorize certain advanced reactor designs and projects, shifting regulatory power away from the independent safety agency that has overseen the U.S. nuclear industry for fifty years.
“Today is history. A multi-megawatt, next-generation nuclear power plant is loaded in the C-17 behind us,” Wright stated prior to the two-hour flight from March Air Reserve Base in California to Hill Air Force Base in Utah.
According to Wright, the minivan-sized reactor moved by the military is one of a minimum of three scheduled to achieve “criticality”—the point at which a nuclear reaction becomes self-sustaining—by July 4th, fulfilling a promise made by Trump.
“That’s speed, that’s innovation, that’s the start of a nuclear renaissance,” he remarked.
Microreactors would be for civilian and military use
At present, there are nuclear reactors in the U.S. generating approximately 19% of the nation’s electricity, as reported by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. This figure is down from 104 reactors in 2013 and includes the first large-scale reactors constructed from the ground up in a generation.
Acknowledging the delays typical of new, full-size reactor projects, the industry and government have recently concentrated on more efficient designs, such as one put forward by the country’s biggest public power provider, the Tennessee Valley Authority.
Microreactors, built for portability, can advance this effort by “accelerat[ing] the delivery of resilient power to where it’s needed,” Duffey explained. He and other officials noted that these mobile units could eventually supply energy security to military bases independent of the civilian power grid.
The test flight “gets us closer to deploy[ing] nuclear power when and where it is needed to give our nation’s warfighters the tools to win in battle,” Duffey commented.
Isaiah Taylor, CEO of the California startup Valar Atomics that manufactured the reactor, said the unit sent to Utah can produce up to 5 megawatts of electricity, sufficient for 5,000 homes. The company aims to begin trial power sales next year and achieve full commercial operation by 2028.
Some safety concerns haven’t been addressed, experts say
Edwin Lyman, the director of nuclear power safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists, characterized the transport flight—which was attended by many reporters and media personnel—as essentially “a dog-and-pony show” that only proved the Pentagon can move heavy machinery.
In an interview, Lyman said the flight “doesn’t answer any questions about whether the project is feasible, economic, workable or safe — for the military and the public.”
Lyman stated the Trump administration “hasn’t made the safety case” for securely transporting microreactors after they are loaded with nuclear fuel to locations like data centers or military bases.
Although Wright mentioned the Energy Department is negotiating with Utah and other states to locate facilities for fuel reprocessing or permanent waste disposal, officials have not yet settled on a method for nuclear waste disposal.
Wright said the microreactor flown to Utah will be delivered to the Utah San Rafael Energy Lab for testing. Taylor indicated that fuel will be supplied by the Nevada National Security site.
“The answer to energy is always more,” Wright said. Referring to four years of restrictions on more polluting energy sources under the Biden administration, he added, “now we’re trying to set everything free. And nuclear will be flying soon.”