The United States on Sunday for the first time transported a small nuclear reactor by cargo aircraft from California to Utah in an effort to demonstrate the ability to rapidly deploy nuclear power for military and civilian use, according to Reuters.
The reactor, built by Valar Atomics, was flown without nuclear fuel on a C-17 aircraft from March Air Reserve Base in California to Hill Air Force Base in Utah as part of a joint effort by the Departments of Energy and Defense, according to Reuters.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Michael Duffey were aboard the aircraft and described the transport as a milestone for U.S. nuclear technology and military logistics, Reuters reported.
On May 23, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to deploy advanced nuclear reactor technologies for national security purposes.
— Department of War 🇺🇸 (@DeptofWar) February 16, 2026
Yesterday, we took the next step toward achieving this historic mission. pic.twitter.com/hIEd1nlnmf
“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, according to Reuters.
The Department of War said the flight was part of a partnership with the Department of Energy aimed at testing the transport and installation of a next-generation reactor for evaluation at the Utah San Rafael Energy Lab in Orangeville, Utah, according to a Department of War statement.
The administration of President Donald Trump has promoted small nuclear reactors as part of a broader strategy to expand domestic energy production and meet rising demand tied to national security and artificial intelligence development, according to Reuters. Trump last year issued executive orders focused on accelerating nuclear deployment, the report said.
The microreactor used in the demonstration is slightly larger than a minivan and is capable of producing up to five megawatts of electricity, enough to power about 5,000 homes, Valar Atomics Chief Executive Isaiah Taylor. The company plans to begin operating the reactor at lower output later this year before increasing capacity, Reuters reported.
Utah Republican Senator John Curtis said the transport marked a significant step toward energy security.
“Energy independence—critical to our way of life and our national security—can only be achieved by bolstering our nuclear capabilities,” Curtis wrote.
Energy independence—critical to our way of life and our national security—can only be achieved by bolstering our nuclear capabilities.
— Senator John Curtis (@SenJohnCurtis) February 16, 2026
Witnessed history at @HAFB today with @SecretaryWright and @USDASDuffey as @valaratomics’ Ward250 became the first-ever nuclear reactor to be… pic.twitter.com/4xDztyBeMI
Wright said the airlift advanced the administration’s goal of expanding U.S. energy production, writing that the flight marked the first time a nuclear reactor had been moved by air. He concluded by saying, “This is the next chapter for U.S. energy.”
Defense analyst Brent Sadler said in a post on social media that the reactor had already been assembled and tested at operating temperatures and pressures and would next be fueled and prepared for initial criticality testing in Utah.
Traveling with a Nuke Reactor Was Cool
— Brent D. Sadler (@brentdsadler) February 16, 2026
Yesterday I was lucky to be invited to join a group to witness the movement of a new design nuclear reactor from California. It was moved in several parts (8 air cargo pallets) on three Air Force C-17s.
While not yet fueled, this reactor… pic.twitter.com/M5YUgYrQMT
The Department of War said a press conference was scheduled at Hill Air Force Base following the delivery, with speakers including Wright, Duffey, Utah Governor Spencer Cox, and Valar Atomics executives, according to the department’s statement.
