In a move that signals a new phase in U.S. energy strategy, the Pentagon and the Department of Energy airlifted a small nuclear reactor from California to Utah for the first time. The nearly 700 mile journey took place on February 15 aboard a C 17 military aircraft, carrying a 5 megawatt microreactor built by California startup Valar Atomics.
The reactor, which is roughly the size of a minivan, was transported without nuclear fuel from March Air Reserve Base in California to Hill Air Force Base in Utah. Officials described the flight as a demonstration of how quickly nuclear power systems could be deployed for both military and civilian use.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright called the moment historic before boarding the aircraft. He said the reactor is part of a push to accelerate advanced nuclear deployment and predicted that at least three microreactors will reach criticality by July 4, referring to the point when a nuclear reaction becomes self sustaining. Under recent executive orders, the Energy Department has been given expanded authority to fast track certain advanced reactor approvals.
The reactor flown to Utah will be sent to the Utah San Rafael Energy Lab for testing and evaluation. Nuclear fuel for the project will come from the Nevada National Security Site. According to Valar Atomics CEO Isaiah Taylor, the system can generate up to 5 megawatts of electricity, enough to power roughly 5,000 homes. The company hopes to begin test power sales next year and move toward full commercial operations by 2028.
Currently, the United States operates 94 nuclear reactors that generate about 19 percent of the nation’s electricity, according to federal data. That number has declined from 104 reactors in 2013. Supporters argue that small modular and microreactors could help meet rising electricity demand from artificial intelligence infrastructure and data centers while strengthening energy security at military bases.
Not everyone is convinced. Edwin Lyman of the Union of Concerned Scientists dismissed the airlift as largely symbolic, arguing it does not resolve concerns about safety, cost, feasibility, or nuclear waste disposal. Critics also question how reactors, once fueled, would be transported securely.
For now, the flight represents more than just logistics. It reflects a broader effort to reposition nuclear energy as a fast moving, deployable solution rather than a slow, decades long infrastructure project. Whether microreactors become mainstream or remain experimental will depend on what happens next in Utah and beyond.
