US Air Force Completes First-Ever Airlift of Mobile Nuclear Reactor

2026-02-16 general

Ogden, Monday, 16 February 2026.
In a historic logistics breakthrough, the Air Force successfully airlifted a micro-reactor to Utah, proving nuclear energy can now be rapidly deployed to power remote military operations.

Operational Success in Utah

Yesterday, February 15, 2026, the United States executed a landmark logistical operation designated “Operation Windlord,” successfully airlifting a next-generation nuclear reactor to Hill Air Force Base in Utah [1][2]. The mission, a collaboration between the Department of Energy, the Department of War, and private entity Valar Atomics, utilized three C-17 Globemaster III aircraft to transport eight modules of the Ward 250 micro-reactor from March Air Reserve Base in California [1][2]. While the reactor modules were transported in an unfuelled state to ensure safety during the transit, the operation represents the first time a nuclear reactor of this class has been airlifted via military cargo plane, validating the strategic mobility of nuclear power assets [4][6].

Technical Specifications and Strategic Utility

The payload at the center of this operation, the Ward 250, is a micro-reactor designed to generate 5 megawatts (MW) of electricity, a capacity sufficient to power approximately 5,000 homes [1][6]. Engineered by Valar Atomics, the system utilizes TRISO fuel and helium cooling, specifically optimized for transportability and rapid deployment [4][6]. Defense officials have highlighted that future military operations will increasingly demand robust energy solutions to support power-intensive technologies, including artificial intelligence infrastructure, directed-energy weapons, and space-based systems [1]. By proving the feasibility of airlifting these units, the military aims to establish energy independence for remote bases, reducing reliance on vulnerable local power grids and dangerous fuel supply convoys [2][6].

Regulatory Landscape and Future Timeline

This operational milestone aligns with the federal administration’s aggressive push to revitalize the American nuclear sector. Operation Windlord was conducted under the auspices of the Nuclear Reactor Pilot Program, established following President Trump’s Executive Order 14301 in May 2025, which sought to remove regulatory barriers to nuclear development [2][4]. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who was present aboard one of the C-17 aircraft alongside Under Secretary of Defense Michael Duffey, characterized the event as part of an “American nuclear renaissance,” emphasizing the role of private-sector investment in modernizing national energy infrastructure [1][6].

Testing and Commercialization

Following the arrival at Hill Air Force Base, the reactor modules are scheduled for transfer to the Utah San Rafael Energy Lab in Orangeville for rigorous evaluation and validation trials [1][2]. The Department of Energy has set an ambitious timeline for the project, aiming for the reactor to reach operational criticality—a self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction—by July 4, 2026 [2][6]. Beyond military applications, Valar Atomics founder Isaiah Taylor has indicated plans to begin commercial power sales by 2027, suggesting that the data gathered from these military trials will directly influence the deployment of micro-reactors in the civilian market [5][6].

Sources

Nuclear Energy Defense Logistics