In a notable milestone for advanced energy technology, the United States successfully transported a micro nuclear reactor by air for the first time — a step that could reshape how portable nuclear power is deployed for both military and civilian use.
On 15 February 2026, a 5‑megawatt Ward250 microreactor developed by Valar Atomics was loaded aboard a U.S. Air Force C‑17 Globemaster III cargo plane and flown from March Air Reserve Base in California to Hill Air Force Base in Utah. The reactor was transported without nuclear fuel and will be transferred to the Utah San Rafael Energy Lab for testing and evaluation.
The mission — dubbed Operation Windlord — aimed to demonstrate how compact reactor technology could be quickly deployed to remote locations, military bases, or areas in need of resilient power generation. With the ability to generate enough electricity to power about 5,000 homes, this mobile system represents a new frontier in distributed energy solutions.
Officials from both the U.S. Departments of Energy and Defense, including Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Michael Duffey, emphasized the strategic value of rapid nuclear deployment in strengthening energy security and supporting critical infrastructure.
Source: Read the full article from World Nuclear News:
https://world-nuclear-news.org/articles/us-microreactor-transported-by-air