Department of War Airlifts Prototype Nuclear Reactor to Utah

The Department of War transported a new type of nuclear reactor by air from California to Utah as part of a program to modernize nuclear energy infrastructure and support national security objectives.

On February 15, 2026, a C-17 aircraft carried the unfueled reactor from March Air Reserve Base in California to Hill Air Force Base in Utah. The reactor, encased in plexiglass during the flight, is scheduled for further transport to the Utah San Rafael Energy Lab in Orangeville for testing and evaluation.

The reactor was produced by Valar Atomics and is known as the Ward 250 or WardZero prototype. It uses TRISO fuel in a high-temperature reactor design and is intended to initially generate 250 kilowatts, with the potential to reach up to 5 megawatts using helium coolant.

This airlift operation is part of the implementation of executive orders signed by President Trump on May 23, 2025. These orders directed the rapid deployment of advanced nuclear technologies at military installations and set targets for testing and operational milestones.

What the numbers show

• The reactor was airlifted on February 15, 2026
• Executive Order 14301 set a goal for reactor criticality by July 4, 2026
• The reactor is designed to produce up to 5 megawatts of power

One executive order instructed the Secretary of the Army to establish a program to build a nuclear reactor at a domestic military site within three years. Another order required the Secretary of Energy to collaborate with private companies to deploy advanced nuclear technology at Department of Energy locations within 30 months.

Valar Atomics confirmed its selection by the Department of Energy to pursue the reactor deployment milestone under the executive order. The reactor will undergo testing near Hill Air Force Base, with an objective of having at least three advanced nuclear systems operational by July 4, 2026.

The reactor remains unfueled during transport for safety and is intended for evaluation at the Utah San Rafael Energy Lab. Testing will focus on performance and suitability for national security applications as outlined in the executive orders.

According to the Department of War, the airlift supports the broader goal of updating America’s nuclear energy systems and strengthening national security, as outlined in the executive orders signed in 2025.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.