A nuclear reactor was flown by the US military for the first time in history

The United States military flew for the first time tonight (between Sunday and Monday) a tiny nuclear reactor, as part of President Donald Trump’s move to promote a wide deployment of nuclear energy throughout the United States. The move is intended to demonstrate the American ability to rapidly transport nuclear capabilities – for military and civilian purposes.

“The flight brings us closer to deploying nuclear energy at the time and place where it is most needed, to give our country’s warriors the tools to win,” said Michael Duffy, Under Secretary of the US Department of Defense.

Three C-17 transport planes took off from the air force base in California and flew the components of the unfueled nuclear reactor to the air force base in Utah. Senior officials of Valar Atomics, which owns the reactor, handed out black hats with the inscription “Make Nuclear Great Again”, and senior officials from the Pentagon and the Ministry of Energy sat on the flight next to the reactor.

The Trump administration sees small nuclear reactors as one of several tools to expand energy production in the US. Last May, Trump signed four presidential orders aimed at accelerating the deployment of nuclear energy within the country, to meet the growing demand for electricity for national security and AI needs.

Supporters of the technology claim that the new systems are able to generate electricity safely and cheaply, while reducing vulnerabilities in the fuel supply chain and providing reliable energy to remote sites. On the other hand, critics warn that the accelerated promotion of reactors that have not yet been tried and developed by private companies may pose dangers.

The tiny reactor unveiled at Sunday’s event is about the size of a large car, and is capable of generating enough electricity to power about 5,000 homes. It is expected to start operating in July, and reach full output later this year.