US Military Transports First Small Modular Reactor by Air
The U.S. military has successfully flown the first Small Modular Reactor (SMR) inside a C-17 transport aircraft. This marks a significant milestone in developing portable nuclear energy sources for military and potentially civilian applications.
- This airlift, dubbed Operation Windlord, involved the transport of an unfueled "Ward 250" microreactor developed by Valar Atomics. The reactor was flown from March Air Reserve Base in California to Hill Air Force Base in Utah, where it will undergo further testing at the Utah San Rafael Energy Lab. - The Ward 250 reactor is a 5-megawatt system, theoretically capable of powering up to 5,000 homes. The entire system, composed of eight modules, was transported using three C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. - This transport is part of a broader Department of Defense initiative known as Project Pele, which aims to develop a transportable, inherently safe microreactor to provide a resilient power source for remote operating bases and disaster relief efforts. - The reactor transported is a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) and is designed to use TRISO (TRIstructural-ISOtropic) fuel. This type of fuel encases uranium kernels in ceramic layers, making it highly resistant to extreme heat and preventing meltdown. - The mobility of this reactor is a key feature; the entire system is designed to fit within standard 20-foot shipping containers and can be transported by road, rail, sea, or air. The goal is for the reactor system to be assembled on-site and be operational within 72 hours. - This initiative is a whole-of-government effort, with expertise and oversight provided by the Department of Energy, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. - The successful airlift is considered a significant step in demonstrating the capability for rapid strategic deployment of nuclear power, which could reduce reliance on vulnerable fuel supply chains for military operations.
