The U.S. Department of War airlifted a miniature nuclear reactor across the American West on Sunday, marking a historic shift in what is possible in the world of energy production.
Components of the five-megawatt advanced nuclear reactor, manufactured by Valar Atomics in Southern California, were transported to Hill Air Force Base in Utah, aboard three U.S. Air Force C-17 aircraft.
The flight marked the first time ever a nuclear reactor was transported by C-17, and showed the possibilities for future deployment of nuclear energy infrastructure.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and other leaders accompanied the reactor on the flight, then spoke at a press conference following the landing. Echoing earlier declarations, Cox said he plans for Utah to lead the country in nuclear energy production.
“Ladies and gentlemen, there are moments in history when technologies redefine what is possible in a nation. Advanced nuclear for national security belongs in that lineage,” he said.
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Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, left, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, right, speak as they walk to look at a Valar Atomics Ward250 reactor that was flown in from California at Hill Air Force Base in Clearfield on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Cox referenced the state’s initiative to expand its energy abundance through nuclear and geothermal energy sources. “Operation gigawatt is not a slogan,“ he said. ”It is a commitment to build energy capacity that powers economic growth, military readiness and national strength.”
From the stand, Curtis also praised his state for its push to become energy independent following the 1970s energy crisis.
“We decided at that time, in a non-partisan way, that we would never be dependent on a foreign power for energy again,” he said. “And just a few years ago, when we reached that spot where we knew we could be energy independent, the whole energy world changed.”
The nuclear reactor will be transported from Hill Air Force Base to Orangeville, Utah, in Emery County, and is expected to begin generating power before July 4, 2026.