The Department of War and the Department of Energy announced Friday a joint initiative to transport and test an advanced nuclear reactor developed by Valar Atomics, marking a major step under President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14301.
A compact reactor will depart March Air Reserve Base in California on February 15 aboard a C-17 military aircraft and travel to Hill Air Force Base in Utah. From there, crews will move the unit to the Utah San Rafael Energy Research Center in Emery County for testing and evaluation.
Executive Order 14301 directs federal agencies to accelerate domestic nuclear innovation and sets a target of achieving reactor criticality on U.S. soil by July 4, 2026.
Valar Atomics confirmed it has been selected by the Department of Energy under the order to pursue that milestone. The company’s WardZero prototype has undergone months of heat and pressure testing in Los Angeles and incorporates TRISO fuel in a high-temperature reactor configuration exceeding 750°C.
Company CEO Isaiah Taylor described the initiative as “America’s second Manhattan Project,” positioning the effort as part of a broader push to restore U.S. nuclear leadership.
Undersecretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment Michael Duffey, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Utah Governor Spencer Cox, and Taylor are scheduled to speak at Hill Air Force Base at 2:30 p.m. MT following the reactor’s arrival. The event will stream on war.gov and Department of War channels.
The military has pursued small and modular reactor designs for years to reduce reliance on traditional electrical grids and strengthen energy resilience at strategic installations. Advanced nuclear systems offer continuous, high-density power generation suited for hardened infrastructure and industrial applications.
Officials framed the transport and testing operation as a milestone in accelerating domestic reactor development under the administration’s revised nuclear policy framework.
If successful, the Utah testing phase would move the project closer to the July 4, 2026 criticality target outlined in Executive Order 14301.
