Nuclear Reactors Airlifted from March Base to Utah for Testing

The first-of-its-kind airlift advances President Trump's goals for nuclear energy development.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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In a historic move, six nuclear reactor modules were airlifted from March Air Reserve Base in Southern California to Hill Air Force Base in Utah on Sunday, February 15, 2026. The modules were supplied by nuclear startup Valar Atomics and are destined for testing and evaluation at the Utah San Rafael Energy Lab in Orangeville, Utah. The airlift was part of President Trump's initiative to rapidly build new nuclear reactors to power AI data centers for defense purposes.

Why it matters

This airlift represents a significant step forward in the Trump administration's push to accelerate nuclear energy development, including relaxing regulations to speed up the licensing process. The new reactors are intended to provide power for advanced AI systems critical to national defense, marking a shift towards more strategic nuclear deployment.

The details

The six nuclear modules were loaded onto a convoy of cargo aircraft at March Air Reserve Base and flown to Hill Air Force Base near Salt Lake City. The modules were created by El Segundo-based startup Valar Atomics, which has a research and development site in Hawthorne. Valar is developing a reactor called Ward 250 that it aims to have operational by July 4, 2026, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

  • The airlift took place on Sunday, February 15, 2026.
  • Valar Atomics is aiming to have its Ward 250 reactor operational by July 4, 2026.

The players

Valar Atomics

A nuclear energy startup based in El Segundo, California, with a research and development site in Hawthorne. Valar is developing the Ward 250 reactor that the nuclear modules are destined for.

Isaiah Taylor

The founder of Valar Atomics, who named the Ward 250 reactor after his great-grandfather Ward Schaap, a chemist on the Manhattan Project during World War II.

Chris Wright

The Secretary of Energy who was on the flight transporting the nuclear modules.

Michael Duffey

The Undersecretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment who was also on the flight.

President Donald Trump

The President who signed Executive Order 14301 aimed at kickstarting a 'nuclear renaissance' and speeding up nuclear licensing.

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What they’re saying

“Valar's goal is to create 'abundant and cheap gas out of thin air using atomic energy'.”

— Isaiah Taylor, Founder, Valar Atomics (Valar Atomics LinkedIn page)

“The flight advances President Trump's goals for nuclear energy, which include rapidly building reactors to power artificial intelligence data centers for defense.”

— U.S. Department of Energy (ocregister.com)

What’s next

The nuclear modules will undergo testing and evaluation at the Utah San Rafael Energy Lab in Orangeville, Utah, before being integrated into Valar Atomics' Ward 250 reactor, which the company aims to have operational by July 4, 2026.

The takeaway

This historic airlift represents a significant step forward in the Trump administration's push to accelerate nuclear energy development, with the goal of providing power for critical AI systems in national defense. The relaxation of nuclear regulations and the rapid deployment of new reactor technologies signal a shift towards a more strategic approach to nuclear energy in the United States.