US Military Transports Microreactor, Highlighting Nuclear Energy Push and Russian Dominance in Fuel Supply

February 22, 2026

Recent news has focused on the first-ever airlift of a small nuclear reactor by the U.S. Air Force, utilizing a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. The reactor, the Ward 250 developed by Valar Atomics, was transported from March Air Reserve Base in California to Hill Air Force Base in Utah . This event underscores a renewed U.S. Interest in small, mobile nuclear reactors, but also highlights a critical dependence on Russia for a key component: highly enriched uranium (HALEU) fuel.

Operation Windlord and the Presidential Reactor Pilot Program

The transport, dubbed Operation Windlord , involved eight modules of the unfueled Ward 250 reactor. The move coincides with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Presidential Reactor Pilot Program, established following President Trump’s Executive Order 14301, aimed at accelerating the development and deployment of advanced nuclear technologies . The program seeks to select the three best concepts by July 4th, 2026, and provide substantial funding.

A Competitive Landscape

The push for small nuclear reactors has attracted significant investment from both public and private sectors, including funding from figures like Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, and Sam Altman . However, experts note that the U.S. Approach lacks the standardization and operational history of existing technologies.

Russia’s Dominance in Microreactor Technology and Fuel Supply

Despite the U.S. Efforts, Russia currently leads in the development and production of small nuclear power plants. Rosatom is preparing for series production of eleven small power plant units, based on the RITM series reactors used in its icebreaking fleet and the Akademik Lomonosov floating nuclear power plant . These reactors boast a proven track record and are designed for mass production and autonomous operation.

Crucially, Russia also holds a near-monopoly on the supply of HALEU, the specialized fuel required for many of these U.S. Microreactor designs. This dependence prompted the Biden administration to ban imports of Russian nuclear fuel in May 2024, a decision that was quickly followed by a Russian ban on HALEU exports to the U.S. .

US Efforts to Secure HALEU Supply

The U.S. Has scrambled to establish domestic HALEU production, exploring options such as extracting it from nuclear waste, utilizing Pentagon uranium stocks, and reactivating old storage facilities. Centrus Energy has begun producing limited quantities of HALEU, with only 900 kilograms produced by June 2025, far short of the 20 tons needed to fuel a single reactor . Reports suggest potential “gray import schemes” through China, which has increased its purchases from Russia .

The Ward 250 reactor has a power capacity of 5 megawatts, potentially generating electricity for approximately 5,000 homes . It is expected to reach initial operations capability by July 2026 and will initially operate at 100 kilowatts, scaling up to 250 kilowatts later this year.