U.S. Military Eyes Nuclear Reactors to Survive 90 Days Without the Grid

The Department of Defense is strategizing for a potential nationwide power grid collapse that could last up to three months, according to Fox News. Dubbed FORTRESS, this unprecedented plan aims to equip major military bases across the U.S. with the ability to operate independently for at least 90 days, as per documents obtained by the news outlet.

The U.S. Air Force and civilian contractors are preparing a containerized nuclear power reactor for transport via C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, as reported by Staff Sgt. Monique Bright. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell emphasized that the military does not wish to depend on civilian infrastructure for national defense, citing it as an "intolerable risk."

Portable nuclear reactors, large-scale battery installations, and independent microgrids are being explored by officials to ensure military installations can function without external support during prolonged power outages. The Pentagon has also highlighted the need to stockpile essential supplies such as ammunition, fuel, critical minerals, electronics, spare parts, and medical resources, while preparing civilian factories for rapid wartime production.

Parnell acknowledged that the current approach to homeland defense is based on the outdated assumption that the vastness of the oceans would provide protection. He stated that President Trump has already paved the way for a new perspective on defense, focusing on the Western Hemisphere, Greenland, and Panama.

The plan takes into account the possibility of future conflicts being fought on multiple fronts, given the complex geopolitics involved. Parnell emphasized the importance of having a well-prepared plan, as making critical decisions during a global conflict would be unwise. Recent threats to America's power grid, including warnings from the NSA about Chinese state-sponsored hackers compromising critical infrastructure, underscore the urgency of this initiative.