The Nuclear-Powered Aircraft that Will Change Everything

Nuclear energy was discovered decades ago. But while some applications found their way into service, many potential developments surpassed modern technology. That is, until the 2020s.

As early as the post-World War 2 era, the US Navy managed to harness nuclear power for naval propulsion, while the Air Force dreamed of the possibilities of nuclear-propelled aircraft. However, it was unimaginable to condense the enormity of nuclear power into a fighter-sized engine.

Today, an opportunity to develop the much-desired nuclear aircraft has opened, with the giant Lockheed Martin leading the conversation. The company recently patented several designs for what will likely change the future of aviation and the world alike: a miniature fusion reactor.

As Lev Artsimovic, father of the tokamak reactor, put it when asked about how soon nuclear power will be commercially available: (QUOTE) “When mankind needs it, maybe a short time before that.”