Artist’s illustration of a mobile microreactor. As warfare becomes increasingly electrified, advanced nuclear reactors could provide militaries with the reliable, resilient power needed to sustain operations. (Department of Energy)

Powering Future Conflicts: The Case for Going Nuclear

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As warfare becomes increasingly electrified, advanced nuclear reactors could provide militaries with the reliable, resilient power needed to sustain operations.

The Israeli Ministry of Defense has announced that Israel employed high-power laser systems to intercept 40 Hezbollah drones during the October 2024 Gaza war, marking the first official acknowledgment of the combat use of a directed-energy weapon, which is emerging as a promising low-cost air-defense option. In late April 2026, Israel deployed its 100-kilowatt Iron Beam laser system in the United Arab Emirates to support the country’s defense against Iran’s missiles and drones. Iran has also recently unveiled an updated version of its one-way attack drone, the Shahed-101, which uses an electric motor instead of a gasoline engine, making it quieter and more difficult to detect with acoustic sensors, thereby enhancing its stealth.

These emerging weapons systems—and modern military operations more broadly—are increasingly reliant on electricity. Improving the accuracy of artificial intelligence (AI) systems requires ongoing machine learning processes, often supported by energy-intensive data centers. Autonomous systems rely on modular batteries that must be regularly recharged in the field. Counter-drone operations are also shifting toward electronic warfare and directed-energy weapons, both of which require significant electrical power. In addition, the electrification of existing platforms, such as ground vehicles, is further increasing overall energy demand.

The Military’s Growing Need for Reliable Power 

A central question, therefore, is how militaries can meet this growing demand and reliably power operations in both current and future conflicts.

Nuclear energy—in particular,........

© The National Interest