Nuclear reactors, 90-day survival plan: How US is preparing for a global war

The United States is preparing for the possibility of a major war that could extend beyond overseas battlefields and cripple critical infrastructure at home, with the Pentagon working on plans to keep military bases operational for at least 90 days without external support.

The initiative, known as FORTRESS, aims to ensure American forces can continue fighting even if power grids fail, supply chains collapse and essential civilian services are disrupted during a major conflict.The preparations go beyond securing electricity and fuel. The Pentagon is also planning to build strategic reserves of critical military supplies, prepare civilian factories to manufacture defence equipment during a crisis and develop technologies to counter adversaries' military capabilities.

Separately, the US defence establishment is expanding its focus on emerging technologies and future battlefields through initiatives such as Project Meridian, while a new, highly secretive agency reportedly seeks to disrupt foreign technology programmes that could threaten American military superiority.

90-day plan to keep military bases running

According to Fox News Digital, FORTRESS would require every major military installation in the continental US to sustain essential operations independently for at least 90 days.

This would include maintaining electricity, water, fuel and communications even if the civilian infrastructure supporting military operations becomes unavailable.Pentagon chief spokesperson Sean Parnell told Fox News Digital that relying on civilian municipal infrastructure for national defence was an unacceptable risk. He said the initiative recognised that electricity had become a critical component of modern warfare, with power failures capable of disrupting communications, water supplies, logistics, manufacturing and military command systems.The plan envisages portable nuclear reactors, large-scale battery storage and microgrids that would allow bases to disconnect from civilian power grids during prolonged disruptions. It also calls for alternative supply chains and strategic reserves of munitions, fuel, critical minerals, electronics, spare parts and medical supplies.FORTRESS would further seek to reduce dependence on individual suppliers by requiring at least two qualified supply or production pathways for critical defence requirements.

Through the Civil Reserve Manufacturing Network, the Pentagon also plans to identify civilian factories that could switch to defence production during a crisis.Parnell said the next major conflict could involve multiple fronts, disrupting global supply chains and making it difficult to replenish essential military equipment and materials.

Secret technology agency to disrupt adversaries

The Pentagon is also reportedly expanding efforts to prevent foreign adversaries from developing technologies that could undermine America's military advantage.In an investigation, POLITICO reported that the Defence Department had established the Technology Support Office (TSO) in April by reorganising two classified intelligence programmes that had undertaken similar activities on a smaller scale since 2023.According to the report, the agency works with senior military and intelligence officials to develop tools and strategies that could disrupt foreign access to critical defence technologies.

Its reported activities include developing specialised hacking tools and planning deception operations involving potentially faulty components in foreign weapons systems.POLITICO reported that Deputy Defence Secretary Steve Feinberg led the push to establish TSO, with senior adviser Tom Rakusan also involved. The agency's work is intended to delay or prevent adversaries from developing technologies that could pose a serious threat to American forces.However, the report also raised questions about oversight and accountability, given the secrecy surrounding the agency and the potential risks of covert operations. In response to questions from POLITICO, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Jacob Bliss disputed the reporting, saying the claims were based on information that was not true.

Project Meridian focuses on future warfare

Alongside these preparations, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced Project Meridian, an initiative intended to identify the weapons and capabilities the US military will need to maintain its technological edge in future conflicts.The project will examine advances in artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, directed-energy weapons, robotics and biotechnology. According to the Pentagon memorandum cited in the announcement, it will identify critical capability gaps and recommend solutions that can be developed, tested and deployed.SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk, Anduril Industries founder Palmer Luckey and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich are set to lead the initiative, with Pentagon technology chief Emil Michael helping facilitate its work.Hegseth said the project would focus on identifying the domains the US must dominate and the capabilities its military must master, rather than producing another set of policy documents.The initiative is expected to submit its findings and recommendations to Hegseth within 120 days of its announcement, with January 28, 2027, set as the deadline.