The Pentagon's research arm is chasing a radical new power source for the next generation of drones: batteries that run on nuclear waste.
According to Defense One, a DARPA program is working to build light-weight power cells fueled by nuclear waste, with the goal of producing a battery that could last as long as 30 years. The agency aims to have a "minimally viable" prototype ready by early 2027.
The appeal is straightforward. Today's drones are limited by their batteries, which are heavy, drain quickly, and need frequent recharging or swapping. A power cell that keeps working for decades without a recharge would let uncrewed aircraft and other systems operate for far longer stretches, with less logistical support behind them.
Using nuclear waste as the fuel source adds a second angle to the effort. Spent nuclear material is a long-standing disposal headache, and technologies that can draw usable energy from it turn a liability into a resource. Defense One reports these are the power cells at the center of DARPA's push.
It is worth being clear about the stage of the work: this is a research program targeting a minimal prototype, not a fielded product. The early-2027 milestone Defense One cites is a first proof that the concept can work, not a deployment date.
Why it matters: if DARPA succeeds, drones and other military systems could gain near-permanent power sources, reshaping how long they can stay in the field and how much support they need to get there.