The Pentagon is preparing US military bases to operate autonomously for at least 90 days without outside assistance in case a major war disrupts power grids and supply chains. It is part of a wider initiative called Fortress. The Pentagon's chief spokesman, Sean Parnell, says the military cannot rely on civilian infrastructure for national defense because it is too dangerous. Parnell claims that the supply of electricity is now an element of combat, since without electricity, communication, water supply, logistics structures and command are lost. Every major base in the continental United States will have to maintain its electricity, water, fuel and communications facilities for these 90 days. The plan includes mobile nuclear reactors, large battery energy storage systems and microgrids that could disconnect bases from the civilian power grid.

The Pentagon is preparing US military bases to operate autonomously for at least 90 days without outside assistance in case a major war disrupts power grids and supply chains. It is part of a wider initiative called Fortress. The Pentagon's chief spokesman, Sean Parnell, says the military cannot rely on civilian infrastructure for national defense because it is too dangerous. Parnell claims that the supply of electricity is now an element of combat, since without electricity, communication, water supply, logistics structures and command are lost. Every major base in the continental United States will have to maintain its electricity, water, fuel and communications facilities for these 90 days. The plan includes mobile nuclear reactors, large battery energy storage systems and microgrids that could disconnect bases from the civilian power grid.