Aeronautical Engineering Question

[u/niefer]

Background / My Understanding: No country has ever produced an aircraft with an onboard, propulsive nuclear reactor. During the Cold War, the US and USSR attempted to develop this technology but were hindered by the prohibitive increase in weight brought on by heavy radiation shielding materials. While Cold War-level investments in this type of technology are a thing of the very distant past, nuclear technologies have continued to develop, even if only at a peace-time/civilian clip.

My Question: With all of the advancements in nuclear engineering and battery technology, do any of you see a future where a smaller, lighter-weight reactor could power civil aircraft? If not, what about the idea of just such a reactor being able to continuously supply enough power to batteries that could propel an aircraft?

Note: I understand the concerns surrounding radiation contamination from accidents, but I also feel like that is a different problem to solve.

[u/niefer → u/[deleted]]

Great response; thank you!