Weapons Storage and Security System

Protective Aircraft Shelter

Weapons Storage and Security System (WS3) is a system including electronic controls and vaults built into the floors of

military airfields all over the world. These vaults are used for safe special weapons storage, typically of tactical B61 nuclear bombs. Historically the system was also called within NATO the Weapon Security and Survivability System (WS3)^[1]^[2] or Weapons Survivability and Security System.^[3]

History

During the Cold War in Europe, US and NATO bases used by the Quick Reaction Alert readiness forces stored their nuclear bombs in heavily secured weapon storage areas located on or in the vicinity of the base. The process of transferring and mounting the weapons to the aircraft took several hours and required a large coordinated team of security, transportation and engineer personnel; when the alert or exercise was called off, it took an equal amount of time and trouble to return the weapons to the bunkers.

The standard system had functioned since the late 1940s, but was unsatisfactory for overseas duty in multiple regards: primarily, it required the weapons be kept mounted on the body of the alert aircraft to ensure they could take off quickly enough when called (despite aircraft not being designed to safely or securely store nuclear weapons). Secondarily, it also posed an

area denial

strikes. In a projected multi-day war, this was feared to be a decisive handicap.

Deployment of the WS3 system was authorized in 1988,^[2] and they were in widespread use by 1995.

Specifications

The WS3 system consists of a Weapons Storage Vault (WSV) and electronic monitoring and control systems built into the concrete floor of a specially-secured

armorers

and no vehicles needed.

The electronic systems include various classified sensors, along with electronic data-transmission and security equipment such as video, motion detectors, closed circuit TV and thermal imaging devices, thus making the WS3 shelters more secure against sabotage and infiltration compared to existing igloo-style bunkers.

Deployment

215 WS3 vaults were built for the

RAF Brüggen in Germany and 24 at RAF Marham in Britain.^[4]

Sources

Bechtel National Inc. (USA), Main contractor for the construction program
Mannesmann Anlagenbau, Düsseldorf, Germany subcontractor mechanical system parts.

References

^ ^a ^b Office of the Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Matters (2008), Nuclear Matters: A Practical Guide - Appendix C, Department of Defense, archived from the original on 2009-01-16, retrieved 2009-05-23
^ ^a ^b Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, Nuclear Matters, Nuclear Chronology, Department of Defense, archived from the original on 2009-01-09, retrieved 2008-06-11
^ "Weapons Storage and Security", Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), 7 June 1988, HC Deb vol 134 c547W, retrieved 2009-08-07
^ Robert S. Norris and Hans M. Kristensen (November–December 2004), U.S. nuclear weapons in Europe, 1954–2004 (PDF), Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, retrieved 2009-06-11

External links

Paul Sparaco (3 March 2000), WS3 Sustainment Program (PDF), U.S. Air Force, retrieved 2010-10-09
Hans M. Kristensen (February 2005), U.S. Nuclear Weapons in Europe (PDF), Natural Resources Defense Council, retrieved 2006-05-23
Nuclear Information: US nuclear weapons in Europe, Friends of the Earth, Flanders & Brussels
Image of a WS3 vault holding British WE.177 nuclear bombs

[Nuclear-Matters-1] Office of the Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Matters (2008), Nuclear Matters: A Practical Guide - Appendix C, Department of Defense, archived from the original on 2009-01-16, retrieved 2009-05-23

[chronology-2] Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, Nuclear Matters, Nuclear Chronology, Department of Defense, archived from the original on 2009-01-09, retrieved 2008-06-11

[3] "Weapons Storage and Security", Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), 7 June 1988, HC Deb vol 134 c547W, retrieved 2009-08-07

[4] Robert S. Norris and Hans M. Kristensen (November–December 2004), U.S. nuclear weapons in Europe, 1954–2004 (PDF), Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, retrieved 2009-06-11

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