Weapons Storage and Security System: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|System used on NATO military airfields}}

{{More citations needed|date=May 2024}}

[[File:B61 in Weapons Storage and Security System.jpg|thumb|Weapons Storage and Security System vault in raised position holding a [[B61 nuclear bomb]]. The vault is within a [[Protective Aircraft Shelter]]]]

[[File:B61 nuclear bomb - inert training version.jpg|thumb|General [[Roger A. Brady|Roger Brady]] being shown a dummy nuclear weapon in a Weapons Storage and Security System at [[Volkel Air Base]]]]

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==History==

[[File:WS3 Logo.jpg|upright|thumb|right|WS3 system logo]]

During the [[Cold War]] erain on theEurope, US and NATO bases used by the [[Quick Reaction Alert]] readiness forces numbersstored oftheir nuclear bombs were stored in a heavily secured [[weapon storage area]]s located on or in the vicinity of the base. The 'specials'process wereof locatedtransferring inand nuclearmounting weaponthe (igloo) bunkers. Transporting themweapons to andthe fromaircraft thetook Quickseveral Reactionhours Alertand arearequired (a fewlarge heavilycoordinated guardedteam aircraftof shelters near the main runway) duringsecurity, exercisestransportation and forengineer logisticpersonnel; reasonswhen alwaysthe requiredalert aor convoyexercise withwas acalled largeoff, numberit (approximatelytook 50an armedequal military)amount of securitytime forcesand whichtrouble includedto areturn Securitythe Alertweapons Team,to Backupthe Alertbunkers. and Reserve Force team.

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 [[OPSEC]] risk, as any large amount of activity around the weapons bunkers during a time of crisis would be quickly spotted by the Soviets and interpreted as a prelude to nuclear attack. Lastly, there was a serious risk that wartime damage to airbases from a [[Pre-emptive war|first strike]] using nuclear [[airburst]] or [[Chemical_warfare#Persistency|persistent chemical weapons]] attack would deny access to the bunkers for many weeks without actually destroying them, thus creating a much-feared "soft kill" scenario in which most of NATO's [[theater (warfare)|theater-based]] nuclear assets could be rapidly neutralized by a much smaller number of Soviet "soft" [[area denial]] strikes. In a projected multi-day war, this was feared to be a decisive handicap.

The WS3 system consists of a Weapons Storage Vault (WSV) and electronic monitoring and control systems. One vault can hold up to four [[nuclear weapon]]s and in the lowered position provides ballistic protection through its hardened lid and reinforced sidewalls.<ref name=Nuclear-Matters /> The WS3 system allows storage directly underneath the aircraft intended to carry the bombs. The ___location inside the aircraft shelter increases weapon survivability in case of attack and prevents monitoring of preparations to use the weapons. 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.

Deployment of the WS3 system was authorized in 1988,<ref name=chronology /> 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 [[Hardened Aircraft Shelter]]. One vault can hold up to four [[nuclear weapon]]s and in the lowered position provides ballistic protection through its hardened lid and reinforced sidewalls.<ref name=Nuclear-Matters /> The WS3 system allows storage directly underneath the aircraft intended to carry the bombs., The ___location insideeliminating the aircraftneed shelterto increasesboth weaponstore survivabilitythe inweapons caseon ofthe attackaircraft andor preventsto monitoringwait offor preparationsthem to usebe thetransferred weapons.from Theexternal electronicbunkers. systemsVery includefew variouspersonnel classifiedare sensors,needed alongto withoperate electronicthe data-transmissionunit, and securitythe equipmentloading suchprocess ascan video,be motioncompleted detectors,in closedminutes circuitwith TVjust a few [[armorer]]s and thermalno imagingvehicles devicesneeded.

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 [[United States Air Forces in Europe]] at 13 sites in seven countries. Additionally 34 WS3 vaults were built for the [[Royal Air Force]] to store the [[WE.177]] nuclear bomb; 10 at [[RAF Brüggen]] in Germany and 24 at [[RAF Marham]] in Britain.<ref>{{citation|url=http://thebulletin.metapress.com/content/82558p4j65585158/fulltext.pdf|title=U.S. nuclear weapons in Europe, 1954–2004|author=Robert S. Norris and [[Hans M. Kristensen]]|date=November–December 2004|publisher=Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists|accessdate=2009-06-11}}</ref>