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:703MUNSS061108B61 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]]]]

'''Weapons Storage and Security System (WS3)''' is a system including electronic controls and vaults built into the floors of [[Protective Aircraft Shelter]]s (PAS) on several [[United States]] and [[NATO]] [[military airfield]]s all over the world. These vaults are used for safe special weapons storage, typically of tactical [[B61 nuclear bomb]]s. Historically the system was also called within NATO the '''Weapon Security and Survivability System (WS3)'''<ref name=Nuclear-Matters>{{citation |url=http://www.acq.osd.mil/ncbdp/nm/nmbook/appendices/ap_C.htm |title=Nuclear Matters: A Practical Guide - Appendix C |author=Office of the Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Matters |date=2008 |publisher=Department of Defense |accessdate=2009-05-23 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116010239/http://www.acq.osd.mil/ncbdp/nm/nmbook/appendices/ap_C.htm |archivedate=2009-01-16}}</ref><ref name=chronology>{{citation |url=http://www.acq.osd.mil/ncbdp/nm/nuclearchronology5.html |title=Nuclear Chronology |author=Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, Nuclear Matters |publisher=Department of Defense |accessdate=2008-06-11 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090109191343/http://www.acq.osd.mil/ncbdp/nm/nuclearchronology5.html |archivedate=2009-01-09}}</ref> or '''Weapons Survivability and Security System'''.<ref>{{citation|url=httphttps://hansardapi.millbanksystemsparliament.comuk/written_answershistoric-hansard/written-answers/1988/jun/07/weapons-storage-and-security|title=Weapons Storage and Security|publisherwork=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]]|date=7 June 1988|id=HC Deb vol 134 c547W|accessdate=2009-08-07}}</ref>

==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 (appxtook 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 allowed storage directly underneath the aircraft intended to carry the bombs. The ___location inside the aircraft shelter increased the weapon survivability in case of any kind of attack and prevented monitoring of preparations to use the weapons. The electronic systems include various classified sensors, electronic data-transmission and security equipment such as video, motion detectors, closed circuit TV coupled with thermal imaging devices. These facilities enabled remote controlled weapon safety and made the large security forces obsolete.

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 allowedallows storage directly underneath the aircraft intended to carry the bombs., Theeliminating ___locationthe insideneed theto aircraftboth shelter increasedstore the weaponweapons survivabilityon inthe caseaircraft ofor anyto kindwait offor attackthem andto preventedbe monitoringtransferred offrom preparationsexternal tobunkers. useVery thefew weapons.personnel Theare electronicneeded systemsto includeoperate variousthe classified sensorsunit, electronic data-transmission and securitythe equipmentloading suchprocess ascan video,be motioncompleted detectors,in closed circuit TV coupledminutes with thermaljust imaginga devices.few These facilities enabled remote controlled weapon safety[[armorer]]s and made the large securityno forcesvehicles obsoleteneeded.

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>

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*Bechtel National Inc. (USA), Main contractor for the construction program

*Mannesmann Anlagenbau, Düsseldorf, Germany subcontractor mechanical system parts.

==See also==

*[[List of established military terms ]]

*[[War reserve stock]]

*[[Supply depot]]

==References==