Weapons Storage and Security System: Difference between revisions

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The WS3 system consists of a Weapons Storage Vault (WSV) and electronic monitoring and control systems. The 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 prevent 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 authorisedauthorized in 1988,<ref name=chronology /> and they were in widespread use by 1995.

215 WS3 vaults were built for the [[U.S. Air Force]] 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>