Originally published on the CGS blog on September 5, 2007.
Earlier today it was reported that five nuclear-armed ACMs were transported via USAF B-52H Bomber from North Dakota to Louisiana…by accident. That’s right, by accident! (“Hey, did you remember to take those nuclear-armed ACMs off the wing before we left North Dakota?” Silence.)
Hans M. Kristensen, over at the Federation of American Scientists’ Strategic Security Blog , writes of this good example of poor nuclear weapons custody management:
Beyond the safety issue of transporting nuclear weapons in the air, the most important implication of the Minot incident is the apparent break-down of nuclear command and control for the custody of the nuclear weapons. Pilots (or anyone else) are not supposed to just fly off with nuclear bombs, and base commanders are not supposed to tell them to do so unless so ordered by higher command. In the best of circumstances the system worked, and someone ‘upstairs’ actually authorized the transport of nuclear cruise missiles on a B-52H bomber.
In his insightful post, Hans does a nice job of also highlighting the history of airborne nukes and the USAF’s tranistion to a slimmer, trimmer cruise missile inventory.
UPDATE: MSNBC reports U.S. Airforce official fired after six nuclear warheads fly for more than three hours over several states last week.
