Weapon Storage Security System W3S
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Weapon Storage Security System (W3S) is a marking for the vaults built into the floors of Protective Aircraft Shelters (PAS) on several United States and NATO bases all over the world. These vaults are used for a safe special weapons storage.
During the Cold War era on the US and NATO bases used by the Quick Reaction Alert readiness forces numbers of bombs were stored in a heavily secured Weapon Storage Area located on or in the vicinity of the base. The ‘specials’ were located in nuclear weapon (igloo) bunkers. Transporting them to and from the Quick Reaction Alert area (a few heavily guarded aircraft shelters near the main runway) during exercises and for logistic reasons always required a convoy with a large number of security forces which included a Sabotage Alert Team, Backup Alert and Reserve Force team.
The W3S system allowed ‘special’ 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. The W3S system consists of the vault itself and 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.
[edit] Sources
- Bechtel National Inc.(USA), Main contractor for the construction program
- Mannesmann Anlagenbau, Düsseldorf, Germany subcontractor mechanical system parts.
[edit] External links
(containing detailed information and hi-res photos)
