Weapon Storage Security System (WS3)

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Weapon Storage Security System (WS3) is a marking for the vaults built into the floors of Protective Aircraft Shelters (PAS) on several United States and NATO military airfields all over the world. These vaults are used for a safe special weapons storage, typically of tactical B61 nuclear bombs. Historically the system was also called Weapon Security and Survivability System (WS3).^[1]

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 WS3 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 WS3 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.

215 WS3 vaults were built for the U.S. Air Force at 13 sites in seven countries. Additionally 24 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. Each WS3 vault could store 4 nuclear bombs.^[2]

[edit] Sources

Bechtel National Inc.(USA), Main contractor for the construction program
Mannesmann Anlagenbau, Düsseldorf, Germany subcontractor mechanical system parts.