Table of Contents
How does the United States transport nuclear weapons?
Today the United States relies almost entirely on million-dollar, Lockheed Martin tractor-trailers, known as Safeguard Transporters (SGTs) and Safe Secure Trailers (SSTs) to move nuclear material.
Who transports nuclear weapons?
A Safeguards Transporter (SGT) is a truck developed for and used by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), a semi-autonomous affiliate agency of the United States Department of Energy, for the ground transport of nuclear weapons in the contiguous United States.
Who protects nuclear weapons?
In support of this presidential mandate, the Energy Department — specifically the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) — is responsible for ensuring the integrity and safety of the nation’s nuclear weapons, advancing nuclear nonproliferation and promoting international nuclear safety.
What is a nuclear materials courier?
Nuclear weapons couriers are the tough cookies who transport nuclear weapons, weapon components, and other nuclear materials to wherever they need to go—places like labs, nuclear plants, and military bases.
Who escorts nuclear weapons?
The U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile is co-managed by both the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). OST is committed to both transportation safety and security. OST travels upwards of 5 million over-the-road miles per year using specially designed tractor-trailer rigs.
Does the United States still make nuclear weapons?
The United States has not designed or built a nuclear warhead since the end of the Cold War. Instead, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) uses life-extension programs (LEPs) to extend the service lives of existing weapons in the stockpile, some dating back to the 1960s.
Who oversees nuclear weapons in the US?
What is nuclear material made of?
Nuclear material refers to the metals uranium, plutonium, and thorium, in any form, according to the IAEA. This is differentiated further into “source material”, consisting of natural and depleted uranium, and “special fissionable material”, consisting of enriched uranium (U-235), uranium-233, and plutonium-239.
What does AWE Aldermaston do?
AWE Aldermaston is the Company’s headquarters and covers approximately 750 acres. Formerly a wartime airfield, the site is now a sophisticated centre providing advanced research, design and manufacturing facilities.
Where do we get nuclear material?
uranium
It can be an isotope produced by a nuclear reactor, the tailings and waste that is produced or extracted from uranium or thorium from an ore that processed mainly for its source material content.