"Nuclear cpable".
Thread Starter
"Nuclear cpable".
Following on from a part of the NK thread where someone mentioned that the B2 is nuclear capable but the B1 isn't has me wondering...
What makes an aircraft nuclear capable? Obviously it isn't just a case of loading a bucket of sunshine up so.................?
What makes an aircraft nuclear capable? Obviously it isn't just a case of loading a bucket of sunshine up so.................?
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The prime differences will include the removal of the wiring looms serving the permissible action links (PAL.) The PAL enable the manual entry of a specific code or series of codes, without which the weapon(s) may neither be armed nor released
Also some aircraft, (viz the Canberra B(i).8) have or had particular weapon pylons that are specific to one or more types of nuclear weapon. These pylons, are not compatible with conventional weapons. (In order to eliminate the possibility of loading a nuke in error.)
On a more human level crews of conventionally armed aircraft are unlikely to be trained on the very specific procedures associated with the carriage and delivery of of nuclear weapons.
Also some aircraft, (viz the Canberra B(i).8) have or had particular weapon pylons that are specific to one or more types of nuclear weapon. These pylons, are not compatible with conventional weapons. (In order to eliminate the possibility of loading a nuke in error.)
On a more human level crews of conventionally armed aircraft are unlikely to be trained on the very specific procedures associated with the carriage and delivery of of nuclear weapons.
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And in the early days of nuclear weapons bombers dedicated to their delivery also often had heated bomb-bays to keep the device at a comfortable temperature, plus often a crawlway for some electee from the crew to physically enable the first PAL stage*. The last such design with both those features that occurs to me at the moment is the Douglas A3D & B-66 family.
* Even earlier than that was a crawl-way to the bomb-bay to enable the 'pit' to be pushed the final few inches into the casing.
* Even earlier than that was a crawl-way to the bomb-bay to enable the 'pit' to be pushed the final few inches into the casing.
I also think (and stand to be corrected if I'm wrong) that declaring certain types, such as the B1, as "non nuclear" and modifying them so that Nuclear Weapons could not be carried may have been part of one or more arms reduction agreements between USA / USSR (as was).
I also think (and stand to be corrected if I'm wrong) that declaring certain types, such as the B1, as "non nuclear" and modifying them so that Nuclear Weapons could not be carried may have been part of one or more arms reduction agreements between USA / USSR (as was).
The United States eliminated the nuclear mission for the B-1 in 1994. Even though the Air Force expended no further funding to maintain nuclear capabilities, the B-1 was still considered a heavy bomber equipped for nuclear armament until 2007. The conversion to conventional only began in November 2007 under the original START treaty and was completed in March 2011 under the New START treaty. To make that conversion possible, two steps were taken:
During the first step a metal cylindrical sleeve was welded into the aft attachment point of each set of B-1 pylon attachments. This prevented installing B-1 Air Launched Cruise Missile pylons.
During the second step two nuclear armament-unique cable connectors in each of the B-1 weapons bays were removed. This prevented the pre-arm signal from reaching the weapons.
During the first step a metal cylindrical sleeve was welded into the aft attachment point of each set of B-1 pylon attachments. This prevented installing B-1 Air Launched Cruise Missile pylons.
During the second step two nuclear armament-unique cable connectors in each of the B-1 weapons bays were removed. This prevented the pre-arm signal from reaching the weapons.
