The atomic warhead rocket strategy was based on... floppy disks. After 50 years, they yet give up

The American Minuteman III strategical missiles, with atomic warheads on board, are inactive dependent on diskettes. After 50 years, however, the American military decided to part with these data carriers and replace them with flash memories.

Minuteman III is an intercontinental ballistic rocket with nuclear warheads. They are capable of carrying out nuclear attack anywhere on the planet in about 30 minutes. They entered service in 1970.

Minuteman III are located in underground silos. Americans have 449 active launch silos with 449 missiles (150 in Malmstrom AFB, 150 in Minot AFB, 149 in Warren AFB).

Intercontinental launcher ballistic missiles With atomic warheads, it's a network of underground bunkers. It consists of respective key installations.

Minuteman III rocket launch

From the outside, everything looks inconspicuous. Fence, tiny building, antenna. The heart of the installation is the alleged rocket Alert Facility (MAF) along with the deep underground bunker of the launch control centre (LCC) and the ground-based launch control support building (LCSB).

Missile Alert Facility (MAF) from outside

A full of about 12 officers are assigned to the MAF. On the ground is simply a chopper landing ground, a large radio tower, garage, safety buildings, recreational facilities.

The underground LCC is equipped with computers, communications and rocket launch equipment. The crew on each shift are 2 officers who exercise control and are liable for 10 underground reinforced launch facilities (LF). Each contains a Minuteman III ballistic rocket with atomic warheads.

Launch Control Centre (LCC)

It's not a museum, it's a Minuteman III.

If anyone thinks that the rocket launch control center with atomic warheads is loaded with fast computers and colorful, large displays, they may be profoundly surprised.

Entrance to the LCC is like entering the past. Rows of turquoise racks for electronics, industrial cables, and analog control elements have not changed since the American Army installed equipment decades ago. erstwhile you look at the names of device manufacturers, you see mainly companies that no longer exist, for example, Radio Corp. of America (since 1987) or Hughes Aircraft Co. (1997)

– describes his visit to LCC magazine reporter Time.

It adds that the full fleet of intercontinental rockets operates with little computing power than the 1 that can be found in any smartphone.

Analog atomic forces

If always the crew were ordered to launch missiles, it would come in the form of a alleged Emergency Action Communication. Only the president of the United States can give the order.

A appropriate message would appear on an antique, flashing, monochrome monitor. Through a computer program that is inactive based on floppy disks, you must then follow a series of steps to launch missiles.

Even initiating the countdown series requires the usage of a digital signal translation device from the command center to an analog signal that can admit a 50-year-old receiver in a rocket silo.

I've never seen equipment like this in my life until I got here.

– tells Time magazine Lieutenant Jessica Fileas serving in 1 of the LCCs.

Update of Minuteman III missiles

Many devices in each LCC have been operating since Minuteman appeared in the US arsenal about 50 years ago.

Update of the Minuteman III system

In the U.S., there is simply a process of upgrading and upgrading the strategy of Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles. specified work is highly hard and responsible. There's no area for confusion. Minuteman III 1 of the 3 pillars of the United States atomic triad (including submarines and strategical bombers). The missiles must always be ready to fire.

In addition to military modernisation, Northrop Grumman employees are besides working.

Update of the Minuteman III system

The modernisation programme aims to replace obsolete equipment and support the weapon strategy with newer technology. The work focuses, among another things, on upgrading the memory charging module, as well as replacing floppy disk stations with flash memory.

Additionally, the LCC will receive improvements to the oxygen regeneration unit, which is liable for producing breathing air in the event of a MAF impact.

LGM-30G Minuteman III

LGM-30G Minuteman III is an American three-stage intercontinental solid fuel ballistic rocket equipped with the United States Air Force. The rocket entered service in 1970 and has since undergone many upgrades. The maker is Boeing.

The Minuteman III missiles are armed with a W87 fusion warhead with a power of 475 kt. The head weighs about 250 kg.

A Minuteman III rocket with 2 thermonuclear warheads. presently these missiles carry 1 warhead

The fuel utilized in the rocket is APCP (Ammonium Perchlorate Composite Propellant), a mixture of ammonium perchlorate, elastomers and powdered metal.

Technical data LGM-30G Minuteman III:

• Starting mass: 35 300 kg
• Diameter: 1.70 m
• Length: 18.23 m
• Range: 13,000 km
• Maximum ceiling: 1100 km
• Attack phase speed: 7.4 km/s