Search the archive:
YaBB - Yet another Bulletin Board
 
   
 
Page Index Toggle Pages: 1
Send Topic Print
25JAN 1995 Near launching of Russian nukes (Read 448 times)
Jan 25th, 2005 at 10:01am

Felix/FFDS   Offline
Admin
FINALLY an official Granddad!
Orlando, FL

Gender: male
Posts: 1000000627
*****
 
and then people worry about the US "button" ...

1995 Near launching of Russian nukes


Russia's early-warning defense radar detects an unexpected missile launch near Norway, and Russian military command estimates the missile to be only minutes from impact on Moscow. Moments later, Russian President Boris Yeltsin, his defense minister, and his chief of staff were informed of the missile launch. The nuclear command systems switched to combat mode, and the nuclear suitcases carried by Yeltsin and his top commander were activated for the first time in the history of the Soviet-made weapons system. Five minutes after the launch detection, Russian command determined that the missile's impact point would be outside Russia's borders. Three more minutes passed, and Yeltsin was informed that the launching was likely not part of a surprise nuclear strike by Western nuclear submarines.

These conclusions came minutes before Yeltsin and his commanders should have ordered a nuclear response based on standard launch on warning protocols. Later, it was revealed that the missile, launched from Spitzbergen, Norway, was actually carrying instruments for scientific measurements. Nine days before, Norway had notified 35 countries, including Russia, of the exact details of the planned launch. The Russian Defense Ministry had received Norway's announcement but had neglected to inform the on-duty personnel at the early-warning center of the imminent launch. The event raised serious concerns about the quality of the former Soviet Union's nuclear systems.

 

Felix/FFDS...
IP Logged
 
Reply #1 - Jan 25th, 2005 at 2:28pm

ozzy72   Offline
Global Moderator
Pretty scary huh?
Madsville

Gender: male
Posts: 37122
*****
 
Shocked Shocked Shocked
 

...
There are two types of aeroplane, Spitfires and everything else that wishes it was a Spitfire!
IP Logged
 
Reply #2 - Jan 25th, 2005 at 5:24pm

Scorpiоn   Offline
Colonel
Take it easy!
The Alamo

Gender: male
Posts: 4496
*****
 
Cripes!  Five minutes saved the world from nuclear winter!  A very fortunate five minutes.
« Last Edit: Jan 26th, 2005 at 7:36pm by Scorpiоn »  

The Devil's Advocate.&&...
IP Logged
 
Reply #3 - Jan 26th, 2005 at 7:33am

Ivan   Offline
Colonel
No, I'm NOT Russian, I
only like Russian aircraft
The netherlands

Gender: male
Posts: 6058
*****
 
paperwork got lost somewhere in the procedure
 

Russian planes: IL-76 (all standard length ones),  Tu-154 and Il-62, Tu-134 and An-24RV&&&&AI flightplans and repaints can be found here
IP Logged
 
Reply #4 - Jan 27th, 2005 at 3:41am
Flt.Lt.Andrew   Ex Member

 
Clap clap for the handicap...woops I mean Russia....

What is a nuclear suitcase? A suitcase with a big red button in it and a pull out antenna from the hinges??


A.
 
IP Logged
 
Reply #5 - Jan 27th, 2005 at 5:03am

Hagar   Offline
Colonel
My Spitfire Girl
Costa Geriatrica

Posts: 33159
*****
 
Frightening but the system obviously worked. I wonder how many other "near misses" there have been that we never got to hear about. Don't get too complacent. That in itself is dangerous. This sounds like a breakdown in communications or incompetence, most probably by a junior official. Human error. No country or organisation is immune from that.
 

...

Founder & Sole Member - Grumpy's Over the Hill Club for Veteran Virtual Aviators
Member of the Fox Four Group

Need help? Try Grumpy's Lair

My photo gallery
IP Logged
 
Reply #6 - Jan 27th, 2005 at 2:12pm

Ivan   Offline
Colonel
No, I'm NOT Russian, I
only like Russian aircraft
The netherlands

Gender: male
Posts: 6058
*****
 
Quote:
Clap clap for the handicap...woops I mean Russia....

What is a nuclear suitcase? A suitcase with a big red button in it and a pull out antenna from the hinges??


A.

in this case the suitcase that contains the second set of launch codes... which means that it was a very close call
 

Russian planes: IL-76 (all standard length ones),  Tu-154 and Il-62, Tu-134 and An-24RV&&&&AI flightplans and repaints can be found here
IP Logged
 
Page Index Toggle Pages: 1
Send Topic Print