Larger Nuclear Weapons Storage Facilities in Europe

Twice as many nuclear weapons can be stored in Europe than assumed earlier. The nuclear weapons storage vaults in Europe are to be modernized by 2005. Modernization will keep them operational until 2018. This information can be drawn from documents and photographs released by the U.S. Air Force and made available to the Berlin Information-center for Transatlantic Security (BITS).

Up to 360 B-61 nuclear weapons can be deployed at 13 operational air force bases located in seven different European countries. Another 68 bombs can be stored at four additional bases, which are in caretaker status. In Germany, operational nuclear vaults are located at Ramstein and Buechel AB. In addition storage vaults at Noervenich and Memmingen AB could be activated. The storage vaults are custom-made, two-storey steel contructions embedded underground into the floor of hardened aircraft shelters. They can hold two weapons each. The vaults can be operated and controlled via sensors and remote control units, while the vault remains closed. The U.S. Air Force is planning to modernize these nuclear storage systems. Among other things data-processing and encryption will be updated at estimated costs of $ 10.1 million. Costs will be finally shared among NATO member states via the Alliance’s infrastructure budget. Six Allies, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey under NATO nuclear sharing arrangements provide the capability  to employ US nuclear weapons during wartime with their own dual capable aircraft.

"These US Air Force plans assume that NATO will still have a need to deploy nuclear weapons in Europe 15 or 20 years from now", says Otfried Nassauer, Director of BITS. "However, the USA is in the midst of reviewing its nuclear strategy, posture and forces. President Bush has already announced that the American nuclear arsenal will be reduced significantly. Within this process, the nuclear weapons deployed in Europe can not be a taboo, especially if Russia is to be convinced of  reductions of its own tactical nuclear forces."

NATO member states are now free to decide, whether they confirm the deployment of nuclear weapons on their soil or stick to a neither confirm nor denial policy.

A complete list of European nuclear storage locations can be found in the table below.

Update December 2004: New declassified information made available to Hans Kristensen, makes NRDC believing that up to 480 B-61 nuclear bombs are still stored in Europe. His assumption is that each of the operational WS3-vaults can hold four nuclear weapons.

For additional information, please contact BITS at +49-30-446858-0 or fax +49-30-4410221.

We would like to thank Joshua Handler, Princeton University, for his efforts to get some documents released under the Freedom of Information Act.

Sources:

[1] USAF Electronic Systems Center, Cryptologic Systems Group: WS3 Sustainment Program, Hanford Airforce Base, 3.3.2000, Information obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by Joshua Handler, Princeton University; Department of the US Air Force, 11th Wing, Information obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by Joshua Handler, Princeton University, released 01/30/1998; Department of the US Air Force, Headquarters US Air Forces in Europe, Information obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by Joshua Handler, released 12/02/1997; Der Spiegel, No. 16/98, 04/13/98, p.135; USAF Electronic Systems Center: Press Release, Hanscom, 18.7.1995; USAF Electronic Systems Center: Communication to BASIC, Hanscom, 20.11.1996; US Congress, House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, DoD Appropriations for FY 1987, Part 5, p.216; US Congress, House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, DoD Appropriations for FY 1990, part 7, p.479; Institut für Internationale Politik: Die Atomare Planung der NATO nach dem Ende des Kalten Krieges, Wuppertal, 1990..

Blue locations have vaults on caretaker status, brown locations are operational.

The photo shows Nuclear Weapons Storage Vault with B-61 freefall bomb. (photo: USAF)