http://www.kxma.com/getArticle.asp?ArticleId=159150
2007-09-05 22:50:30 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Extremely dangerous if they are used and we all know that US forces are prone to mistakes
2007-09-05 23:37:35 · answer #1 · answered by Nemesis 7 · 1⤊ 7⤋
Well considering B-52 have had Nuc's airborne on alert for some 40 years +, not much. In 50 years ther e has one been one or two incidents. Most notable was the lost of a armed B52 off the Azores in the 1960's. The weapons have redundant safety systems & require codes to use.
2007-09-06 09:33:24 · answer #2 · answered by lana_sands 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Warheads, nuclear material, toxic waste, chemical agents...all are transported around the US on a daily basis. The public is unaware of this (to protect the shipments) and for good reason.
It is nothing for a plane to move warheads around the country, though that isnt the most preferred method. A warhead has several steps it has to take to detonate and if they are not followed, the warhead will not explode, will not create any fusion reaction and will at best become a very small dirty bomb.
2007-09-06 07:20:40 · answer #3 · answered by sixtymm 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A nuclear warhead won't cause a nuclear detonation unless it's properly armed. To actually cause a nuclear reaction, an elaborate electrical process has to occur. (Especially when plutonium is used- like the missiles involved in the incident currently being talked about in the media)
Although there is some risk of the housing cracking and nuclear material leaking into, say, a river or something (thereby contaminating water supplies and such) this risk is VERY small... They're not designed to break easily.
2007-09-06 07:12:03 · answer #4 · answered by Nick 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Only in America would this be an issue, since for years they
flew around over everyone elses country with nuclear weapons as payload, what do you think a b52 is built for?
2007-09-06 07:00:38 · answer #5 · answered by wise old sage 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I'm under the impression that B52's deliberately carry warheads. I know we're in good hands. No, I never worry (or even think) about stuff like this.
2007-09-06 06:01:29 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
You would be surprised on how many dangerous weapons of of mass destruction are flown over the united states every day with out the publics knowledge
2007-09-06 06:38:49 · answer #7 · answered by King Of Battle 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Its not like the pilots did not know what they were carrying. Every pilot checks payload and does a preflight that takes a boring 1+ hours to do.
ITs not like they landed and were like "Hey, Those wern't supose to be in there!"
2007-09-06 06:19:53 · answer #8 · answered by Teerawood 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That was no mistake.The military doesn't just misplace nukes.That was a ploy to let these countries ie: Iran,Russia,Syria and who ever else thinks that we are threatened by their BS,know we have them and are moving them around into possible areas of necessity.
2007-09-06 09:20:02 · answer #9 · answered by one10soldier 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
not enough to worry me. there is a greater chance an asteriod will smash us all then the air force letting anything happen to some nukes.
2007-09-06 06:03:29 · answer #10 · answered by Diadem 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not very, the weapons were not programmed with any target data, also even if the plane was to crash and burn the weapons would not go off!
2007-09-06 06:00:15 · answer #11 · answered by conranger1 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋