US Nuclear Parts Shipped Accidentally Across the Globe

Washington Post
March 26, 2008
In August 2006, the US Defense Logistics Agency packaged and sent four nose-cone fuel assemblies to Taiwan instead of the four replacement Huey helicopter battery packs they had requested. The nose-cones, which trigger the nuclear warheads on Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missiles, were not noticed as missing until 18 months later. 
Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (U.S. Air Force photo)
Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (U.S. Air Force photo)
Michael W. Wynn, Air Force Secretary, explained that the fuses did not appear to have been tampered with. The Air Force also claims that the technology in the nose-cones dates back to the 1960s and that this technology without accompanying US missiles poses no threat. 

However, this incident, coupled with other recent nuclear security breaches, raises many questions about the organization, management and protocol of nuclear warheads and weapons parts storage in the US. In August 2007, the Air Force accidentally flew six armed warheads over the US from North Dakota to Louisiana. They did not realize their egregious error for 36 hours. 

In the case of the nose-cones, several concerns arise. Of the highest concern to most senior Pentagon officials is that sensitive technology moved beyond US borders without any knowledge or approval of the US government, and then went undetected for 18 months. 

Many experts outside the Pentagon worry about the message this type of error communicates to other nations. The shipment of nuclear-related technology can be seen as a breach of the US’ obligations under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and has the potential to send threatening messages to China.

President of the Ploughshares Fund, Joseph Cirincione, wondered if the mistake might communicate to China that the US intends to help Taiwan build a nuclear program. “Imagine how we would feel if the Russians accidentally shipped warhead fuses to Tehran. We’d be going nuts right now. It would be hard for them to convince us that it was an accident.” 

In response to the incident, Defense Secretary Robert Gates has ordered a full inventory of all nuclear weapons and related materials in the US.

Josh White, “Nuclear Parts Sent to Taiwan in Error,”