Broken Arrow

Broken Arrow. In United States Department of Defense terminology, it is a code phrase that signifies an unexpected event involving a nuclear weapon, nuclear warhead, or nuclear component that does not create a risk of nuclear war. This includes accidental or unauthorized launching, firing, detonating, theft, or loss of such devices. The term is part of a larger set of Emergency Action Messages and was formalized during the heightened tensions of the Cold War to manage and communicate critical incidents without causing public panic or escalating international crises.

Definition and military usage

The term is specifically defined within the operational procedures of the United States Armed Forces and related agencies like the Department of Energy. It applies to incidents that do not fall under more severe classifications like NUCFLASH or Empty Quiver, which indicate a greater threat of imminent nuclear warfare or nuclear terrorism. A Broken Arrow event could involve the accidental jettisoning of a weapon from an aircraft like a B-52 Stratofortress, a crash involving a ballistic missile submarine or strategic bomber, or the loss of a weapon during transportation. The primary distinction is that while the incident is serious and involves potential radioactive contamination, it is not assessed as leading to a nuclear exchange between adversarial nations such as the former Soviet Union.

Historical incidents

The United States has formally acknowledged several Broken Arrow incidents. One of the most significant occurred in 1966, when a B-52G bomber collided with a KC-135 Stratotanker during aerial refueling over the coast of Spain, near the village of Palomares. This accident released four B28 nuclear bombs, with two causing non-nuclear explosions that spread plutonium contamination. Another major incident took place in 1968, when a B-52 carrying four nuclear weapons crashed onto sea ice near Thule Air Base in Greenland, leading to a massive and difficult cleanup operation. Earlier, in 1958, a Mark 15 nuclear bomb was lost off the coast of Savannah, Georgia, after a mid-air collision involving a F-86 Sabre and the carrying B-47 Stratojet.

In popular culture

The concept has been dramatized in several major films and literary works, significantly shaping public perception of nuclear accidents. The 1996 film Broken Arrow, directed by John Woo and starring John Travolta and Christian Slater, depicted the theft of nuclear weapons. Similarly, the 1964 film Fail-Safe and the contemporaneous black comedy Dr. Strangelove explored themes of accidental nuclear war. In literature, the thriller The Sum of All Fears by Tom Clancy involves a lost weapon, while documentary series like the BBC's The Silent War have examined real historical cases, bringing the hidden history of the Atomic Age to a wider audience.

Safety and prevention measures

Following early accidents, the U.S. Air Force and Strategic Air Command implemented stringent safety protocols known as Nuclear Command and Control and the Two-man rule. Weapons are now equipped with sophisticated Permissive Action Link devices to prevent unauthorized arming. Transportation security was overhauled, with dedicated units like the Air Force Global Strike Command and the Defense Nuclear Weapons School providing specialized training. International agreements, including various Strategic Arms Limitation Talks treaties and the later New START accord with Russia, have also incorporated measures for secure storage and transportation to prevent such incidents, promoting transparency between nuclear powers.

Recovery and disposal procedures

The recovery of a lost nuclear weapon or component is a complex military and scientific operation led by specialized teams. In the Palomares incident, the United States Navy deployed assets including the deep-submergence vehicle DSV Alvin and the submarine USS ''Petrel'' to locate a bomb lost at sea. Contaminated material, such as soil and debris, is often removed and shipped to secure disposal sites like the Savannah River Site or the Nevada National Security Site. The procedures are coordinated by agencies such as the National Nuclear Security Administration and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, with the ultimate goal of securing the fissile material and mitigating any environmental hazard from radioactive waste.