Nuclear briefcase
A nuclear briefcase is a specially outfitted briefcase used to authorize the use of nuclear weapons.
Russian Federation
Russia's "nuclear briefcase" is code-named Cheget. It is connected to the special communications system code-named Kavkaz, which "supports communication between senior government officials while they are making the decision whether to use nuclear weapons, and in its own turn is plugged into the special communication system Kazbek, which embraces all the individuals and agencies involved in command and control of the Strategic Nuclear Forces." It is usually assumed, although not known with certainty, that the nuclear briefcases are also issued to the Minister of Defense and the Chief of General Staff of the Russian Federation.[1][2]
United States
The Nuclear Football (also called the Atomic Football, Nuclear Lunchbox, President's Emergency Satchel, The Red Button, The Teal Button, The Black Box, or just The Football) is a black briefcase, the contents of which are to be used by the President of the United States of America to authorize a nuclear attack while away from fixed command centers, such as the White House Situation Room. It functions as a mobile hub in the strategic defense system of the United States.
References
- ^ Adventures of the "Nuclear Briefcase": A Russian Document Analysis, Strategic Insights, Volume III, Issue 9 (September 2004), by Mikhail Tsypkin
- ^ A 2nd Briefcase for Putin By Alexander Golts, Moscow Times, 20 May 2008
External links
- Shattered Shield. Cold-War Doctrines Refuse to Die By David Hoffman, Washington Post, March 15, 1998