Need To Review Procedures for Safeguarding Nuclear Weapons in Transit

The procedures employed by the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Energy (DOE) for protecting nuclear weapons while in transit were recently examined. Nuclear weapons are most vulnerable while in transit, so that security measures taken to protect them outside of their storage locations must be sufficient to dissuade sabotage and theft and to withstand attack. Security procedures are based on transportation mode preferences. DOE prefers overland shipments in special trailers, while DOD prefers shipping by military aircraft.