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Doomsday device Nuclear suitcase: what it is for. "Nuclear suitcase President's nuclear suitcase

Today, almost every one of us is familiar with the phrase - a nuclear briefcase. But what exactly is hidden behind these words is not known to everyone. At the same time, another verbal construction is used inseparably from the nuclear suitcase - the nuclear button. Both the nuclear briefcase and the nuclear button are in the hands of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, the President of the Russian Federation, and are transferred from one leader of the country to another as presidential powers expire.

The nuclear suitcase (YaCh) is the little that has come down to us since the Cold War. This is a special device that stores the codes to power the country's nuclear arsenal. This suitcase is always at hand for the top politicians and military leaders of countries that have their own arsenal of nuclear weapons. In Russia, with the help of a nuclear briefcase, the president communicates with the Strategic Missile Forces.

The first YaCh came up with the Americans. Similar devices appeared already under President Eisenhower (1953-1961). And this system acquired its final form in the days of the Caribbean crisis, when US President Kennedy questioned his control over the country's nuclear arsenal as the supreme commander. At that moment, both the US military and civilians from his entourage pressed on him, many of whom offered to punish the presumptuous “commies”. For this reason, Kennedy was afraid that, firstly, the order to launch a nuclear strike on the USSR could be given by someone without his consent. Secondly, that if necessary, he himself will not be able to give the same order, since he will not be at the prepared command post. As a result of these doubts, the nuclear briefcase appeared in the United States. Since then, only the president of the country has been able to order the use of the existing nuclear arsenal. At the same time, the order can be given even from your own bedroom, of course, if there is a nuclear weapon at hand.

Who came up with the definitions "nuclear suitcase" and "nuclear button", which have become firmly established in the modern Russian lexicon? They were invented by Soviet international journalists. In the United States, a nuclear suitcase is the least like a suitcase. This is a kind of leather trunk, vaguely reminiscent of an American football ball. In the USA it is called Nuclear Football, President's Emergency Satchel or The Button, as well as photographs in the Western press. Soviet journalists who worked on translating these definitions were well aware that it was impossible to translate them word for word. For example, "nuclear football" sounds, frankly, ridiculous. "Button" - good, but impersonal. "Presidential alarm pack" - also not quite what you need. As a result, the definitions "Nuclear suitcase" and "Nuclear button" were chosen - short and clear.

In our country, the history of nuclear weapons has more than 30 years. In those years, an automated control system for nuclear forces with the code name "Kazbek" took up combat duty. This system became known to the general public precisely because of the Cheget subscriber complex, that same nuclear suitcase. It is correct to call the Russian nuclear warhead the subscriber complex "Cheget" of the automated control system for strategic nuclear forces "Kazbek". YACh is an integral part of the retaliatory strike system. It can be put into action only after a signal is received about a missile attack on our country.

First, a signal comes from the missile attack early warning system, this signal is necessarily checked by the general on duty, who is located at the command post in Solnechnogorsk. Only after this check, the Kazbek system goes into combat mode. This was told to journalists by Viktor Esin, chief of the main headquarters of the Strategic Missile Forces in 1994-96. Directly in the YaCh there is communication equipment with the command of the Strategic Missile Forces and the General Staff. To put it quite simply, this is a telephone, but information on it is transmitted not by voice, but by encrypted characters, such a connection cannot be blocked.

In the USSR, they thought about developing a mobile control panel for an existing nuclear group in the 1970s. At that time, Moscow seriously feared a surprise nuclear strike from Washington. In the 1970s, the leadership of the USSR could order the launch of strategic nuclear missiles only by arriving at the command post of the Strategic Missile Forces. At the same time, it took only 7 minutes for the American Pershing-2 ballistic missiles deployed in Europe and equipped with 400 kt warheads to fly up.

YaCh in the Soviet Union was created for Leonid Brezhnev, for this reason its management was simplified as much as possible so that the elderly general secretary could easily figure everything out. At the same time, Brezhnev did not get Cheget; by the time of his death, the system had not yet been debugged. Trial operation of domestic nuclear weapons began in 1983, the first to receive them were Chief of the General Staff Nikolai Ogarkov and Defense Minister Dmitry Ustinov. A year later, Konstantin Chernenko received his nuclear weapon, while full-scale tests of the system in various modes were in full swing at that moment. Thus, Mikhail Gorbachev received the first fully working nuclear weapon.

At present, 3 nuclear briefcases are constantly on combat duty: one each for the President of the country, the Minister of Defense and the Chief of the General Staff. Of course, in every suitcase there is that same nuclear button, pressing it transmits a signal to the command posts of the Strategic Missile Forces - a special code that allows you to use nuclear weapons. In this case, the launch of missiles will occur only when the command comes from all three devices. In fact, there are more than three suitcases, from time to time they are checked, changed and repaired. There is a legend that Boris Yeltsin was given a YaCh with serial number 51, he was indignant, and the number on the suitcase was changed to the first.

"Cheget" is intended for constant foot escort of persons who are authorized to dispose of the nuclear arsenal of our country. Most often, they are also followed by a car that is equipped with special communications. In Russia, the YaCh is worn by an officer with the rank of no less than a lieutenant colonel. In practice, the officer belongs to the signal troops, while the operator of the complex is always dressed in the uniform of the navy - a tribute to tradition. The suitcase itself, in order not to attract too much attention to itself, is made in the form of an ordinary briefcase-diplomat.

The only time in history the Cheget system was used on January 25, 1995. On this day, Black Brant XII, the world's largest meteorological rocket, was launched from an island off the coast of Norway. The trajectory of its flight was reminiscent of the trajectory of the American intercontinental ballistic missile "Trident", which was launched from a submarine. The end point of her route could be a nuclear explosion in the air, aimed at disabling the Russian missile attack warning system. The notice of the Norwegian side about the launch of the rocket was lost somewhere in the offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the next day, Russian President Boris Yeltsin talked about the first time he used his nuclear weapon for emergency communication with his military advisers.

American nuclear briefcase

The owner of the White House also has his own nuclear suitcase. However, as we wrote above, it is called Nuclear Football, as it is made in the form of a bag made of black leather, shaped like a ball used in American football. This leather bag hides a titanium box with a plastic card - "sanctioning plate", the box is closed with a combination lock. By printing the card, the President can find out the code used to activate the American nuclear arsenal. In addition, it also contains a 30-page instruction on what the president should do in the event of a nuclear war. Among other things, it contains information about all the secret bunkers available to the president.

Officers of the 4 branches of the armed forces, as well as the Coast Guard, are used to carry American nuclear weapons. Before that, all candidates undergo a very serious check and selection, and also receive the highest security access - "White Yankee". The officer carrying the briefcase is armed with a personal pistol and has the right to use his weapon without warning. The "ball" is chained to the hand of an American officer with a special steel bracelet. When the president changes, as in Russia, the YaCh passes to the new owner of the White House on the day of the official inauguration. At the same time, a short 30-minute lecture is given on the use of this device.

Consequences of using a nuclear suitcase

The reader may have a reasonable question, what will happen if the Cheget carriers and command posts are disabled. In this case, the Perimeter system will come into operation in Russia, which is able to operate without human intervention. In the West, the Russian system was nicknamed very effectively "Dead Hand" (dead hand).

It is worth noting that any large-scale conflict with the exchange of nuclear strikes between the United States and Russia, which together have more than 16 thousand nuclear warheads, will lead to a universal catastrophe, regardless of the presence of the Perimeter system. According to experts, the scenario of a nuclear exchange between the United States and Russia will lead to the simultaneous death of 770 million people. At the same time, 180 million tons of soot will be thrown into the Earth's atmosphere almost simultaneously, which will block up to 70% of the sunlight coming to our planet over the surface of the Northern Hemisphere and 35% over the surface of the Southern Hemisphere. The so-called “nuclear twilight” will begin, and the world will plunge into an ice age similar to the one that was on Earth 18 thousand years ago.

This will be the time when "the living will envy the dead." Up to 70% of the world crop will die, and many animals that are now at the top of the food chain, including almost all of humanity. People will be haunted by hunger, pandemics, radioactive fallout, the reduction of areas suitable for life. Most of the countries in the world that survive the consequences of such a conflict will plunge into the Stone Age. Knowing this, you better understand what responsibility the people who received the nuclear suitcase should bear.

The nuclear suitcase is a symbol of the current government. The focus of the policy of pre-empting nuclear war. We decided to talk about him by answering the questions of the popular TV game.

The scepter and orb are a thing of the past. In today's world, when nuclear weapons are a deterrent, the notorious nuclear briefcase can be considered a symbol of power and might.

What is it? We often hear about him, but know little about him. And we will never know everything. There is a concept of state secrets. However, the basic principles of work are still known.

If you completely simplify, then the nuclear suitcase is a telephone. It houses a communication system with the general staff and command posts of the strategic missile forces. The suitcase is activated by pressing the notorious nuclear button. In the event of a threat of a missile attack, it transmits the encrypted code of the command post of the Strategic Missile Forces. Of course, the decision to retaliate cannot be made by one person. There are several nuclear suitcases. Only if the signal is received from all devices, a decision is made to launch missiles.

The case of spontaneous pressing of the button is excluded. In the words of the former chief of the main headquarters, Viktor Yesin, the chance for a mistake in the work of the nuclear warhead is zero. Nuclear suitcases are often checked and repaired. This is evidenced at least by the fact that Boris Yeltsin once received a nuclear suitcase number 51 from Gorbachev's hands. The first president of Russia lamented over this for a long time. As a result, the suitcase was replaced by another - with the number 1.

The leaders of all countries that own nuclear weapons have nuclear suitcases. However, they may be called differently. A nuclear suitcase in the USA is not a suitcase, but rather a bag. The first American nuclear bags were shaped like a baseball, so they got the name Nuclear Football. In the main principle of their work does not differ from the Russian nuclear, but there are differences. Hidden in the bowels of Nuclear Football is a titanium box, closed with a combination lock, which opens with a plastic, so-called sanctioning card. Also in the American nuclear bag is a 30-page manual for using the device. They say that when the twin skyscrapers were attacked, the then President of the United States, George W. Bush, opened the suitcase and read the briefing.

The Russian nuclear suitcase can also be called the Cheget subscriber complex of the Kazbek automated control system for strategic nuclear forces. In order not to attract too much attention, it is made in the form of a diplomat. The nuclear suitcase, as well as the American "ball" is a portable remote control, it is worn, both in America and in Russia, by specially trained officers. In Russia, an officer of the Strategic Missile Forces is not lower than the rank of lieutenant colonel. However, according to tradition, he is dressed in the uniform of the navy. In America, the right to carry the "ball" can only be achieved by an officer who has received the highest security clearance, called the "white Yankee." A man with a nuclear briefcase is always armed and dangerous. The ball is fastened to one of his hands, with the other he has the right to get a weapon and shoot without warning in case of a threat.

As already mentioned, there are several nuclear briefcases. In Russia, they are kept by the President of the country, the Chief of the General Staff and the Minister of Defense. Only when all three devices are activated, a decision is made on a retaliatory missile strike.

The first nuclear suitcase appeared during the Cold War with US President Eisenhower. The current form of the American "nuclear ball", however, acquired already during the presidency of Kennedy, during the Caribbean crisis, when the likelihood of nuclear war hung over the world with all evidence. Before the advent of nuclear weapons, the decision to launch missiles back could only be made from the Kremlin and the White House, which was very slow, given the speed of the missiles.

In the USSR, nuclear weapons were created under Brezhnev, but Andropov became the first user of the coveted nuclear button. The very name "nuclear suitcase" was invented by Soviet journalists. They came up with an adequate translation of the American definitions of Nuclear Football and President's Emergency Satchel, but they considered it stupid to call the rocket launcher a ball and a knapsack. This is how the “nuclear suitcase” was born. Since then, the nuclear briefcase has been passed from president to president during inaugurations. In terms of its symbolic significance, this moment is comparable to the handing over of a scepter, sword, or other symbol of power.

Interestingly, once the Russian nuclear briefcase was even activated. It happened on January 25, 1995, when the largest meteorological rocket Black Brant XII was launched by Norway. The trajectory of its flight could be confused with the American Triadent ballistic missile.

Fortunately, everything worked out, because in the event of a nuclear war, even if the nuclear briefcases do not work, the Perimeter emergency retaliatory strike system (the Americans called it the “Dead Hand”) will turn on in Russia and the world will end.

Additions and clarifications...

The "Nuclear Suitcase" of the President of the Russian Federation is a portable user terminal (Code "Cheget") of the automated control system (ACS) of the strategic nuclear forces "Kazbek". This system was created at NIIAA, headed by Academician Vladimir Semenikhin. The methodology for working with the suitcase when moving on foot, in a car, on an airplane, the rules for equipping the places of permanent residence of the head of state, as well as how the suitcase should be used, what equipment should be equipped, how many people will have access to the system, was developed by the designer of one of the ACS subsystems, laureate of the State Prize Valentin Golubkov.

The system was put into operation in 1983. The first leader of the USSR, who began to be accompanied by officers with a "nuclear suitcase", was in 1984 Konstantin Chernenko.

"Nuclear suitcases" (plus reserve ones) are kept by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, the Minister of Defense and the Chief of the General Staff. The key to the "YaCh" is kept by the operating officer. The system will only be activated if coded acknowledgments are received from two of them. Reserve "YCH" are stored in a designated location.

Despite the fact that the officer wearing the “suitcase” refers to the signal troops, he is always dressed in the uniform of a naval officer. This is done so that it can be quickly and easily found with a glance in a group of accompanying persons. The "suitcase" itself, in order not to attract attention, has the appearance of an ordinary briefcase-diplomat.

The case was made by the American company Samsonite.

Everyday life of the Kremlin under the presidents Shevchenko Vladimir Nikolaevich

"Nuclear Suitcase"

"Nuclear Suitcase"

When the country possessed only one or two atomic bombs, there was no need for the so-called "nuclear briefcase" or, as they say, "nuclear button". The Americans had such a system in the 60s, we have 20 years later, in 1983. Before the advent of the “nuclear briefcase”, it was assumed that in the event of a war, the leaders of nuclear countries should urgently arrive at the command post in order to give the order to launch missiles from there. The first owner of the "suitcase" in the Soviet Union was to be Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev. The designers, taking into account the state of his health, tried to make his management as simple as possible. But neither for Brezhnev, nor for Andropov did they carry a "suitcase" - they did not have time.

In accordance with the law, there are three "nuclear suitcases" in the country: the president, the minister of defense and one reserve, in the General Staff. It is not customary to spread about what such a “suitcase” is from the inside. It is believed that there is a special communication tube and a device into which a cipher is entered to launch missiles. Either in newspapers or on the Internet, I read that rockets cannot be directly launched with its help, that is, other people in another place will press the “nuclear button”, if necessary. In the “suitcase” and the bag attached to it, there is a single instant response system that allows the president to instantly receive information on where and in how many minutes enemy warheads will fall on our territory, where they can be intercepted and what response actions have been taken. In addition, the system provides operational communication with all authorities responsible for the defense and security of the country. The decision to use nuclear weapons can only be taken jointly by the President, the Minister of Defense and the Chief of the General Staff.

Cases, which are commonly called "suitcases", are made by Samsonite, their width is 10 centimeters, and they weigh several kilograms. Those who wear them are specialists who understand electronics and have experience in combat duty. Usually both of them appear in public in the form of captains of the first rank of the Navy, I don’t know why the Navy. Maybe this "fashion" came from the Americans. Sometimes one is in civilian clothes. Both are holding a black case and a bag in their hands. They are under the President non-stop around the clock. When V.V. Putin flew a Su-27 in the spring of 2000, another fighter with an operator holding a “nuclear suitcase” was flying next to him at the same speed.

American newspapers once wrote that when Ronald Reagan was stuck in the State Department building in an elevator, and the operator-operator safely climbed to the appropriate floor in a nearby elevator, America was deprived of control of its missile shield for a good half hour.

For the first time, Russian citizens saw our "nuclear button" on a television screen after December 1991. Two officers carrying behind Yeltsin a “suitcase” as a symbol of presidential power were often shown then by Western television companies. Everyone remembers how, while preparing for an aortocoronary bypass operation, on November 5, 1996, B.N. Yeltsin, by a special decree, transferred this by no means symbolic attribute of power to the second person of the state, Prime Minister V.S. Chernomyrdin, for several hours. And as soon as he recovered from anesthesia, he signed a new decree on the return of the nuclear remote control to the president.

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