As tensions over North Korea’s nuclear program mount, the United States Air Force has deployed a WC-135 (a.k.a. the « Nuclear Sniffer ») , an aircraft that specializes in detecting radioactive debris after the detonation of a nuclear device, to…
As tensions over North Korea’s nuclear program mount, the United States Air Force has deployed a WC-135 (a.k.a. the « Nuclear Sniffer ») , an aircraft that specializes in detecting radioactive debris after the detonation of a nuclear device, to Okinawa, Japan to assist with monitoring for potential nuclear tests in the region. The aircraft was deployed to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, as confirmed by the Nikkei media outlet reported based on talks with a senior Japan Self Defense Forces official.
According to The Aviationist, the WC-135 can be used to capture atmospheric samples and analyze the fallout residue in real-time to help confirm the characteristics of any nuclear warhead used.
Constant Phoenix flies in direct support of the U. S. Atomic Energy Detection System, a global network of nuclear detection sensors that monitor underground, underwater, space-based or atmospheric events. As the sole agency in the Department of Defense tasked with this mission, AFTAC’s role in nuclear event detection is critical to senior decision makers in the U. S. government, says the Air Force.
“Our aircraft is equipped with external flow devices that allow us to collect airborne particulate on filter paper and a compressor system for whole air samples, ” said Tech. Sgt. Matthew Wilkens, a 9S100 and airborne operations section chief in a recent release. “The particulate samples are collected using a device that works like an old Wurlitzer jukebox. An arm grabs the paper from its slot and moves it to the exterior of the fuselage.
