Single Integrated Operational Plan
The Single Integrated Operational Plan (SIOP) was the United States' general plan for nuclear war from 1961 to 2003. The SIOP gave the President of the United States a range of targeting options, and described launch procedures and target sets against which nuclear weapons would be launched. The plan integrated the capabilities of the nuclear triad of strategic bombers, land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), and sea-based submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM). The SIOP was a highly classified document, and was one of the most secret and sensitive issues in U.S. national security policy.
Montage of submerged submarine launch to the reentry of the multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles of a Trident missile
Atlas, a first-generation ICBM
A deputy's launch keyswitch in an old Minuteman ICBM launch control center. The commander's key was too far away to be turned by the same person.
E-6 Mercury
Strategic Air Command (SAC) was a United States Department of Defense Specified Command and a United States Air Force (USAF) Major Command responsible for command and control of the strategic bomber and intercontinental ballistic missile components of the United States military's strategic nuclear forces from 1946 to 1992. SAC was also responsible for strategic reconnaissance aircraft; airborne command posts; and most of the USAF's aerial refueling aircraft.
Boeing B-47B Stratojet executing a rocket-assisted take off (RATO) on 15 April 1954
11th Bombardment Wing Convair B-36J-5-CF Peacemaker, AF Ser. No. 52-2225, circa 1955, showing "Six turnin', four burnin'".
93 BW B-52Bs at Castle AFB after the 1957 fastest round-the-world flight.
Titan II missile launching from Site 395-C, a test launch silo at Vandenberg AFB.
