W84
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The W84 is an American thermonuclear warhead initially designed for use on the BGM-109G Gryphon Ground Launched Cruise Missile.
W84 warhead, serial number 001.
W84 warhead (left) on display at the Nuclear Weapons Instructional Museum
Storage container and PAL coder-decoder for the W84 warhead.
Permissive action link
Videos
A permissive action link is an access control security device for nuclear weapons. Its purpose is to prevent unauthorized arming or detonation of a nuclear weapon. The United States federal government
W84
…high-explosives, a fire resistant pit, Enhanced Nuclear Detonation Safety (ENDS/EEI) with detonator stronglinks, Command Disable, and the most advanced Cat G Permissive Action Link (PAL). A 2001 declassified report states that the W84 does not use a Canned Subassembly (CSA) and that the weapon's secondary stage is not sealed…
UC1583 PAL controller (early 1990s), based on a commercial Compaq LTE laptop
National Security Action Memorandum 160: introduction of PAL to all U.S. nuclear weapons under NATO command
A B-61 bomb contains 5,919 parts, including its PAL
Simulated Peacekeeper missile launch (with a house key shown, rather than an actual missile system key)