14 Sep. 2005

Protecting nuclear convoys News 06/07/2005 - NATO NATO-Russia Council seminar on nuclear doctrine and strategy 03/08/2004 - NATO Nuclear weapons accident response exercise held in Murmansk region Background NATO-Russia cooperation Multimedia NATO and Russian experts observed a UK nuclear weapon accident response exercise, Senator 05 Exercise Senator 05 From 14 to 15 September, NATO and Russian experts observed a UK nuclear weapon accident response exercise, Senator 05, on safeguarding nuclear convoys and mitigating any abnormal events. The invitation of the NATO-Russia Council to witness the exercise, which was held at a military site near Edinburgh in Scotland, is part of the continuing evolution of NATO-Russia cooperation. Senator 05 simulated a scenario in which a nuclear weapon road convoy was involved in an accident that resulted in the release of radioactive material. Testing worst-case scenarios Its aim was to test the effectiveness of the Ministry of Defence’s Nuclear Accident Response Organisation, and the ability of the civilian emergency services and local authority to cope with the effects of such an event. Nearly sixty civilian and military experts from 20 NATO countries, Russia and NATO Headquarters attended the exercise, the first time that Alliance and Russian Federation representatives have observed a UK exercise of this kind. Speaking at the exercise, UK Minister of the Armed Forces, Adam Ingram emphasized the value of the NATO-Russia Council as a practical forum for consultation and discussion of matters of joint concern and significant substance. The attendance of representatives of the NATO-Russia Council at Exercise Senator served to enhance practical co-operation and common understanding between NATO and Russia, he said. The exercise involved over 700 people, including some 200 servicemen of the UK Army and Royal Air Force but also 100 members of local government and the emergency services (police, fire and ambulance teams). It is part of a regular series of UK held exercises to test the preparedness of the Armed Forces and Emergency Services to safely manage any possible incidents involving nuclear weapons.