Transporting personnel, vehicles, and weapons is a crucial military effort. The precious cargo has to be safe along the way, after all. To this end, the United States Navy recently took delivery of its new transport ship. On the other hand, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is searching for better ways to safely transport nuclear weapons.
As part of this search, Sandia National Laboratories conducted a full-scale crash test in which a semi-tractor trailer truck hit a nuclear weapons transporter prototype. Well, it's not your regular vehicle torture test.
Replacing Current Nuclear Transporters
Currently, NNSA move nuclear weapons from one place to another via convoys of 18-wheel trucks towing sophisticated trailers. The Replacement Armored Tractor and Safeguards (RATS) Transporter is typically accompanied by specialized escort vehicles during transport missions, with the convoy location and status monitored all the time throughout the year.
Sandia is tasked with building a new weapons transporter that would replace the RATS Transporter – the Mobile Guardian Transporter (MGT). This next-generation secure transportation system will take care of over-the-road transport of weapons and special nuclear materials within the U.S.
Real-World Crash To Gather Data
The first prototype of the MGT was built following several years of design effort, trailer build, and electronics. Various instrumentation were installed on the prototype to gather unprecedented amounts of data. It underwent various test including driving on the road as well as exposing it to thermal cycling.
Then, the crash test. An over-the-road MGT prototype – with mock nuke cargo – was positioned on the road. A semi-tractor trailer was then launched to hit the side of he prototype using a sled track and rockets. The semi-tractor trailer crashed onto the MGT prototype at highway speeds. The team ensured that the sensors installed on the truck could still gather needed data despite the impact.
Better Weapons Transporter
During the crash test, Sandia collected more than 400 channels of data and video. These will be analyzed to create a better design for the next MGT prototype. This will help Sandia better understand cargo response in accident scenarios. Sandia plans on building only three prototypes.
Source: Sandia National Laboratories