How the US Air Force Moves an ICBM Nuclear Warhead Through Great Falls, Montana to Malmstrom AFB 

Here’s a link to the US NRC. This is public information and outlines their procedure for moving such sensitive equipment. www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/cfr/part073/part073-0026.html

That is the decoy. The actual nuke is in a U-Haul ½ mile to the west.

the formation of the trucks in front and behind the 18 wheelers is crazy

Those 2 security vehicles were so close to the truck bumpers I thought they were physically connected by bar or chain for extra security.

Here in mother Russia, we just load it into a Lada. And hope Igor makes it

I’ve heard that the trailers have an automated system that explosively shears the axels off while simultaneously driving massive steel rods into the ground in the event of attack (so there’s absolutely no way to move the trailer). It also floods the inside with a rapid expanding/hardening foam so you can’t even reach the warhead if you wanted. Impressive stuff.

I remember (years ago) getting off work on a Sunday morning, at 3:00 AM, in downtown Minneapolis...and walking outside and getting freaked out! They were moving the Federal Reserve Bank to a brand new building....unannounced, with an Army of Top Secret Security.... No Sirens, no lights, no nothing! I thought we were being invaded! Later...I could just imagine how much gold, silver, and CASH drove right passed me.

I’ve seen this many times living next to F.E. Warren AFB, WY. This is a highly coordinated process. All intersections and on-ramps are cut off ahead of convoy by vehicles that then take up the rear as the convoy passes (cycle repeats until destination reached). Others are right, there is no stopping that thing. I’m sure there’s drones too. It’s pretty impressive and neat to see.

I have a friend that's in the Air Force. He says that convoy stops for no one. One they leave the base it doesn't stop until it's gets to it's destination. They have so many US Marshals and men guarding that warhead that there's no way you would ever stop that convoy, especially with the gunships fly over head.

It’s crazy how we have such a big military and we barely see it in person, unlike smaller countries with small militaries where you see them all the time.

I was stationed at FE Warren 20 years ago and was responsible for facility maintenance. I’d go out to the MAFs all the time and occasionally I see these convoys escorting these “weapon systems” either to or from the LFs. One of my best assignments I had.

There’s no place you could escape to with a nuclear warhead in Great Falls, MT. The greatest danger is someone trying to do a ground detonation there and causing massive fallout with modest casualties. (Modest compared to, say, Chicago). The fallout could irradiate a significant area of farmland depending on how the wind blew.

I read a book called Humble Heros by Steve Bustin (the son of one of the crew), about the USS Nashville in WWII. One one occassion, it was tasked with transporting an equally precious cargo for the times - Gold, from the US to England. The gold was delivered to the ship prior to departure in much the same way as the above - multiple police & military vehicles, sirens blaring, guns drawn, surrounding the truck carrying the payload. High visibility, high security. In a typically Brittish manner, when the ship arrived in England, there was no such fanfare & noise. As the ship was due to take on other provisions, a simple bakery van arrived to collect the gold. They took some crates of bread onboard, & came back off carry crates of concealed gold! No doubt there were lots of inconspicuous eyes on them, but the whole thing was done without anyone who didn't know what was going on, knowing what was going on!

They used to transport them in trailers that were indistinguishable from regular tractor trailers, but the defense capabilities developed to where that was not a priority. Interestingly they are now equipped with surprise and autonomous defense capabilities.

I love seeing military vehicles in public, always an interesting sight! I once saw a semi truck lugging an Abrams around like it was your average cargo trailer. Cool!

I was assigned to the 341st Strategic Missile Wing forty years ago. This video really tugs at the heart strings!

my family and I used to live on Malmstrom Air Force Base. my dad was stationed there and did two tours in Iraq in support of OIF. Sadly he has since passed away. He developed cancer shortly after parting ways with the service. Man fought for awhile. Passed real young. miss that guy, man.

Well, what an experience when you visit the US for the first time and got a convoy like that coming up behind you. I for one would feel guilty of something.

That semi truck ought to get to citation for following too close 😆

Malmstrom is not the only base where this takes place, I grew up on Minot AFB, another SAC base, and Minot itself and seeing these convoys was a fairly regular occurrence.

Slept between the Missile tubes on the ssbn I was stationed on. Truly amazing to think about how firepower subs have. And how quickly it all could be over..

Not nearly as long as the Presidential motorcade, but more armor for sure.

I remember as a kid of the 60's, I would often see missiles being transported on big flatbed trucks just covered with a tarp! And maybe a troop truck and a couple of Jeep's..and that was all the security! Of course it was a different time in this country and I remember that my family in the car would comment on the fact that we were driving right next to a nuclear missile 😰😊 But it was mixed emotions I describe as feeling both pride in the USA and terrified as well!

I grew up in Great Falls. I remember when two flights of missiles failed, back in the late 60's. They trucked the missiles intact on flatbeds through town via 10th ave S, back to Spokane. Had to move the traffic lights. Saw some weird stuff, growing up there. Way stranger than malfunctioning missiles, lol.

Meanwhile, the real warhead is being transported on a side road in the back of an old PT Cruiser

I saw something like this one time in the middle of the night. All the trucks and vans were black, the state police had lights on but not sirens, and in the middle of the convoy was a flatbed truck with a giant "tube" with the word "Titan" on the side of it. It happened a few miles outside of Los Angeles.

I like how there’s a hazmat placard on the side of the trailer. As if a chemical response team would need to identify it for clean up 😂

Spent most of my life in Minot, ND. Saw this all the time. The bitch was, if you couldn’t get ahead of them at an intersection on the highway, you’d be stuck for a half hour while you waited.

I served as Air Force Security Police for 6 years, 4.5 at Fairchild AFB where we had B-52G's and KC-135A's on 15 minute ground alert ready to launch! We did small convoys with the weapons from the Bomber Alert Area to the Weapons Storage Area which was an old Department of Energy storage facility. We were always assisted by the Spokane County Sheriff and or the Washington State Police to shut down roads that intersected with our route. Only one time did anyone get close, he was trying to film the convoy and was arrested by the sheriff's deputies assisting us. Never a single mishap!!

At least it was so stealthy that no one knew what was going on....

The last vehicle appeared to be some sort of maintenance vehicle in case of breakdown. I’d like to think it’s just some normal Joe that gets to take a really fun trip address town.

Remember, you can crash a F-4 phantom into that trailer at Mach 1.6 and the warhead will still be safe

I always have one of three songs in my head when there is a driving assignment, "Convoy," "On the Road Again," or "More Human than Human," depending on the speed protocol SOP/MOP. I never transported Special Weapons, but have been a VIP Transport, Escort, Company Driver, Tactical & Utility, and Ambulance Driver. Just before I got out of the USMC I was attached to Admin and got a Driver Designation/Advanced Driving School then TADs (Temporary Assigned Duties) for the last year and a half. Got injured on duty and had surgeries and rehabilitation so after a couple weeks of recovery they sent me to Driver School, then took a follow-up course with advanced driving skills, then they assigned me TADs, and I drove all kinds of vehicles depending on the assignments. For my last Assignment, I drove a Field Ambulance, 4-wheel drive with a 3rd axle free roller& a dually set-up, and a high-lift suspension system. I could go just about anywhere in that thing. It didn't float, but it did have a snorkel intake and a high exhaust tailpipe that went to the roof of the truck. That Ambulance was awesome, because of its capabilities I never lost a patient. Its versatility provided the ability to go just about anywhere and when you needed it, it had the power and speed to get you there fast.

"I can neither confirm nor deny the absence or presence of special weapons onboard the USS Wabash AOR-5". This is what I had to remember when I served in the Navy. I'm sure this is damn close to what these guys would have to say for their unit if asked.

Here’s a fun theory: it’d be crazy if there was another convoy of entirely unmarked vehicles with the actual payload 2 minutes behind this one, with two or more lorries carrying armoured vehicles and choppers disguised as news helis, right? I could totally imagine that being the case, though. …Why do I hear boss music at my front door?

My dad was in the AF and I graduated from CMR in '82. The town has always been a tan and brown color. This video shows me that it hasn't changed much. 😄

This is like the airfield base in GTA. You get to 5 stars and they send the army after you 😅

Don’t be fooled, that’s “Optimus Prime” they’re escorting 👀

The front and back vehicles in the convoy should have a large sign saying: “SWIPER NO SWIPING”‼️

Man that is amazing. Especially the distance between those escorts and the semi.

With as many warheads that have been damaged or destroyed in airplane crashes (Unassembled ) it’s not a bad idea to transport them with a big security team. Besides outside of the city in either direction is nothing but enormous second third and fourth generation ranches/farms that are generally tens of thousands of acres big.

Was in the AF for four years at Malmstrom from '87 to '91. Fond memories.

The actual nuke is in the back of a 2012 Subaru Crosstrek going 45 MPH in the left lane

In Britain this is done without all the sirens - but, it does have a bus full of Royal Marines, Civil Nuclear Constabulary (all armed) two trucks (one as backup) a fire engine and recovery truck. See em coming down from Faslane to Aldermaston.

A friend of a friend who was in the army told me about these convoys. I thought he exaggerated when he told me there are 2 helicopters as part of the convoy.

No the ICBM warhead is inside a secondary armoured compartment inside the trailer. The trailer also has about 5 soldiers armed to the teeth strapped Into jump seats with padding and 5 point harnesses incase it rolls. They have oxygen tanks and c02 scrubbers so they don't have to rely on outside air and a supply of mres food and chemical toilets. They have cameras all around and monitor them from their stations. The trailer is explosive and bullet resistant. The vehicles around all are full of highly trained soldiers armed to the teeth and have mounted automatic weapons and grenade launchers. The helicopter gun ships also have mini guns. Every base and military facility anywhere near the route is aware of the transport and are on standby to assist. They don't rely on security through obscurity they rely on security through force.

Transporting 10% for the big guy!

lmao the service truck at the back incase anything breaks down

That's a serious show of force, there if ever needed.... That would be some serious shootout....

They must do so much training for this. It is extremely hard to operate a prime mover that close to a lead vehicle for extended periods. Concentration overload!

Great camera work by this person, especially because they started filming before the real fun Evan began.

I had a friend who did some military stuff, he was never told what he was hauling, he didn't worry about red lights or cops because he was heavily escorted, and at night he had a motel room, couldn't stay in his truck. Pretty cool.

Ive done many convoys during my time in the Air Force, they are never boring lol

Ooooooh, so this is what I saw a few weeks ago rolling through the streets of Detroit of all places!!! I couldn’t imagine what that 18 wheeler was hauling with all that security! Unbelievable…..

I just want to say as someone who used to do this job, i love reading your comments and seeing what people think......

From what I understand, as soon as one exits a military installation, it’s actually the DOE that transports / Provides security. Apparently a pretty capable group of shooters that transports it all.

These are members of the 343rd and 344th Security Police Squadron. This convoy is running 10th Ave S. East towards Malmstrom AFB and stops for NOTHING. Stay safe Defenders!

I love you, Montana. Be the mountain that never moves. The wall that never cracks.

I like the trucks with the active scanning PMS radar systems. Wonder what they're capable of

oh hey, my friend lives in great falls, say hi to Greg for me! in Texas they just have them on trains and wrapped up. No escort or nothing. Just a train running through the middle of town during an unscheduled time.

Witnessed something like this when I was driving down I5 south by the San Onofre Nuclear Power plant! They shut down the entire free way in front of me, and on the opposite side there was this massive convoy of military/police vehicles transporting a vehicle just like this. I assumed it was coming from either Camp Pendleton, or North Island in Coronado

The real crime here is that town putting two furniture stores right next to each other. That’s suspicious 🤔

I’d love to get to see the behind the scenes training for attacks on these convoys using dummy ‘nuke’ trucks and what they do for each scenario, such as a car, truck ramming or a huge hauler. What counter measures are deployed and so on. Guess we will never know for sure!

I always find these convoys really awesome. I think it's because you get to see security done totally correctly and also witness the government functioning correctly and doing it's job as it should.

I was on my way to Buffalo, Wyoming to hunt pronghorn and muleys and was delayed near Cheyenne by a convoy like this. I didn’t know what it was until I picked up a friend in Cheyenne who works a UPS route in the area. He said it was a semi common occurrence and he always found it fascinating.

quite interesting how close the convoy and big truck drive together

Yup. I used to live on Minot AFB ND. This is a nuclear ICBM being moved. I Saw those exact convoys and trailers several times. While I was there I remember one transport truck crash and the big hubalaloo it caused.

These guys have some of the coolest careers out there.

Imagine driving behind that convoy just scared shitless that you do something wrong and they see you as a threat. Then all of a sudden there's .50 calibers of freedom flying through your windshield

It’s interesting that they chose to use a rare cabover Freightliner Argosy as the tractor, I have never seen one in the wild.

I'm just waiting for the joker to come out and hijack the cargo. Hopefully Batman is in town.

"Movin' thru Montana soon Designed to make a great big boom..." RIP Frank

You can tell it's precise driving on how close the front and rear heavy armored trucks

Cant belive that Semi would tailgate so closely

You just *know* all those civilian cars behind the convoy blew the hell out of all the stoplights too~

Yup. I've known three people who were involved with nuclear weapons. One was a Pershing II crewman, and the other were Marines who (at different times) pulled SSBN security duty when the boomers were in port. Two things to realize about that convoy. One, don't even look like you're thinking of messing with it. The rules of engagement those soldiers are operating under are very broad. Two, as impressive as that escort is, there's also going to be a QRF to back them up if, God forbid, something does happen. And those guys will likely be even more heavily armed.

Looks well protected. But no plan B in case things go wrong compared to the same transfers in England that include spare tractors, command vehicles, ambulances and fire engines.

Sweet cabover!

We can all be grateful this didn't go by train through Ohio.

it's amazing that they've actually "lost" so many nuclear warheads.

Grew up just north east of KCMO,about 45/60 mins north-ish of Whitman Air Force Base,now home of the B-2 bombers,then home of a shit ton of B-52s and missle command personnel. Used to those cool ass looking low slung cab forward Peterbuilt trucks with the mobile ICBM trailers. There were ICBM silos all around down by Sedalia,plus things like deactivated Nike missile silos. Use to see all kinds of stuff on the highways and on the railroads. Saw flights of B-52s everyday almost,during those aluminum umbrella days! We were on the climb out airway when they were heading up North. We were far enough away that were pretty damn high,but they would still just throb and rumble your guts! Didn't really hear em as much as you felt them! At least a flight of 4 sometimes as many as 12!! Awesome and terrifying time to be alive and in school! Up to the mid 80s we had nuke drills almost as much as tornado drills! Amazing things those old school desks, weren't they?

It wasn't an ICBM, but is was something serious, going across North TX several years ago. Several unmarked tractor trailers, like I have never seen before, with matte paint and security front and back. I drove through on their green lights for miles before I had to turn. Fastest drive home ever.

I almost went to work as a driver for one of those semi trucks a few years ago for the Dept of energy and they only offered me around $55k. I laughed and never called back. I can drive normal freight for more.. That job also requires you to go through combat training and carry a rifle, and requires trucking and some sort of military/law enforcement experience.. Which I have, but thats a lot of requirements for such low pay.

That container alone can blow up a entire city in seconds, mind blowing.

A cabover semi, wow I don't see many of those on the roads here in the USA🇺🇸 anymore. I use to see them everywhere back in the 1980s & down. Nowadays conventional cabs are the most common.

There was some stink some years back when I was liaison with homeland security and we had a top priority convoy to transport from south Texas to another area in southwest Texas. The front three trucks were Ford F350s with grill guards (I was in the back seat) and we literally rammed a car off the road that was impeding traffic. I was told later the sheriff spoke to the woman and basically explained that it was her problem and it’s an issue with her insurance. I was subpoenaed to a deposition for a lawsuit that she filed on the government and the federal guidelines and law are very clear………….you are given three honks followed by a verbal warning on a PA to move or you will be removed from the roadway with force up to and including deadly force and could be filed on for interfering with a government operation if you impede traffic. Well she was pitted off the road and into a ditch, we continued driving and a year later she lost her court case, her insurance had to pay for the damages that we caused because she is stupid and cannot follow instructions and since she caused such a stink over the matter the county sheriffs department actually subpoenaed her a citation later for impeding traffic. There’s about a 100% chance that if you’re being told by a security force for the federal government transporting some type of cargo to get out of the way it is far more important that we’re doing we do versus whatever it is you’re doing at that time. You’re just simply going to point a to point B and usually aimlessly without any significant purpose. We are doing it and that purpose is a direct result of the security of this nation Even if you had someone in your car dying from a heart attack the government will probably still see that cargo that’s being transported more of a priority. We were not allowed to know what we were transporting but I asked one of the guys in the truck what it was and he said “it’s not some bullshit M4’s or grenades I’ll say that much”.

fun fact: Every citizen in Great Falls, MT gets their own ICBM. wat a great place

That’s, what, 18 vehicles in the convoy, counting the semi? Plus at least two choppers. Impressive!

The car driving behind them was having one of the best days in their life

Really cool to see, ive seen huge convoys on the way from Co to Tx kinda like this

When your presidents brain is mashed potatoes, nukes are probably more important

Well... it's not on a train... got to be good news right?

LOL at the little orange explosives placard on the side.

If i had one of those in my back yard... I bet the county would approve the addition to my house

man truly I feel bad for anyone dumb enough to try and steal one of those bad boys imagine having one of those armored vehicles crash into yours at even 30mph

Should have moved it by rail. 😆

I'd like to see someone try to break that protective system. That was badass.

Generally a good idea to have a strong presence when you’re rolling around with a nuke.

The president doesn't need protection anyway, he just needs a nursing home.

Coolest thing like this i witnessed was during vacation in Maryland at assateague island next to Ocean city, it’s a medium sized campground on the beach behind the dunes and in the middle of the night we were all awoke by a loud roar coming over the ocean, used to hearing the waves but this was roaringgggg, we all went outside the camper and a literal B-52 was being escorted by 4-5 helicopters, all completely blacked out with zero light emitting. That made me suspicious, what really scared me is they were less than 500 feet from the ground, and the closest airport for a plane that size was 25+ miles. I’m not sure if it was a B52 or Air Force One yet it was massive and the helicopters were definitely Apache gunships