Atomic Weapons Board (AwB)

Atomic Weapons Board

Atomwǣpnu Bord (AwB)
Agency overview
Formed	January 16, 1952 (1952-01-16)
Headquarters	Britræᵹ
Parent agency	National Defence Research Council (ThNG)

The Atomic Weapons Board (Fēþisc: Atomwǣpnu Bord)(AwB) was historically responsible for the design, manufacture, testing, and support of nuclear warheads within the Federated Fire Territories. Today, AwB's roles include maintaining the capability to design, test, and produce a nuclear device should the need arise. Britraeg hosts AwB's primary site, with significant facilities also at Faesteah, Britraeg, and Fyrhea.

History

Warhawk tests

Main article: Project Warhawk

Following the conclusion of Project Fenix, the production and manufacture of serviceable nuclear weapons gained paramount importance. Created to oversee this task, the Atomic Weapons Board directed resources, men, and materiel on all subsequent nuclear weapon efforts from January 16, 1952. Under AwB, Project Warhawk saw the testing of three nuclear devices, the Dwarf-1, two, and three, which successfully demonstrated Fyrish nuclear strike capability.

Post STAND

As a signatory to the Septentrion Treaty on Atomic and Nuclear Disarmament (abbreviated STAND), the Federated Fire Territories agreed to disarm its nuclear arsenal. This geopolitical shift drastically changed the landscape of strategic arms within the global community, forcing change within the AwB and Fyrish strategic service branches. Foremost of the changes, the AwB became charged with the disassembly and disposal of Fyrish nuclear warheads, overseen by Septentrion League inspectors. This disposal started in 1980 and continued through to end of the decade.

Post disarmament

Following the conclusion to the disarmament programme, AwB took on the roles it follows to this day. The primary directives of AwB shifted towards theoretical nuclear research, applying Fyrish expertise towards peaceful and civilian purposes, and defence against rogue nuclear states. However, the AwB also maintains a base level of readiness to restart nuclear weapons production, should the geopolitical landscape shift once again.

Facilities

AwB's facilities are responsible for the maintenance, design, testing, and manufacture of nuclear weapons. To maintain this capability, AwB operates numerous facilities throughout Fyrland.

Site-A

Site-A (Fēþisc: Steall-A) is the second oldest facility dedicated to the Fyrish nuclear effort. Located in Faesteah, construction started on Site-A in mid-1946, finishing on February 3, 1948. Site-A's primary contribution to the Fyrish nuclear effort is enriching uranium, initially accomplished through the thermal diffusion process. Upgrades later changed Site-A over to the more efficient gaseous diffusion process.

Site-A's efforts were vital to early nuclear exercises within Fyrland. The vast majority of enriched uranium came from Site-A, and its twin Site-B, before other facilities were constructed later. Initially, plutonium-240 contamination from the Britraeg Pile meant that Site-A & B were to provide all fissile material for the nuclear programme. However, this prime importance ultimately proved unnecessary, as later plutonium implosion nuclear devices became viable.

Site-B

Site-B (Fēþisc: Steall-B) is the twin of Site-A and was the third dedicated facility built for the nuclear effort. Also located in Faesteah, construction began on Site-B in July 1947, finishing on May 10, 1949. Although not fully operational until 1949, Site-B provided some limited enrichment capacity from April 1948. Built to enrich uranium in unison with Site-A, Site-B provided uranium enrichment through the calutron process. However, this process was incredibly expensive, which led to the phasing out of Site-B with the conclusion of Project Fenix.

Complex list

This list is not comprehensive.

Location	Complex	Site	Functions								Status	Built / nuclear contributor since	Retired / fate
			R&D	Pit production	Material production (U)	Material production (Pu)	Component production	Nuclear testing	Weapon assembly	Weapon disassembly
Fæstēah	FAfS	Steall-A	✕	✕	✓	✕	✕	✕	✕	✕	Active	February 3, 1948 (1948-02-03)	Still operational
		Steall-B	✕	✕	✓	✕	✕	✕	✕	✕	Not active	May 10, 1949 (1949-05-10)	1969 (1969)
	LoF	LfAF	✓	✕	−	✕	✓	✕	−	−	Active	1943 (1943)	Still operational
Britræᵹ	BEfL	Steall-Æ	✕	✓	✕	✓	✕	✕	✕	✕	Active	April 25, 1948 (1948-04-25)	Still operational
	LoB	LfAB	✓	✕	−	✓	✕	✕	✕	✕	Active	1943 (1943)	Still operational
Hacedaspinca	HpAH	Steall-0	✕	✕	✕	✕	✕	✓	✕	✕	Active	November 15, 1945 (1945-11-15)	Still operational
		Steall-1	✕	✕	✕	✕	✕	✕	✓	✓	Active	November 15, 1945 (1945-11-15)	Still operational
Eāræsdenu	ErAH	Steall-13	✕	✕	✕	✕	✕	✓	✕	✕	Not active	1951 (1951)	1969 (1969)
		Steall-14	✕	✕	✕	✕	✕	✕	✓	✓	Not active	1951 (1951)	1969 (1969)
Geoirēlandes	ĒbAH	Steall-7	✕	✕	✕	✕	✕	✓	✕	✕	Not active	1955 (1955)	1969 (1969)
		Steall-8	✕	✕	✕	✕	✕	✕	✓	✓	Not active	1955 (1955)	1969 (1969)

Key
Symbol	Meaning
✓	Fully capable
−	Somewhat capable
✕	Incapable

See also

• Nuclear weapons and the Federated Fire Territories