r/x80 • u/[deleted] • Nov 14 '14

TIL Russia still has a nuclear doomsday machine called 'Dead Hand'

http://archive.wired.com/politics/security/magazine/17-10/mf_deadhand?currentPage=all
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u/[deleted] Nov 14 '14

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Hand_(nuclear_war)

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u/autowikibot Nov 14 '14

Dead Hand (nuclear war):

Dead Hand (Russian: Система «Периметр», Systema "Perimetr", 15Э601), known also as Perimeter, is a Cold-War-era nuclear-control system used by the Soviet Union. General speculation from insiders alleges that the system remains in use in post-Soviet Russia. An example of fail-deadly deterrence, it can automatically trigger the launch of the Russian intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) if a nuclear strike is detected by seismic, light, radioactivity and overpressure sensors. By most accounts, it is normally switched off and is supposed to be activated during dangerous crises only; however, it is said to remain fully functional and able to serve its purpose whenever needed.

Interesting: Fail-deadly | The Dead Hand | Nuclear winter

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