Technology - Program Executive Office Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternative

A maintenance engineering specialist trains on a remote-controlled machine that will be used to decommission parts of the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant during closure.

High-Tech Robots Will Enhance Worker Safety at Blue Grass

Blue Grass plant workers are training on high-technology equipment that will make the job safer when they start decommissioning the buildings and equipment where chemical weapons were destroyed.

Vicky J., Container Handling Building/Unpack Area lead operator, reviews a munition image in the Rocket Non-Destructive Evaluation equipment at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. The process, much like an X-ray, helps detect munitions that might have internal leaks and be unsuitable for destruction in the main plant.

Common Technology Making a Difference at Blue Grass

A technology often used at medical offices and airports is also making the final chemical weapons destruction campaign safer and more efficient at the Blue Grass plant.

Static Detonation Chamber 2000 Begins Operations at Blue Grass Plant

Operators began destroying rocket warheads drained of GB nerve agent using a new piece of equipment, the Static Detonation Chamber 2000, at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Jan. 27.

Munitions handlers crimp a seal onto the end of a container holding a simulated rocket warhead in the Static Detonation Chamber (SDC) 1200 storage magazine at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant in September. The simulated containerized warheads were developed to test the Blue Grass SDC units prior to their operations.

Simulated Warheads Prepared for Systems Testing

Munitions handlers prepared mock rocket warheads in September for testing the Blue Grass Static Detonation Chamber, or SDC, units before their operations begin. “This test equipment is specifically made to closely simulate rocket warheads,” said Rusty Davis, deputy plant manager, SDC 1200. “It is used to test processing systems, to assist in validating procedures and …

Simulated Warheads Prepared for Systems Testing Read More »

Former Destruction Site Aiding Blue Grass Mission

The former chemical weapons destruction site in Anniston, Alabama, is assisting the Blue Grass destruction effort by destroying non-contaminated rocket motors in a Static Detonation Chamber, or SDC, unit.

Workers in protective suits make updates to the Punch and Drain Station in the Munitions Demilitarization Building at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant in preparation for upcoming GB nerve agent M55 rocket destruction. This automated system will punch holes in the rocket warheads and drain them of their chemical agent. (Portions of this photograph have been blurred in accordance with Department of Defense guidelines.)

Rocket Destruction Efficiencies Applied for Final Destruction Campaign

The Blue Grass team is applying lessons learned during VX nerve agent M55 rocket destruction operations to optimize processing during the upcoming GB nerve agent M55 rocket destruction campaign.

Entrants in Demilitarization Protective Ensembles work to decontaminate a portion of the Munitions Washout System room at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant where VX nerve agent projectiles were destroyed in early 2021. This work is being done in the changeover period between the destruction of the VX M55 rockets and the start of the GB nerve agent M55 rockets. (Portions of this photograph have been blurred in accordance with Department of Defense guidelines.)

Changeover Period Begins at Blue Grass Plant

With the completion of VX nerve-agent M55 rocket destruction April 19, the Blue Grass plant has shifted into a three-month changeover period to prepare the facility for GB rocket destruction.

Workers lower a 30,000-pound buffer tank into the Blue Grass Static Detonation Chamber 1200 building through an opening in the roof. This tank will buffer exhaust gases from the destruction process of the drained nerve-agent rocket warheads before the gases are processed in the off-gas treatment system.

New Tank Safely Lowered Through Roof

A team of specialists placed a 30,000-pound buffer tank through a roof opening in the former Blue Grass mustard-agent destruction facility March 14 to ready the building for the next chemical weapons destruction effort.

Workers pass a piece of plywood up the Static Detonation Chamber 1200 stairs in preparation for opening the roof to allow a new piece of equipment to be lowered into the building. The building passed decontamination verification testing in January, which means workers do not have to wear chemical protective gear as they prepare for the system’s next activity.

Former Mustard Destruction Facility Passes Crucial Test

The facility responsible for destroying all the mustard-agent projectiles at the Blue Grass plant passed a final air-monitoring test to allow workers to safely open the building to install equipment for the next activity.

Demilitarization Protective Ensemble entrants decontaminate equipment in the Munitions Washout System room at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. Since all projectiles have been destroyed, much of this equipment is no longer needed for chemical weapons destruction.

Decontamination Efforts Begin on Projectile Equipment

Blue Grass plant workers are decontaminating and decommissioning equipment associated with the projectile destruction system.

PROGRAM EXECUTIVE OFFICE
ASSEMBLED CHEMICAL WEAPONS ALTERNATIVES