Unusual Activity at Missile Launch Facility

This morning I was travelling north out of Kimball, Nebraska along Hwy 71. Between mile markers 30 and 31 there is a missile launch installation. It doesn't look like much from the road - just some fence, barbed wire, and what looks like some weather equipment. It is common knowledge out here that this missile installation exists, and there are numerous others in the area.

Today was a bit unusual though. As I drove past, there were at least 6-8 unmarked black SUV type vehicles parked near the fences. There were also 3 camo military humvees with large boxes on the top (I'm not sure if it's for mounting a weapon, or for communications). In addition, there were a couple of what appeared to be civilian trucks although I didn't see any civilians. I've traveled this road hundreds of times and it's not unusual to see one or two humvees on the road going out to check on things. However, I've never seen what I consider to be a convoy of unmarked black SUV's surrounding the place. I didn't stop driving because frankly I didn't want to know what was going on.....

Any of you run across this before? Who are these mysterious black SUV's, and why were there so many of them?

For some background on the ICBM's in our area see here: en.wikipedia.org... and here: en.wikipedia.org...

Interesting. Perhaps they are doing drills due to all the chaos going on in the world? That's scary though...I wonder what they know that we don't...

Great job keeping your eyes on a swivel.
Good find indeed. It is curious for sure.
Maybe it is as the poster above me states that things are
a bit spooky in the world right now, and they gotta
make sure everything is in working order.
That's a lot of vehicles for just a check up.

Looking back, I am really regretting not stopping to take a picture or some video with my droid. At the time, it occurred to me that it might be a good idea. But I was too scared that somebody would see me and come arrest me for videotaping them or something. This is not a very populated area so if I stopped it would be pretty obvious I was there. I don't know if it's legal to video them or not, but I didn't want to be the one to find out lol.

I have heard stories from a co-worker who lives in Banner County who had a flat tire near this installation. She told me that they had a flat and were looking for some help to get it jacked up so they could put a spare on. They walked up to a humvee near this place and the soldiers got out of the vehicle to greet them with weapons drawn. Apparently the soldiers were polite, but ordered them to get back and return to their vehicle and told them that they wouldn't be able to help. Something tells me whatever they were doing this morning they weren't messing around.

Theyre probably updating the software in those 30+ year old ICBM's, you have to keep the technology updated or that old crap might decide to explode in the silo versus when it hits it's target.

I wonder if you could take a few minutes with only the 'Image' feature of Google Search active while punching in various terms that might bring a gallery of vehicles similar to what you saw.

Which variant the Humvee's were and what, if any, special characteristics the civilian heavy trucks had could tell more in a few pictures than a full book about why they were there and what they were up to. I wonder if they were doing routine servicing....adding to..or taking from the weapons systems there.

Do we even play 3 card monte with our silo based weapons? I know Russia was known to shuffle their warheads non-stop for decades so no one could guess with certainty, which target we wanted to shoot at to get their missiles. Could that be the case here? Remove or add in some warheads...then close it all back up like nothing ever happened? Interesting.... Pics..must...have..pics!

reply to post by lonewolf19792000


That could be it, but would they need that many people to do that? I honestly have no idea, but it's just odd that there were so many people there.

reply to post by tortfeasor1






Interesting thread maybe they were moving something? The trucks kinda make me think that? And the rest were there for road security.



We see alot of stories like this on ATS from trolls and liars. Thankfully you can tell, you are telling the truth.

reply to post by Wrabbit2000


I will do some looking on Google for a similar Humvee. I am certain that there was no gun mounted on the top, but for the life of me I couldn't figure out if that box thing was for mounting a gun or if it had some communication purpose. I will let you know what I find.

I should clarify about the trucks - they were not flatbed trucks or trailers. They were just like new'ish (late model) Dodge type pickups with what looked like an off-road package (oversized A/T type tires - and the body sat up slightly higher than usual off the wheel base) - they looked kinda like souped up civilian pickups but it was just a little weird because they were both identical and silver in color. I assumed they were civilian, but I guess it's a little unusual that they were identical. Also, I don't know for certain that they were Dodge - they were facing away from me (to the West) but they looked a lot like the new Dodge body style.

I didn't see any other large vehicles or trucks that could be used for hauling anything. I sure could have missed them, but if they were there I never saw them. It was pretty windy so I was trying to look at everything the best I could with getting blown all around the road haha.

Originally posted by lonewolf19792000
They're probably updating the software in those 30+ year old ICBM's, you have to keep the technology updated or that old crap might decide to explode in the silo versus when it hits it's target.

edit on 28-12-2011 by lonewolf19792000 because: (no reason given)

Interesting observation, I wonder if there is similar activity at other silos in other states. I have not heard any reports of ICBM hacking, (yet). I would like to think it is not possible, I would be surprised but "where there is a will there is a way" so maybe it is possible. I can imagine the antiquated computers and software running them, you can only upgrade software to a certain point before upgrading hardware is required. I understand the ISS (space station) is controlled by "386" based computers, while they could do a lot when they came out imagine trying to use one now, at your home, doing what you do with your computer. I think some of the older computers had some security issues at the hardware level that could be exploited. Not to imply that current ones don't have those same issues, but I don't know much about that. I would think there has to be a physical link to them though, and with that comes some level of vulnerability.

I do recall hearing that the unmanned drones had been hacked or perhaps had their signals overpowered by a much stronger signal. That was at least a couple of weeks prior to Iran displaying the captured drone they had possession of.

reply to post by KaiserSoze


If any of the ICBM's were hooked to a wired network yeah they could probably be hacked although i imagine the country has the finest hackers they could lock up in prison at their disposal working to defend against cyber attacks.

It does make you wonder though, because many of those silos were reportedly "de-commissioned" back in the 80's and 90's when the iron curtain fell. Maybe the new nuclear arms that congress budgeted this year are getting installed? It's a possibility. If thats the case then our country is probably preparing for something or the top brass may be expecting TSTHTF. if people pay close enough attention to their surroundings, you can glean tidbits of information on just who is in your neighborhood that wasn't there before and how often they show up.

reply to post by tortfeasor1


I assume this is the spot?



Thanks for the catch. The tracks for the door and everything about that silo are so clear on the google earth imagery. I found that almost exactly at the intersection, 30 miles north of the border on Hwy 71, so that has to be the one. Looks like a well kept and used facility if I were to guess. There is a much older one with the doors standing open west of Roswell, New Mexico to the north of the Highway and looks like it hasn't been used in many years. I'm guessing it was maintenance and the procedures for security on actually opening the doors to a Nuclear missile have gotten ridiculous about how many people have to be involved. It sounds about right... lol

Originally posted by tortfeasor1
This morning I was travelling north out of Kimball, Nebraska along Hwy 71. Between mile markers 30 and 31 there is a missile launch installation. It doesn't look like much from the road - just some fence, barbed wire, and what looks like some weather equipment. It is common knowledge out here that this missile installation exists, and there are numerous others in the area.

Today was a bit unusual though. As I drove past, there were at least 6-8 unmarked black SUV type vehicles parked near the fences. There were also 3 camo military humvees with large boxes on the top (I'm not sure if it's for mounting a weapon, or for communications). In addition, there were a couple of what appeared to be civilian trucks although I didn't see any civilians. I've traveled this road hundreds of times and it's not unusual to see one or two humvees on the road going out to check on things. However, I've never seen what I consider to be a convoy of unmarked black SUV's surrounding the place. I didn't stop driving because frankly I didn't want to know what was going on.....

Any of you run across this before? Who are these mysterious black SUV's, and why were there so many of them?

For some background on the ICBM's in our area see here: en.wikipedia.org... and here: en.wikipedia.org...

My guess is that it is routine maintenance. For example, tritium in warheads decay and they have to be replenished on a regular schedule. If the warheads themselves are changed out and the replenishment happens in a lab, then that could explain the situation. Another possbility is that equipment to replenish the tritium on-site is being transported to the installation. That amount of tritium and the equipment itself would be sufficiently sensitive to take strong security measures.

My guess: The SUV's and the trucks are part of the DOE's Office of Secure Transportation, it's how special nuclear materials (i.e. anything with weapon grade plutonium, uranium or enough tritium gets moved). The humvees were probably from the air force to let them in.

The separation between DOD and DOE responsibility is intentional.

reply to post by Subjective Truth


really ????? how do you know ?????

My father was in security forces in the Air Force, stationed at Malmstrom AFB in Montana, so was out at these type of missile sites all the time. I've been out to a few myself (spent some time in the Military as well). There are some 200 silos out here.

A few points that were brought up:
-If the warheads were being serviced/moved, etc. there'd be alot more security. Warheads are transported in military convoys, in special transporters, with a helicopter escort. I've seen it a few times. In addition, there are empty transporters as well, so you don't know for sure what one has the real warhead in it.

-The black trucks were probably civilan contractors. My guess is they were doing some maintnace on the site

-THe only way to "hack" the missile system is to hack a cable that is buried deep underground...the missile silos are linked to a MALF- Missile Alert Launch Facilty- each MALF controls several silos. Anyways, from what I understand thats how it works...btw the missile control room at the MALF is serveral stories underground

-The pole sticking out of the ground is a sensor pole, part of the security system. Fence is also touch sensitive... security forces have to go out to check them all the time just b/c a rabbit hits it or a deer tries to jump it, etc.

-In the event of a real launch, the door blows open, as opposed to the slow opening on the rails. Hope you don't live close to the "flight path". It can slide across the ground a good ways!

SO MY GUESS: Maintnance- though if they were actually opening the silo, I would think there would be more security, so maybe alarm system electrical maintnance and the like.

reply to post by JJRichey


They could be renovating building some secret base. Who knows but that does sound strange

HI there,

I tend to agree with JJRichey,

they were prob defence contractors , or poss even a VIP visit.........dont know where the thread is , but back in 2001 there was a visit by the Sec of Defence to one of the sites similar to this , and a member posted about it.
if it was some other kind of larger maintenance there would be a LOT more security aand larger vehicles.

snoopyuk

LOL defense contractors don't work with Nuclear Weapons. Only USAF and Naval officers deal with such things..

I'd say its probably just a check up, we spend billions of dollars every year making sure everything is in Tip Top shape.

reply to post by truthinfact


Are you sure only Air Force and Navy personnel deal with nuclear weapons? I'm pretty sure there are some-ex military contractors, that have the proper clearances, that would beg to differ. Besides that, they don't need to be in the silo to do some types of maintnance work.

ON a side note....doesn't the Department of Energy have something to do with nuclear weapons as well? Or is that just power plants? They are a civilian organization.....

reply to post by truthinfact


Sorry to disagree but there are contractors (with proper clearances ) working in that field.
i agree it is mainly special sections of the military that do prob about 95% of the work.

snoopyuk