https://declassified.library.utoronto.ca/files/original/3d4ba06c665d3b24c464ab9e656fa0a8.pdf 3f1d355970deda4c3d77aa2026e50d22 PDF Text Text A201600064 CSC 1888:9 Pt. 2 *' 0 " /< S _E C R E T cse isss=9 AIDE MEMOIRE Lead Times lo Decisions have been made to equip the Canadian Forces with various nuclear weapons carriers, namely? (a) Bomarc air defence missiles, in Canada (b) CF 104 strike aircraft, in Europe (c) Honest John surface-to-surface missiles, in Europeo In addition, aircraft now in service with the RCN and RCAF can be readily modified to employ nuclear anti-submarine weaponso 2-o To provide complete weapon systems of this nature it is necessary to° (a) Produce the carriers (b) Construct the base facilities (c) Provide and train personnel (d) Provide release and control communications (e) Arrange for provision of the warheads Cf) Provide administrative support. Considerable progress has been made in some of these areas„ However the point has now been reached where, in varying degrees, further progress is being impeded by the absence of a clear-cut understanding with the United States to acquire nuclear weapons, if required, for use by the Canadian Forces„ 3o Arrangements for the warheads require a formal government-to-government agreement with the US covering the general principles involved, and detailed technical agreements with the appropriate US field commander0 Such agreements are also necessary if we are to acquire the information we need to complete the other features of the weapons systemso Existing agreements with the US covering the exchange of nuclear information are based on the "need to know" principleo This is becoming increasingly difficult to establish in the absence of a definite understanding on Canadian intentions, and this in turn has resulted in the situation outlined hereunder„ 4o The first squadron of CF 104 aircraft will arrive at its operational base in Germany in December 1962= A201600064 CSC 1888:9 Pt. 2 �A201600064 CSC 1888:9 Pt. 2 wr* S E C R E T 5o The Bomarc bases at North Bay and La Macaza are planned to be operational'in July 1962 and December 1962 respectively^ 60 The HONEST JOHN battery launching equipment will be delivered in July this year, and is planned to become operational in Europe early in 1962. 7o The RON and RCAF now have aircraft in service whieh could be readily modified to use nuclear anti-submarine weaponso So However, in the case of each of these weapons systems, if they are in fact to be operationally ready, the following preparatory steps must be taken in addition to making arrangements for the provision of the warheads themselves s (a) Construction ofs (i) special ammunition storage sites (ii) special alert facilities (iii) assembly and maintenance buildings (iv) protective facilities <, •(b) Installation of special release and control communications for the use of the governments concernedo (c) Provision and training of personnel for protection, handling and use of nuclear weapons. (d) Incorporation, in the weapon carrier, of an approved capability for the carriage and release of nuclear weapons<, (e) Provision of facilities and administrative support for US custodial detachment on Canadian bases„ 9° The completion of the above steps is dependent upon the availability of more information than we now have, and o n the working out of detailed requirements with the US field commanders concerned0 Both of these things are in turn dependent upon our reaching an understanding with the US on the general principles which would apply to the question of nuclear weapons for the Canadian Forees0 It is clear that much time will be needed to acquire the necessary information, to work out the detailed technical arrangements, to train personnel, and to construct the various special facilitieso 10o In view of the planned operational dates given above it is stressed that any further delay in reaching a general o oo J A201600064 CSC 1888:9 Pt. 2 �A201600064 CSC 1888:9 Pt. 2 - 3 =• S E C R E T agreement will result in a corresponding delay in the dates when the Canadian units will in fact be operationally readyo 12o In addition to these direct Canadian interests, it should also be realized that the US financial commitments in respect of the BOMARC missiles, launchers and associated technical support amounts to approximately $71M0 exclusive of the costs of the warheads0 A lead-time in the order of a full year is necessary for the scheduling of production programmes for some of the weapons earmarked for Canadian use, and in fairness to the US authorities more positive assurance than now exists should be given to support them in these production programmes0 15 May 61 A201600064 CSC 1888:9 Pt. 2 000285 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context CDNW00273 Title A name given to the resource "Aide Memoire: Lead Times - Nuclear Weapons" Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived "Acquisition And Storage Of Nuclear Weapons For Canadian Forces In Canada And Europe," RG24-B-1, vol 21440, file CSC 1888:9, part 2, Library and Archives Canada (LAC). Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Canadian Crown Subject The topic of the resource Nuclear Weapons Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Canada Declassified Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource en Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 15-May-61