Russian "Nuclear Exercise" and "Nuclear" Air to Air Missiles?

Russian "Nuclear Exercise" and "Nuclear" Air to Air Missiles? 
Copyright 2024 by Michael H. Maggelet

Recent news articles cite Russian news reports of ongoing "nuclear drills" and Putin's threats, which is nothing surprising given the continual exercising of Soviet forces in eastern Europe during the Cold War era (and Russian post Cold War paranoia). 

 
  A lot of emphasis has been placed stating that the MiG-31 has been armed with a nuclear version of the R-33 "Vympel" (Banner) air to air missile (NATO AA-9 "Amos"). However, none of the authoritative Russian sources that I've reviewed mention the R-33 with a nuclear warhead, and to the best of my knowledge the Soviets and Russians have never fielded a nuclear air to air missile. 

  While they certainly have the capability, and have produced implosion warheads down to a diameter of 5.98 inches (152mm), the R-33 missile's diameter of 15" certainly allows for a larger sized primary. 

  Analysis of photos and video of the R-33 involved in these loading exercises do not show markings consistent with Russian training nuclear weapons (inert load shapes), nor anything indicative of live nuclear warheads (Russian, former East German, and Hungarian web sites and books provide some interesting insight into Soviet and Russian nuclear weapons maintenance practices). There is heightened security in Russian state media videos, showing armed security and armed load crews. None of the weapons are marked in Cyrillic showing "INERT" (INERTNYY) or "TRAINING" (UCHEBNYY), thus the weapons being loaded are likely conventional R-33's. 

  A few months ago, Belarus media highlighted "nuclear load exercises" on Su-25 attack aircraft which were nothing more than 800 liter PTB-800 fuel tanks.  

  As for Russian nuclear control and release procedures, they're rather comprehensive and in the past were noted for the 12th GUMO ("Main Directorate of the Ministry of Defense") responsible for security, transportation, handling, loading, and weapons maintenance. 

References-

1. "Belarus 'Nuclear Drills' Show Aircraft Fuel Tanks" by Michael H. Maggelet, Broken Arrow Blog, May 9, 2024. 

2. Various authoritative articles on Russian websites do not mention a nuclear warhead for the R-33 missile. An excellent reference on the development of the MiG-31 is featured in the book "MiG-25 Foxbat and MiG-31 Foxhound- Russia's Defensive Front Line" by noted aviation author Yefim Gordon. 

Russian weapons load crew with sidearms load R-33 missiles on a MiG-31

Belarus "Nuclear Drills" Show Aircraft Fuel Tanks

 Belarus "Nuclear Drills" Show Aircraft Fuel Tanks
Copyright 2024 by Michael H. Maggelet

Video released by the Belarus Defense Ministry, and posted to YouTube by the Hindustan Times on May 8th, 2024, shows Belarussian forces participating in "snap nuclear drills". Images include Belarus military personnel working with short range Iskander tactical missile systems, and taxiing Sukhoi Su-25 attack aircraft, with stores on the inside pylons blurred out. Additional images show that the "sanitized" items are nothing more than 800 liter PTB-800 fuel tanks. 

 QB-19 RCAT Drone Was Not "Top Secret"
Copyright 2024 by Michael H. Maggelet

QB-19 RCAT Drone Was Not "Top Secret"

Recent news articles and websites are promoting a myth that the RCAT QB-19 drone and its derivatives, produced by Radioplane and used by the Army as a target drone, was "top secret". 
  In fact, I have yet to find any reference that the common drone, or its radar guidance and tracking system, was even classified. 
The RCAT was produced under various designations from 1946 to the mid '80's, and saw service worldwide. 

Yahoo News article parroting the myth of the "top secret" drone. 

https://news.yahoo.com/mystery-object-found-cape-cod-163838688.html

Camp Wellfleet target range in Massachusetts- 

http://www.campwellfleet.com/about.html

https://03cd152.netsolhost.com/about.html

M33 and M38 Fire Control Systems-

https://www.usarmygermany.com/Sont.htm?https&&&www.usarmygermany.com/Units/Air%20Defense/USAREUR_ADA%20Overview%201.htm#M33

History of the drone and versions (by Andreas Parsch)-

https://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/m-33.html

 "Reasons Why Pentagon Won't Shoot Down Chinese Spy Balloons"

1 April 2024, Copyright 2024 by Michael H. Maggelet

1. Shooting down balloon in sparsely populated Montana or North Dakota may trigger a "near peer" balloon arms race between Montana and North Dakota.

2. Tourists may confuse deflated balloons for obese Lewis and Clark reenactors, buckskinners, and USAF missile officers.

3. Don't want to provoke Putin, nor any Winnie the Pooh balloons.

4. Local ranchers may confuse balloon debris for UFO, much to the detriment of actual UFO crash sites in New Mexico.

5. Gender identity of balloon not confirmed, which may violate numerous equal opportunity guidelines, instructions, and power point presentations.

6. General Milley has not had time to secretly phone his Chinese counterpart to reassure Beijing that the US would not shoot down the balloon, thus altering "strategic recon balloon stability".

7. Shooting down PRC balloon may move "Doomsday Clock" hand closer to midnight, thus negatively influencing Russian, Chinese, Iranian, and North Korean strategic interests.

8. USAF does not have a "Chinese Reconnaissance Balloon" Environmental Impact Statement ready at this time.

9. Joint Chiefs of Staff decided to have Army attempt to shoot down balloon, followed by Navy, and maybe Space Force, thus denying USAF CMSgt JoAnne Bass another medal.

10. Pentagon assured by China that balloon is just a stray from Chinese New Year celebrations, flying over to see relatives in North Dakota near Minot AFB.