CHEGET – INTERNATIONAL

News: Footage showed Putin with 'Nuclear briefcase' in China

 

What's in the news?

       Rare video of Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing with officers bearing the ‘nuclear briefcase,’ which may be used to launch a nuclear attack, was released.

 

CHEGET:

       Cheget is a "nuclear briefcase" (named after Mount Cheget).

       It is a crucial element of the system responsible for authorizing nuclear strikes in Russia.

       It is a part of the automatic system for the command and control of Russia's Strategic Nuclear Forces (SNF) named Kazbek.

       The cheget was developed during the early 1980s.

       It is connected to the special communications system code-named Kavkaz.

       Kavkaz "supports communication between senior government officials while they are making the decision whether to use nuclear weapons".

 

Responsible Persons for Cheget:

       In addition to the Russian President, the Defence Minister and the Chief of General Staff each possess a briefcase.

       In the event of a possible order to launch a nuclear strike, these three individuals are expected to coordinate their actions. The President even carries the briefcase during foreign visits.

 

Football - USA:

       The American President’s equivalent of the Russian nuclear briefcase, known as the Presidential Emergency Satchel or “football.”

       This nickname originated from a 1960s mission called “Dropkick.”

       It was introduced during the Cold War era to ensure quick verification of orders for a nuclear strike.

       The football contains information on retaliatory options, a classified site location book and a card with authentication codes, known as the “biscuit.”

       Through the biscuit, the President can authorize a nuclear attack, which is then executed by the military. The Vice President also has a similar briefcase in case the President is unable to act.