Officials at the Blue Grass Army Depot have announced the startup of disposal for VX nerve agent rockets. This was the first rocket destruction in the overall campaign to rid the Army installation of its 523 tons of stored chemical weapons.
The first M55 rockets containing VX nerve agent were destroyed at the Blue Grass Chemical-Agent Destruction Pilot Plant last Friday. It marked the fourth of five disposal campaigns at the Depot. Site Project Manager Candace Coyle said the rockets are the most complex munitions in the stockpile, adding the team is ready to accomplish the mission safely.
Kentucky Chemical Demilitarization Citizens Advisory Commission Co-Chair Doug Hindman said, “Their successful destruction of projectiles should give workers the experience to tackle the more dangerous rockets.”
As of July second, more than 28% of the original stockpile at Blue Grass had been destroyed. The entire campaign is scheduled to be completed the end of 2023.
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