Department of Defense
INSTRUCTION
NUMBER 4540.05
June 23, 2011
Incorporating Change 3, November 9, 2017
USD(AT&L)
SUBJECT: DoD Transportation of U.S. Nuclear Weapons
References: See Enclosure 1
1. PURPOSE. This Instruction:
a. Reissues DoD Directive (DoDD) 4540.5 (Reference (a)) as a DoD Instruction in
accordance with the authority in DoDD 5134.01 (Reference (b)) to establish policy, update
responsibilities, and prescribe procedures for DoD transportation of U.S. nuclear weapons,
including logistic transportation, operational transport, and emergency logistic movement as
defined in the Glossary.
b. Incorporates and cancels DoD 4540.5-M (Reference (c)).
c. Authorizes the establishment of the Nuclear Transportation Working Group (NTWG).
2. APPLICABILITY. This Instruction:
a. Applies to OSD, the Military Departments, the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff and the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands, the Office of the Inspector General of the
Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all other
organizational entities within the DoD (hereafter referred to collectively as the “DoD
Components”).
b. Applies to all U.S. nuclear weapon movements except those conducted within limited
areas by DoD personnel in the course of routine storage and maintenance of nuclear weapons.
c. Does not apply to the transport of nuclear weapon limited-life components (LLCs), special
nuclear material (SNM), or nuclear weapons-related materiel.
d. Does not direct or change Nuclear Weapons Technical Inspections (NWTI) guidance or
procedures.
