DAFMAN 91-118: SAFETY DESIGN CRITERIA FOR NUCLEAR WEAPON SYSTEMS

DAFMAN 91-118 — index record

Number	DAFMAN 91-118
Title	SAFETY DESIGN CRITERIA FOR NUCLEAR WEAPON SYSTEMS
Published	July 17, 2025
Certified current	July 17, 2025
Office of primary responsibility	AF/SE
Issued by	Headquarters, Department of the Air Force
Status on the index	Current
Last index action	Rewrite, July 17, 2025
Source index	Air Force e-Publishing
Index last read	October 20, 2026

Copied from Air Force e-Publishing (index). The publication itself is the authority; this page does not summarize or interpret it. Verify the current edition on the index before acting.

From the publication itself

Text below is lifted mechanically from the official PDF (41 pages, read October 20, 2026) with no editing or interpretation. Quote the document, not this page.

Purpose, in the publication’s words

This publication is available for downloading or ordering on the e- Publishing website at www.e-Publishing.af.mil. RELEASABILITY: There are no releasability restrictions on this publication.

Summary of changes, as printed

Tiering authority for the surety standards has changed from (T-1) to (T-0) to follow DoD authority. A “Legend” paragraph was added to Chapter 1 to describe the differences between safety design criteria requirements language and contextual information. Significant requirements content, format, and arrangement changes have been made since last publication.

Chapter 1—GENERAL INFORMATIONp. 5
Chapter 2—GENERAL DESIGN PHILOSOPHYp. 8
Chapter 3—GENERAL DESIGNp. 9
Chapter 4—ELECTRICAL DESIGNp. 16
Chapter 5—HAZARD PREVENTIONp. 19
Chapter 6—ARMING AND FUZING (A&F) SYSTEMSp. 21
Chapter 7—GROUND LAUNCHED MISSILE SYSTEMSp. 22
Chapter 8—COMBAT DELIVERY AIRCRAFT SYSTEMSp. 26
Chapter 9—AIR LAUNCHED MISSILES AND AIR RELEASED BOMB SYSTEMSp. 30
Chapter 10—TEST EQUIPMENTp. 31
Chapter 11—FACILITIESp. 33
Chapter 12—NONCOMBAT DELIVERY VEHICLES AND SUPPORT EQUIPMENTp. 39
Attachment 1—GLOSSARY OF REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATIONp. 45

All 76 contents entries

Chapter 1—GENERAL INFORMATIONp. 5
1.1. Responsibility and Scopep. 5
1.2. Non-Compliance with Criteriap. 6
1.3. Standards and Guidancep. 6
1.4. Existing Nuclear Certified Operational Systemsp. 6
1.5. Nuclear Weapon System Designp. 6
1.6. Roles and Responsibilitiesp. 6
1.7. Legendp. 7
Chapter 2—GENERAL DESIGN PHILOSOPHYp. 8
2.1. Nuclear Weapons System Safety Design Philosophyp. 8
2.2. Energy and Information Control Systemsp. 8
Chapter 3—GENERAL DESIGNp. 9
3.1. Securityp. 9
3.2. Reversible Operationsp. 9
3.3. Nuclear Critical Function Designp. 9
3.4. Nuclear Critical Functionsp. 9
3.6. Software Verificationp. 15
Chapter 4—ELECTRICAL DESIGNp. 16
4.1. Isolationp. 16
4.2. Switchingp. 16
4.3. Wiring and Cablingp. 16
4.4. Electrical Connectorsp. 17
4.5. Electrical Current Considerationsp. 18
Chapter 5—HAZARD PREVENTIONp. 19
5.1. General Hazardsp. 19
5.2. Material Compatibilityp. 19
5.3. Electromagnetic Environments (EME)p. 19
Chapter 6—ARMING AND FUZING (A&F) SYSTEMSp. 21
6.1. System Devicesp. 21
6.2. System Design Featuresp. 21
6.3. Safe and Arm and Arm/Disarm Devicesp. 21
Chapter 7—GROUND LAUNCHED MISSILE SYSTEMSp. 22
7.1. Launch Control Systemp. 22
7.2. Propulsion System Ignition Protectionp. 23
7.3. Arm/Disarm Device for Reentry System, Reentry Vehicle, or Payloadp. 23
7.4. Power Removalp. 23
7.5. Command and Control Communicationsp. 23
7.6. Ground Launched Missile Systems Facility Designp. 24
Chapter 8—COMBAT DELIVERY AIRCRAFT SYSTEMSp. 26
8.1. AMAC and Release System Electrical Powerp. 26
8.2. Suspension and Release Systemsp. 26
8.3. Nuclear System Controls and Displaysp. 27
8.4. Multi-Crew Aircraft Consent Functionsp. 28
8.5. Aircrew Indicationsp. 28
8.6. Interface Unit and Nuclear Weapon Power Controlp. 28
8.7. Multiplexed Systemsp. 29
Chapter 9—AIR LAUNCHED MISSILES AND AIR RELEASED BOMB SYSTEMSp. 30
9.1. General Criteriap. 30
9.2. Safe and Arm and Arm/Disarm Devicesp. 30
Chapter 10—TEST EQUIPMENTp. 31
10.1. General Criteriap. 31
10.2. Fail-Safep. 31
10.3. End-of-Test Safe Statep. 31
10.4. Built-In Test Equipmentp. 31
10.5. Functionality and Safety Checksp. 31
10.6. Reprogramming Functionalityp. 31
Chapter 11—FACILITIESp. 33
11.1. Criteria Applicabilityp. 33
11.2. Existing Facilitiesp. 33
11.3. New Facilities and Facility Modificationsp. 33
11.4. Hazards Mitigationp. 33
11.5. Essential Facility Systemsp. 35
Chapter 12—NONCOMBAT DELIVERY VEHICLES AND SUPPORT EQUIPMENTp. 39
12.1. Design Philosophyp. 39
12.2. Criteria Applicabilityp. 39
12.3. Standardsp. 39
12.4. Structural Load Design Criteriap. 39
12.5. Primary Failure Modep. 40
12.6. General Safetyp. 40
12.7. Roadabilityp. 40
12.8. Lift Systemsp. 42
12.9. Movement and Positioning Controlsp. 42
12.10. Stabilityp. 42
12.11. Hoists, Cranes, Winches, and Other Lifting Devicesp. 43
12.12. Air or Ground Transport Design Criteriap. 43
Attachment 1—GLOSSARY OF REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATIONp. 45

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DAFMAN 91-118

DAFMAN 91-118 — index record

From the publication itself

Purpose, in the publication’s words

Summary of changes, as printed

Contents

Other DAFMAN publications nearby in the series