BIOLOGICAL DEFENSE VACCINE PRODUCTION FACILITY

File: 120396_sep96_decls73_0001.txt
Page: 0001
Total Pages: 10

Subject: BIOLOGICAL DEFENSE VACCINE PRODUCTION FACILITY                  

Unit: OTSG        

Parent Organization: HSC         

Box ID: BX003203

Folder Title: BIOLOGICAL DEFENSE VACCINE PRODUCTION FACILITY                                                  

Document Number:          1

Folder SEQ  #:         66







                                                                     7 Jan 93


                 BIOXOOGXCAL DEFENSE VACCINE PRODUCTION FACILITY (VPF)

           THREAT. The number of.countries pursuing an offensive biological
           warfare program continues to increase. Thirteen countries are
           developing, or are suspected of developing, biological weapons.
           Threat biological agents include microorganisms and toxins. The
           biological agents can be delivered to target areas virtually
           anywhere in the theater of operations by surface-to-surface
           missiles, aircraft bombs, multiple rocket launchers# artillery
           and/or special forces operating in rear areas. Spray devices an
           aerosol generators are available for disseminating some
           biological agents from air or surface vehicles. Biological
           agents create inhalation and other hazards against which U.S.
           forces must be protected.

               Biotechnology and genetic engineering have significantly
           expanded opportunities for the manufacture of new and modified
           biological and toxin agents which put US/Allied soldier
           survivability increasingly at risk. At the same time, the more
           classical agents, such as anthrax or botulism, have been
           stockpiled and probably weaponized by a variety of potential
           users. It is imperative that medical biological defenses be
           developed, produced, and stockpiled.

           PRIORITY AND IMPLICATIONS. The highest priority is to limit the
           effects of large-area-coverage biological warfare attacks. These
           large area attacks are generally line source releases of
           biological aerosols intended to be inhaled by the target
           population. An example of this type of attack'is an aircraft
           spray release at early evening with the wind blowing towards
           friendly forces. This type of attack could cover several
      thousand square kilometers with catastrophic effects which could
           affect the outcome of a campaign. Smaller daylight-delivered on-
           target attacks and special operations must also be considered.

               The United States established numerous joint task forces to
           assess the implications of biological attack and defense
           alternatives. immunization, or the capability to immunize, was
           determined to be a vital and minimum component of any effective
           national biological defense program. In the absence of real-time
           detection and warning, immunization is the only feasible means of
           protecting forces.

               Deterrence remains the number one objective of the U.S.
           national policy and strategy. Development of biological defense
           vaccines deters an adversary from developing and using this form
           of warfare as it denys, or makes uncertain, the prospect of
           success. The U.S. biological defense capability must be of such
           .magnitude to make the objective use by any adversary appear
           ineffective or excessively costly. A highly visible and

Document 10 f:/Week-36/BX003203/BIOLOGICAL DEFENSE VACCINE PRODUCTION FACILITY/biological defense vaccine production facility:11259610130813
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-36
Box ID = BX003203
Unit = OTSG
Parent Organization = HSC
Folder Title = BIOLOGICAL DEFENSE VACCINE PRODUCTION FACILITY
Folder Seq # = 66
Subject = BIOLOGICAL DEFENSE VACCINE PRODUCTION FACILITY
Document Seq # = 1
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 25-NOV-1996