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Machine To Help In Chemical Weapons Destruction

Posted: 2:39 PM May 21, 2012

RICHMOND, Ky. (AP) -- Preparations to destroy tons of chemicals weapons stored at Blue Grass Army Depot in central Kentucky will reach another milestone this month with the delivery of a rocket cutting machine.

The contractor behind the remotely controlled machine says the contraption will separate the rocket motor from the warhead section. The rocket warhead, which contains the agent and explosive components, is further processed to destroy the chemical agent.

The machine will be placed in a blast-proof room behind steel-laced concrete walls more than 2 feet thick.

Before transporting the machine to Kentucky, it disassembled more than 2,600 mock rockets during testing.

Construction is more than half finished on the plant that will destroy chemicals weapons stockpiled near Richmond. The plant will destroy 523 tons of munitions containing blister and nerve agents.