Israel and South Africa — Nuclear Collaboration

Abstract

The decision to develop nuclear weapons in South Africa came in 1974 under South African prime minister B.J. Vorster (1966–1978). It was driven by the anticipated withdrawal of Portugal from Mozambique and Angola, and the emerging Soviet and Cuban-backed African nationalist movements that were posing a threat to Pretoria’s apartheid policy.1 Pretoria, because of its unpopular system of apartheid, could not expect any extended nuclear deterrence. The first nuclear weapons, without fissile material, were assembled in 1977, a draft plan for the nuclear path was outlined in April 1978,2 and the decision to begin assembly came in October 1978. To that end, Prime Minister P.W. Botha (1978–1984) mandated a joint nuclear project between Armscor, the Defense Force and the Atomic Energy Board.3 The first nuclear device was ready in November 1978.4 The South African nuclear facilities used to design and build its six nuclear weapons at Advena were dual-purpose, well equipped, and had only 150 persons assigned to the project.5