On October 6, 2023, a massive explosion near Pakistan's atomic commission headquarters in the Dera Ghazi Khan district of Punjab province shocked Pakistan, with the explosion allegedly audible from 30-50 kilometers distant in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces as well.

According to Mastung Assistant Commissioner Attahul Munim, a suicide bomber blew himself up near the car of slain Mastung Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Nawaz Gishkori. On Friday, less than 24 hours after a large suicide bombing in Balochistan's Mastung district, another suicide explosion at a mosque in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Hangu district killed five people and injured 12.

Two suicide bombers made it to the mosque, according to province temporary Information Minister Feroze Jamal, but their access was prevented by police personnel stationed there. One of the assailants was killed in a gunfight with police at the entrance, while the other blew himself up inside the mosque.

But after this attack Social media was rife with rumours from various channels that Pakistan’s Nuclear Missile SHAHEEN III allegedly misfired & had hit Pakistani nuclear facility in DG Khan. But Pakistani officials denied this vehemently, but a interesting move by a USA Nuclear Sniffer Spy Aircraft flying mission close to India & Pakistani coasts has caught every one’s attention in defense enthusiast circles.

Hans Kristensen, Director, Nuclear Information Project, Federation of American Scientists (@nukestrat) uploaded a photo on his X.com Profile of a US Boeing WC 135R “Nuclear Sniffer” Constant Phoenix aircraft flying a nuclear sniffer mission along Pakistani & Indian coasts


As per Hans Kristensen, Nuclear Sniffer Aircraft operated down to an altitude of 7,000 feet (-2,100 meters) & It doesn’t necessarily imply a nuclear incident but could simply be a calibration flight.

The Aircraft is based out of Offutt AFB & was recently transferred to Qatar via the UK on Oct 5, 2023.


But a nuclear sniffer Aircraft flying close to Indian coast as well as Pakistani coastline only implies that the aircraft might be looking for any atmospheric nuclear radiation near Pakistan as well as India.

In 1949, US identified USSR RDS 1 first nuclear test using a similar aircraft, checking for atmospheric radioactive samples, later only USSR accepted RDS 1 test.

The upgrades to the WC-135-R Constant Phoenix revolve mostly around the aircraft's on-board atmospheric collecting suite, which allows the mission crew to identify radioactive debris "clouds" in real time.

WC-135R Constant Phoenix apart is its advanced equipment for atmospheric sampling and collection. This suite of cutting-edge tools includes:

1. Whole Air Collection System (WACS): This technology collects airborne particles onto filter paper, which is then analyzed in the case of a nuclear catastrophe.

2. Directional Gamma Sensor System (DGSS): This device, designed to detect gamma radiation, is a crucial component of the aircraft's nuclear detection capability.

3. Radiation Monitoring and Analysis System (RMAS): RMAS is critical in monitoring and assessing radiation levels during aircraft flights.

4. U1-B Particulate Sampler Assembly: This assembly is in charge of collecting particulate materials from the atmosphere for subsequent examination.

5. Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA): During missions, SCADA systems are employed for real-time monitoring and control.

Though a lot of Speculations are rife regarding this radioactive sniffer mission, it remains to be seen if US publishes its findings in de-classified documents regarding this incident which it does every now & then giving an insight opening a pandora box.