broken arrow

English

Noun

broken arrow (plural broken arrows)

Wikipedia

1. (US, euphemistic) (military) An accidental event that involves nuclear weapons or nuclear components but does not create the risk of nuclear war.
   • 2004, Roland Everett Langford, Introduction to Weapons of Mass Destruction: Radiological, Chemical, and Biological, page 97:

     In the US, the code name for a serious nuclear weapons incident is "Broken Arrow". It is US policy neither to confirm nor deny the existence of nuclear weapons at any specific location; this also applies to Broken Arrow incidents.

2. (US, military) a code phrase that a ground unit is facing imminent destruction from enemy attack and all available air forces within range are to provide air support immediately.

Related terms

• Bent Spear
• Empty Quiver
• Faded Giant

References

• About.com: US Government info. File retrieved 11-15-2007.