High - Availability Power for MX

With modern computer-based analyses it was sible to optimize an extensive power transmission and distribution network for supplying power to MX missile shelter sites. This network would serve some 4600 of these sites, located in suitable contiguous areas, with the shelter sites spaced one mile apart. With a dedicated transmission network and underground distribution cables we were able to predict an average commerical power availability of 0.99993 at the shelters. However, standby diesel generator sets are required at distribution centers because power is required after an electromagnetic pulse from a high-altitude weapon burst. With this strengthened distribution network, we were able to predict a suitable power availability of 0.999 at each missile site with incoming power supplied to each of our distribution centers at a 0.99 availability or better by local public utilities.