Protective Aircraft Shelter Gate Door (PAS) ( Type 3 )
A hardened aircraft shelter (HAS) or protective aircraft shelter (PAS) is a reinforced hangar to house and protect military aircraft from enemy attack. Cost considerations and building practicalities limit their use to fighter size aircraft.
Hardened aircraft shelters constructed at Karen
The Karen Hardened aircraft bunker HAS’s have ventilation and engine exhaust systems to allow aircraft engines to run inside the shelter with the hangar doors closed. It also has new fire prevention systems and improved storm drainage systems, along with other safety features. This provides an upgraded protection area for Kunsan’s fighters, and a safer working environment for Airmen.
Hardened Aircraft Shelter Advantages
Inside a PAS, showing a Weapons Storage and Security System vault in raised position holding a B61 nuclear bomb
Reduces vulnerability of aircraft to all but the most accurate precision weaponry
Provides protection against chemical weapon attack.
Prevents satellite/aerial reconnaissance seeing whether aircraft are present.
Permits aircraft maintenance and turn-round in weathertight and relatively safe conditions.
Combined with active airfield defences, increases survivability of defender’s aircraft and cost to enemy’s forces in destroying them.
An alternative option, dispersal of aircraft to many different bases, reduces the efficiency of aircraft at both squadron and air force level.
Weapons, including nuclear weapons, can be stored in the HAS, sometimes in a vault under the aircraft; e.g.
