CASE RECORD · REAL HISTORY · ALL RECORDS
Nuclear False Alarms: The Nights the World Almost Ended by Mistake
A training tape in 1979, a faulty chip in 1980, and a Soviet officer's judgment call in 1983.
Quick answer
How close did false alarms come to starting a nuclear war?
Several times during the Cold War, warning systems reported missile attacks that were not happening. In November 1979, a training tape loaded into a NORAD computer showed a massive Soviet attack. In June 1980, a faulty computer chip did the same. On September 26, 1983, a Soviet early-warning satellite reported US missile launches, and duty officer Stanislav Petrov judged it a false alarm instead of passing it up the chain. In each case, people caught the error in minutes.
Timeline
- November 9, 1979A training scenario on a NORAD computer is mistaken for a real Soviet attack. Bomber crews are alerted before it is caught.
- June 1980A failed computer chip causes US warning displays to show incoming missiles.
- September 26, 1983Soviet satellites report US missile launches. Lt. Col. Stanislav Petrov reports a system malfunction. Sunlight reflecting off clouds was the cause.
- November 1983NATO's Able Archer 83 exercise raises Soviet fears that a real attack is being prepared.
What is documented, and what is not
On the record
- The 1979 and 1980 US false alerts are described in declassified government documents.
- Petrov's decision was later confirmed by Soviet and Russian officials.
Disputed or unproven
- How close each incident came to an actual launch decision is debated. Leaders had other information and procedures before launching.
Common questions
Who was Stanislav Petrov?
A Soviet Air Defense officer who, on September 26, 1983, judged a satellite warning of US missiles to be a false alarm. He was right.
What caused the 1979 NORAD false alarm?
A computer tape with a simulated Soviet attack was mistakenly loaded into a live warning system.
What was Able Archer 83?
A NATO command exercise in November 1983 that some Soviet leaders feared could be cover for a real nuclear attack.
Read the record yourself
- The 3 A.M. Phone Call: false warnings of Soviet missile attacks ↗National Security Archive
Links go to official archives, museums, agencies and published research. Search links open the archive's own search for this topic.
THE FICTION BUILT ON THIS RECORD · FILE 046 · VOLUME VIIThe Computer Said Nuclear Launch. One Man Didn't Believe It.There is a man in a room somewhere right now who could end everything by trusting a screen.Read the first pages free →Last reviewed 2026-10-13. This page covers the public record only. Archive files are dramatized and always marked as files.
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