5. The Black Brant Scare (1995)
On January 25, 1995, a Black Brant XII scientific rocket launched from Norway’s Andøya Rocket Range was misidentified by Russian radar as an incoming U.S. Trident missile. This led to a high-alert status within Russian nuclear forces, with President Boris Yeltsin activating the “nuclear briefcase” (Cheget). After consulting with military advisors and analyzing the situation, Yeltsin determined it was a false alarm, preventing a potential nuclear crisis (washingtonpost.com).
