Project Coast
Nation Involved: South Africa
Time Period: 1980s
During the South African Apartheid era, the nation had a top-secret chemical and biological warfare program called “Project Coast.” The program was known most for testing out CX Powder and mustard gas, on top of non-lethal tear gas. Of course, by the mid-1970s, South Africa was involved in a border war with the local nation, Angola. The South African Defence Force had no choice but to begin experimenting with chemical weapons. Plus, it was claimed that Angola already had chemical and biological weapons. Giving them a serious advantage over South Africa on the battlefield.
They needed to develop better vaccines too. By the 1980s, South Africa hired Dr. Wouter Basson to visit other countries and report back on how South Africa stacks up in weaponry. Of course, many countries developed chemical and biological weapons by then. Thus, they expanded their program to officially begin Project Coast in 1983. At first, they developed defensive chemicals but then began creating CBW toxins and biotoxins. Though said to be used for the last resort, they were being misused. To a point that they were copying Soviet assassination uses with them.