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Effects of Nuclear Earth-Penetrator and Other Weapons (2005) / Chapter Skim
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9 Conclusions
Pages 110-114

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From page 110...
... Many of the more important strategic hard and deeply buried targets (HDBTs) are beyond the reach of conventional explosive penetrating weapons and can be held at risk of destruction only with nuclear weapons.
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From page 111...
... Weapon Effects Because of the limitations on the penetration depth of penetrating weapons in the stockpile today, as well as those of the robust nuclear earth penetrator (RNEP) weapon currently under study, effects of their use would not be contained.1 Depending on many variables, including weapon yield, proximity of the target to urban areas, distribution of the civilian population and warning time available for sheltering or evacuation, ambient wind profile, and other weather conditions, this study's calculations of numbers of deaths and serious injuries resulting from attacks on representative targets near or in urban areas range from less than 103 to greater than 106.
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From page 112...
... To achieve such reductions, innovative concepts must be developed for achieving combinations of penetration depth and yield combinations that would substantially diminish the radioactive fallout from a nuclear earth-penetrator weapon attack on an HDBT. Use of such a weapon with reduced yield requires more precise and reliable intelligence and greater delivery accuracy than for an above-surface nuclear burst of comparable military effectiveness.
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From page 113...
... In particular, the mind-set in designing tools was often based on particular warfighting modes, involving massive nuclear exchanges or tactical encounters. Modern tools need to emphasize the effects of single releases of weapons of mass destruction in a variety of urban or rural environments characterized by detailed meteorology and terrain.
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From page 114...
... NOTE 1. The presence of an unstemmed penetration hole ensures massive venting.
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Key Terms

  • buried targets
  • nuclear epw
  • nuclear weapon
  • nuclear burst
  • military effectiveness

  • weapons facility
  • reduce casualties
  • weapon yield
  • aboveground nuclear
  • kiloton weapon

  • nuclear explosion
  • biological agents
  • civilian deaths
  • weather conditions
  • penetrating weapons

  • meters depth
  • penetration depth
  • target location
  • biological weapons
  • massive nuclear

  • nuclear design
  • nuclear earth
  • robust nuclear
  • using nuclear
  • single nuclear

  • nuclear yield
  • wind blows
  • penetration hole
  • current experience
  • results extending


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