Q: How do nuclear weapons differ from conventional weapons? A: Nuclear weapons differ from conventional explosives in several ways: weight for weight, the energy produced by a nuclear explosion is millions of times more powerful than a conventional explosion; more energy, in the form of heat and light is transmitted; highly penetrating prompt nuclear radiation is emitted in the first minute after the explosion; and residual nuclear radiation can be emitted over an extended period of time |
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Q: What is meant when someone refers to a "kiloton" or "megaton" nuclear weapon? A: The energy distribution released from a nuclear weapon is a function of weapon design, yield, and height of burst. The yield of a nuclear explosion is normally expressed in terms of an equivalent amount of conventional explosive. For example, a one kiloton (kt) nuclear explosion releases the same amount of total energy as 1,000 tons of TNT.
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Q: What are some typical nuclear weapons effects? A: Accompanying any nuclear explosion will be a blast wave, thermal radiation, and nuclear radiation. The nature and intensity of the effects are a function of the type of weapon, its yield, the altitude of the explosion (height of burst), and the target area.
Thermal: Nuclear explosions at or near the ground give off more than one third of their energy in the form of thermal radiation, which is electromagnetic radiation in the visible light spectrum. Thermal radiation can ignite wood frame buildings and other combustible materials at significant distances from the detonations. Anything that casts a shadow will offer some protection from burns to objects within the shadow. The high intensity of the thermal radiation also results in flash burns and flash blindness in those looking at the fireball or close to the explosion. |
Q: What is Nuclear Weapons System Survivability? A: Nuclear Weapons System Survivability refers to the capability of nuclear forces, their nuclear control and support systems, and facilities to avoid, repel, or withstand attack or other hostile action, to the extent that essential functions (ability to perform assigned nuclear mission) can continue or be resumed shortly after onset of hostile action. Survivability can be achieved through a number of methods, such as preparation and use of reserve assets, redundancy, avoidance, reconstitution, deception and hardening.
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Q: What is meant by “hardening”? A: Nuclear hardness describes the resistance of a system to internal malfunction or performance degradation induced by a nuclear detonation. Hardness measure the resistance of a system’s hardware to the physical effects of overpressure, peak velocities, energy absorbed and electrical stress. This resistance can be achieved through a variety of well-established design specifications or through the selection of well-built and well-engineered components.
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Q: Does the U.S. still test nuclear weapons? A: No, the U.S. placed a moratorium on nuclear testing in 1992, and has not tested since. |
Q: What was the U.S. underground nuclear testing (UGT) program? A: In 1992, UGT was an important element in the nuclear weapons evaluation program. Nuclear testing, which involved the detonation of actual weapons, provided unique data that enhanced military capability and improved U.S. nuclear weapons safety. Prior to 1959, U.S. nuclear tests were conducted above ground, in the atmosphere and under water. After 1959, all U.S. nuclear tests were conducted underground. The United States has also conducted a number of joint tests with the United Kingdom. In 1963, the United States and the Soviet Union signed the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT) prohibiting nuclear weapons testing in the atmosphere, in outer space and under water. In 1974, the two Superpowers signed the Threshold Test Ban Treaty (TTBT), which restricted underground nuclear tests to a maximum of 150 kilotons (kt). See International Treaties and Agreements, for a more detailed discussion of these Treaties. The United States performed a total of 1,054 nuclear tests (including joint U.S./U.K. tests). U.S. nuclear tests served four basic functions. Physics Research Tests were conducted to refine the data and scientific knowledge concerning fissile material compression and computer codes that modeled various factors affecting fissile material criticality. Effects Tests were conducted to refine the data concerning the distances that various effects would travel from the detonation, and to evaluate the vulnerability of various military equipment to the effects of nuclear weapons. Advanced Development Tests were conducted during the development of new warhead-types to refine weapon design, usually to provide an increased military capability, or to enhance safety, or to produce a smaller warhead with a given capability. |
Q: What is Nuclear Weapons Surety? A: Nuclear Weapons Surety is defined as the materiel, personnel, and procedures that contribute to the safety, security, reliability, and control of nuclear weapons, thus assuring that no nuclear accidents, incidents, unauthorized detonations, or degradation in performance occur.
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Q: What is Nuclear Weapons Systems Safety? A: Nuclear Weapons Systems Safety is defined as the application of engineering and management principles, criteria, and techniques to protect nuclear weapons against the risks and threats inherent in their environments within the constraints of operational effectiveness, time, and cost throughout all phases of their life cycle.
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A: Control of Use is composed of two distinct elements, use control and Command and Control (C2) of nuclear weapons. Use control is accomplished through a combination of weapon system design features, operational procedures, security, and system safety rules. It can include features such as components and codes, active, passive or disablement systems. C2 relates to organizational and communications procedures and capabilities. Combined, these two control elements establish the framework through which absolute control of nuclear weapons is maintained at all times.
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Q: What is Nuclear Weapons Security? A: Nuclear Weapons Security is the total spectrum of procedures, facilities, equipment, and personnel employed to provide the protection against loss of custody, theft, or diversion of a nuclear weapon system; protection against unauthorized access; or protection against unauthorized actions, vandalism, sabotage, and malevolent damage.
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Q: What is Nuclear Weapons Reliability? A: Nuclear Weapons Reliability is the probability, without regard to countermeasures, that a nuclear weapon, subassembly, component, or other part will perform in accordance with its design intent or requirements.
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Q: What is the difference between a nuclear weapon incident and a nuclear weapon accident? A: A nuclear weapon accident is an unexpected event involving nuclear weapons that results in any of the following: an accidental or unauthorized launching, firing, or use by U.S. forces or U.S.-supported Allied forces of a nuclear-capable weapon system; an accidental, unauthorized or unexplained nuclear detonation; a non-nuclear detonation or burning of a nuclear weapon; radioactive contamination; a jettisoning of a nuclear weapon or nuclear component; or a public hazard whether actual or perceived.
In contrast, a nuclear weapon incident is an unexpected event involving a nuclear weapon, facility, or component that does not constitute a nuclear weapons accident but does involve any of the following: an increase in the possibility of an explosion or radioactive contamination; errors committed in the assembly, testing, loading or transportation of equipment and/or the malfunctioning of equipment and material that could lead to an unintentional operation of all or part of the weapon arming and/or firing sequence or that could lead to a substantial change in yield or an increased dud probability; any act of God, unfavorable environment or condition resulting in damage to a weapon, facility or component. |
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