Nuclear Fission
In nuclear physics and nuclear chemistry, nuclear fission is either a nuclear reaction or a radioactive decay process in which the nucleus of an atom splits into smaller parts (lighter nuclei), often producing free neutrons and photons (in the form of gamma rays), and releasing a very large amount of energy, even by the energetic standards of radioactive decay.
Nuclear Fission - Wikipedia
Nuclear Fusion
Nuclear fusion is the process by which two or more atomic nuclei join together, or "fuse", to form a single heavier nucleus.
Nuclear Fusion - Wikipedia
Nuclear Weapons and Designs:
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. Both reactions release vast quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter. The first fission ("atomic") bomb test released the same amount of energy as approximately 20,000 tons of TNT. The first thermonuclear ("hydrogen") bomb test released the same amount of energy as approximately 10,000,000 tons of TNT.
Nuclear Weapon - Wikipedia
Weapon Designs:
Pure Fission Weapons
Gun Assembly
Implosion
Boosted Fission Weapons
Two-stage Thermonuclear Weapons
Pure Fusion Weapons
Nuclear Weapon Designs - Wikipedia
Basic Overview of Nuclear/Radiological Delivery Systems:
Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM)
Sub-Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM)
Tactical Ballistic Missile (TBM)
Short Range Ballistic Missile (SRBM)
Medium Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM)
Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM)
Nuclear Cruise Missile (NCM)
Unguided Bomb
Guided Bomb (GBU)
Special Atomic Demolition Munition (SADM)
Medium Atomic Demolition Munition (MADM)
Atomic Demolition Munition (ADM)
Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD)
Nuclear Recoiless Rifle
Nuclear Artillery
Weapon Employment; Strategic Nuclear Weapons vs. Tactical Nuclear Weapons:
A strategic nuclear weapon refers to a nuclear weapon which is designed to be used on targets as part of a strategic plan, such as nuclear missile bases, military command centers and heavily populated civilian areas such as large towns and cities.
Strategic Nuclear Weapons - Wikipedia
A tactical nuclear weapon (or TNW) refers to a nuclear weapon which is designed to be used on a battlefield in military situations. This is as opposed to strategic nuclear weapons which are designed to menace large populations, to damage the enemy's ability to wage war, or for general deterrence. Tactical nuclear weapons were a large part of the peak nuclear weapons stockpile levels during the Cold War.
Tactical Nuclear Weapons - Wikipedia
Russian Strategic & Tactical Nuclear Force Capabilities:
(Estimated Strategic Forces)
(*Based on multiple sources, including FAS, IPMA, and NRC)
Land-based Platforms (Silo-based or Mobile Launch Platform): 489 Missile Platforms, 1,788 Warheads
Sea-based Platforms: 12 Boomers (Missile Subs), 609 Warheads
Aviation-based Systems: 79 Strategic Bombs, 884 Warheads (Cruise Missiles, GBU and Unguided Bombs)
(Estimated Tactical Forces)
Unknown; START, START II, New START, SORT, SALT, SALT II does not regulate the amount of Tactical Nuclear Weapons a nation may have. Estimated range with 2,000 currently deployed tactical warheads.
Russian Weapons of Mass Destruction - Wikipedia
US Strategic & Tactical Nuclear Forces:
(Estimated Strategic Force)
Land-based Platforms: 450 Silo-based Minuteman III ICBM Warheads w/ SIRV, No Mobile Platforms
Sea-based Platforms: 18 Boomers (Ohio Class Missile Subs), 14 Ballistic Missile Subs w/ 24 Trident II SLBM's per sub, 12 Cruise Missile Subs (Currently no Nuclear Cruise Missiles deployed).
Aviation-based Platforms: 94 B-52 Stratofortress, 19 B-2 Spirit, (B-1B retrofitted for conventional munitions only, no-long capable of nuclear armament), 400 Unguided Bombs known amount of Nuclear GBU (Unguided Bombs capable of becoming guided with retrofit similar to JDAM), 300-550 Nuclear Cruise Missiles.
(Estimated Tactical Force)
The US utilizes part of it's Strategic Nuclear Force, as a Tactical Nuclear Force. Platforms such as the B61 maintain variable yield capabilities, giving forces the ability to set the weapons yield from 340KT for strategic use or to 0.3KT for tactical use. Other parts of the US Tactical Nuclear Force include it's aviation and sea based Nuclear Cruise Missiles, the W80 and W84 warheads used on US Nuclear Cruise Missiles are variable yield, being able to be set from 150KT for strategic use or down to 0.2KT for tactical use.
United States Weapons of Mass Destruction - Wikipedia
Other interesting links:
Nuclear Weapons and the United States - Wikipeida
Soviet Atomic Bomb Project - Wikipedia
Nuclear Arms Race - Wikipedia
List of States with Nuclear Weapons
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