Nuclear weapons delivery system

Abdus Salam

MS.c International Relations

University of Modern Languages Islamabad

• Nuclear weapons delivery is the technology and

systems used to place a nuclear weapon at the

position of detonation, on or near its target.

Several methods have been developed to carry out this

task.

• Strategic nuclear weapons are used primarily as part

of a doctrine of deterrence by threatening large

targets, such as cities.

• Weapons meant for use in limited military

maneuvers, such as destroying specific military,

communications, or infrastructure targets, are known

as tactical nuclear weapons

Nuclear triad.

• A nuclear triad refers to a strategic nucleararsenal which consists of three components,traditionally strategic bombers, intercontinentalballistic missiles (ICBMs), and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs).

• The purpose of having a three-branched nuclearcapability is to significantly reduce the possibilitythat an enemy could destroy all of a nation'snuclear forces in a first-strike attack; this, in turn,ensures a credible threat of a second strike, andthus increases a nation's nuclear deterrence.

Main delivery mechanisms• Historically, the first method of delivery, and the method used in the

only two nuclear weapons actually used in warfare, was a gravity

bomb dropped by a bomber.

Gravity bomb

Ballistic missile

• Missiles using a ballistic trajectory usually

deliver a warhead over the horizon, at

distances of thousands of kilometers, as in the

case of intercontinental ballistic

missiles (ICBMs) and submarine-launched

ballistic missiles (SLBMs).

ICBM

• The intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)

is a ballistic missile with a range of more than

6,400 kilometers. It is a ground-launched

missile, carries a hydrogen-bomb warhead

over a typical range of around 10,000

kilometers. Together with the SLBM and

strategic bombers, it is one of the "three

pillars" of strategic nuclear weapons.

ICBM

SLBM• The development of the submarine-launched ballistic missiles

(SLBM) has proceeded in conjunction with the development of

nuclear-powered submarines. The ICBM is based in the possessor's

own territory. Even ICBMs deployed in underground bases can be

detected by other countries using reconnaissance satellites. As a

countermeasure, SLBMs were built to be launched from nuclear

submarines in constant movement around the oceans. Submarines are

difficult to detect and able to enter areas near the enemy's territory.

SLBMs are an important strategic nuclear weapon because they can

escape a nuclear attack by the enemy and launch a counterattack.

Nuclear submarines are classified into the attack-type SSN(nuclear

submarines deployed with nuclear torpedoes targeting the enemy's

warships and the enemy's nuclear submarines) and the strategic SSBN

(loaded with SLBMs that target facilities thousands of kilometers

away on the enemy's territory).

SLBM

Strategic bomber

• Long-distance bombers played a greater role in thedelivery of strategic weapons prior to the advent ofmissile systems such as ICBMs.

• Toward the end of World War II, B-29s (Americanstrategic bombers) carried atomic bombs toHiroshima and Nagasaki. The maximum payload atthat time was five tons.

• The most advanced bomber developed by the US todate is the B-2. With a maximum speed of Mach 0.9and a payload of 22 tons, it has a "stealth" structurethat resists radar detection

Strategic bomber

MIRV• The Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle

(MIRV) carries three to ten nuclear warheads on asingle missile (ICBM or SLBM), each of which can beset to attack different previously determined targets.Carrying multiple nuclear warheads (re-entry devices)and guiding devices, it launches a "bus" loaded withseveral small rockets. First, the three-stage boosterrocket launches a bus toward the first target. The bususes small rockets to direct individual warheads to thesecond, third, and subsequent targets. Like a bus lettingoff passengers at successive bus stops, warheads arelaunched one after another.

MIRV

Cruise missile• While the ICBM and SLBM have rocket engines, the

Cruise Missile has a jet engine. It is actually anunmanned aircraft that flies at a subsonic speed usingan automatic guidance system. In recent years, therange of cruise missiles has leaped to almost 5,000kilometers, making it a strategic weapon.Cruise missiles include sea-launched cruise missiles(SLCM), air-launched cruise missiles (ALCM), andground-launched cruise missiles (GLCM). Sea-launched missiles are launched from the torpedo tubeson submarines or warships. Air-launched missiles aredeployed on strategic bombers where they can belaunched from outside the range of enemy radar.

Cruise missile

Other delivery systems

• Other delivery methods

included artillery shells, mines such as the Medium

Atomic Demolition Monition and, nuclear depth

charges, and nuclear torpedoes. An 'Atomic

Bazooka' was also fielded, designed to be used

against large formations of tanks.

Artillery shells

Medium Atomic Demolition

Nuclear torpedoes

Atomic Bazooka