New Age Nukes Set To Bust The Bunker of MAD

NUKEWARS

If only I had the 'big one'

London - Feb 27, 2003
What are the risks to civilians if the US military ever uses the "bunker-busting" nuclear weapon that the Bush administration is developing? That's the question scientists are set to investigate as a condition of further funding for the project.

In the March 1, issue of New Scientist details on the controversial Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator (RNEP) programme are reported including the awarding of $15 million development contract this year.

The same amount is also expected to be allocated next year, while a new clause attached to the funding calls for the US National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to investigate what effect any use of the weapon would have.

According to New Scientist, "the clause was added by moderates when the Senate and House of Representatives met to finalise the Defense Authorization Act, published last week."

The demand comes on top of a requirement that the military assess conventional alternatives.

Designed to plunge 30 metres or more into the ground before detonating a nuclear warhead, the RNEP device would be far more effective against buried targets and produce less fallout than airburst nuclear weapons.

However, it is physically impossible for the weapon to bury itself deep enough to fully contain a nuclear explosion, and radioactive fallout would still contaminate the surrounding area.

While the NAS has yet to begin work on its RNEP study, it is promising a rigorous report.

"The NAS will not be influenced by political pressure from the government or the military," a spokesman told New Scientist, adding "we are independent."

Critically, the NAS report will examine if using the weapon against a bunker full of biological or chemical agents would release the agents in to the atmosphere rather than destroy them. Military scientist have argued that high temperatures combined with a strong radiation burst will neutralise such agents.

"The NAS study is certainly a step in the right direction," Jim Bridgman, director of a pressure group called the Alliance for Nuclear Accountability based in Washington DC told New Scientist.

Warning that a negative assessment is likely to be contested by the Pentagon, and merely delaying rather than halting RNEP's development.

New Scientist

SPACEWAR

Detecting Hidden Targets With 'Smart' Robotic Sensors

Durha - Apr 25, 2002
A vision of futuristic robotic aircraft and land vehicles that can sense and close in on targets hidden in trees, caves or bunkers is being explored by a new four-university research initiative led by Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering.

Critics Of US Say Nuclear Bunker-Buster Would Not Be Clean Bomb

New York (AFP) April 9, 2002
Critics of US nuclear policy said that bombs designed to destroy targets deep underground would spew enough radioactive fallout to kill tens of thousands at street level.

Washington May Need To Test Nuke Bunker-Busters

Washington - Mar 18, 2002
The new US nuclear posture review, which hints at abandonment of an international moratorium on nuclear testing, could lift the taboo on use of such weapons and possibly encourage proliferation, experts suggested Friday.

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