"Bunker Busters": Sources of Confusion in the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator Debate

Abstract

The Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator (RNEP), often called a bunker buster, is at present the subject of a cost and feasibility study to determine if either of two nuclear bombs, the B61 and the B83, could be modified, mainly by adding a heavy, pointed case, so as to be able to penetrate perhaps 10 meters into earth or rock. This penetration would increase the weapon s ability, by a factor of 20 to 50, to destroy hardened and deeply buried facilities. The Department of Defense has expressed concern that potential U.S. adversaries are using such facilities because the 1991 and 2003 wars in Iraq demonstrated that U.S. precision conventional weapons can readily destroy facilities that are above the surface or buried at shallow depth. If the study shows RNEP to be feasible and affordable, and if the President and Congress approve, RNEP could move from a study to development and, perhaps, deployment.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 10, 2005
Accession Number
ADA454548

Entities

People

  • Jonathan E. Medalia

Organizations

  • Library of Congress

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Biological Factors
  • Biological Weapons
  • Bombs
  • Bunker Buster Bombs
  • Collateral Damage
  • Department Of Defense
  • Explosives
  • Materials
  • Military Operations
  • National Security
  • Neurobehavioral Manifestations
  • Nuclear Bombs
  • Nuclear Weapons
  • Penetrator Munitions
  • United States
  • Weapons
  • Weapons Of Mass Destruction

Readers

  • Sensor Fusion and Tracking Systems.
  • Systems Analysis and Design
  • ballistics.