Nuclear Earth Penetrator Weapons

Abstract

The Administration's Nuclear Posture Review considered nuclear earth penetrator weapons (EPWs), which would burrow tens of feet into the ground before detonating to improve their ability to destroy buried facilities. The FY2003 Department of Energy (DOE) budget request included $15 million to begin a study on a Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator (RNEP). The request led to congressional and public debate because EPWs involve such policy issues as circumstances under which the United States would use nuclear weapons, military value of EPWs, and nonproliferation. This report provides background, pros, and cons. It will be updated as needed.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 27, 2003
Accession Number
ADA454709

Entities

People

  • Jonathan E. Medalia

Organizations

  • Library of Congress

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Arms Control
  • Department Of Defense
  • Law
  • Military Applications
  • Military Facilities
  • Military Operations
  • Munitions
  • National Security
  • Nuclear Bombs
  • Nuclear Warheads
  • Nuclear Weapons
  • Penetrator Munitions
  • Security
  • Treaties
  • United States
  • Weapons
  • Weapons Of Mass Destruction

Fields of Study

  • Physics
  • Political science

Readers

  • Aerospace logistics and air mobility.
  • Explosive Engineering.
  • Strategic Security Studies