Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Requirements for the development of advanced nuclear weapon concepts

Conference ·
OSTI ID:7120050
In this paper, requirements for the development of advanced nuclear weapon concepts are discussed. This paper addresses third generation nuclear weapons, and the advance workshop literature describes third generation nuclear weapons as including earth penetrating warheads (EPWs) and maneuvering reentry vehicles (MARVs), as well as nuclear directed energy weapons (NDEWs). A historical context for the evolution of advanced nuclear weapon concepts is presented, discussing the types of advanced concepts and how they differ from conventional nuclear weapons currently in the stockpile. The policy context for doing R D on nuclear directed energy weapons and how this R D relates to the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) is discussed. Some military requirements for the various advanced concepts and discuss potential missions are provided, indicating the potential advantages and disadvantages of the various applications. Arms control and stability considerations as they relate to the development of advanced concepts and the implications of the rapidly changing political relationships between the US and the Soviets, and between their respective allies are also discussed.
Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE/DP
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
OSTI ID:
7120050
Report Number(s):
UCRL-JC-103507; CONF-900197--1; ON: DE90012465
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English