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

Medalia, Jonathan

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.

关键词: Weapons systems;    Underground storage;    Nuclear weapons - U.S.;    Business;   

RP-ID  :  RL32599
RP-ID  :  RL32599 2004-09-22

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

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. Thispenetration would increase the weapon’s ability, by a factor of 20 to 50, to destroy hardened and deeply buried facilities. The RNEP debate has received much attention and spawned much confusion.This report examines sources of confusion in this debate.