It is believed the Soviet equivalent, the A-135's 53T6 missile, uses a similar design. The first example of such a system was the W66, used on the Sprint missile used in the US's Nike-X system. For this to work, the ABM would have to explode within approximately 100 metres (300 ft) of its target. In this role the burst of neutrons would cause nearby warheads to undergo partial fission, preventing them from exploding properly. ĮRWs were first operationally deployed for anti-ballistic missiles (ABM). As these would be used over allied nations, notably West Germany, the reduced blast damage was seen as an important advantage. It was seen as a 'cleaner' bomb for use against massed Soviet armored divisions. The concept was originally developed by the US in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The neutron burst, which is used as the primary destructive action of the warhead, is able to penetrate enemy armor more effectively than a conventional warhead, thus making it more lethal as a tactical weapon. The neutron release generated by a nuclear fusion reaction is intentionally allowed to escape the weapon, rather than being absorbed by its other components.
Low yield thermonuclear weapon Energy distribution of weaponĪ neutron bomb, officially defined as a type of enhanced radiation weapon (ERW), is a low-yield thermonuclear weapon designed to maximize lethal neutron radiation in the immediate vicinity of the blast while minimizing the physical power of the blast itself.
