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Chapter Seven 7 Nuclear Capable Aircraft and Bombs Chapter Seven Nuclear Capable Aircraft and Bombs According to the Department of Defense, "any air- retard and a time-delay fuze.3 When used at low alti- plane that is designed to carry an ordinary bomb can, tudes, the laydown delivery method is extremely accu- with the proper wiring and certification, also carry a rate.4 The accuracy of the B61 and B83 bombs delivered nuclear bomb."l However, not every airplane or even in the laydown mode is reportedly averaging 600 ft tactical fighter is so certified. "Most dual capable air- CEP.5 The older bombs, like the B28, B43, and B57, have craft have not been optimized for the nuclear strike mis- a minimum delivery altitude of 300-600 feete6They can sion and have deficiencies that limit their effectiveness be delivered "over the shoulder and at low or medium in this role."Z angle l~ft."~ Nuclear bombs are designed for delivery by aircraft The B83 "Modern Strategic Bomb" is the major new either in a bomb bay (internal) or under the wing (exter- nuclear weapon under development for aircraft deliv- nal). Aircraft configured for nuclear weapons delivery ery. The bomb, will replace the older B28, B43, and B53 have an Aircraft Monitoring and Control (AMAC) sys- bombs. It is entering production in FY 1983 and is tem installed to monitor and control fuzing, arming, and planned for deployment starting in 1984-1985 after a safing functions of the nuclear bombs. A permissive long and difficult development period. The B83's roots action link (PAL) or Nuclear Consent Switch is installed are in the B77, a very expensive strategic bomb under in the cockpit to release the weapon for detonation. development in the 1970s. The B77 included improved Fifteen tactical aircraft are currently modified to carry safety features, but also included a capability for deliv- nuclear weapons (see Table 7.2). Four different kinds of ery at high speeds at extremely low altitude^.^ The cost bombs are used in the tactical air forces. These bombs, of the B77 grew so excessive that in FY 1979 the program B28, B43, B57, and B61 (see Chapter Three), vary in yield was cancelled, and a modified B43 model took its place.9 from approximately 5 kilotons to over 1 megaton. The Congress, however, directed that FY 1978 and 1979 newest can be delivered at low altitudes at supersonic funds not be expended on a modified B43 and instead speeds. Currently there are no nuclear missiles deployed allocated funds for development of a cheaper new stra- with tactical aircraft. tegic bomb. The B83, initiated in FY 1980, is a modern strategic bomb which contains most of the essential fea- tures of the B77, but at reduced cost.1Â Nuclear Bombs The B83 is intended to "enhance the effectiveness of All deployed nuclear bombs can be delivered with a the strategic nuclear gravity bomb stockpile."" The pri- variety of options, including ground ("laydown") and mary reason for developing the B83 is to enable tactical airburst detonations. Four delivery and fuzing modes and strategic aircraft to deliver their weapons while are most common: airburst/retarded, groundburst/ flying low level, supersonic evasion missions.12With a retarded, air/full fuzing and ground/full fuzing (see 150 foot low-level high speed delivery capability and Glossary). Table 7.1 describes the six nuclear bombs yield in the megaton range, the B83 will be capable of deployed or under development. Nuclear bombs must destroying "hardened Soviet ICBM silo and launch com- usually be dropped directly over their targets to assure plexes, command, control and communication installa- accuracy. In order to achieve optimum heights of air tions, and nuclear storage sites."13 The B83 is the first burst with all nuclear bombs to avoid detonation too megaton yield bomb specifically designed for ground- close to the ground, the delivery aircraft must fly at an burst retarded ("laydown") delivery against hard altitude that is vulnerable to enemy air defenses. The targets.14 The production schedule of the B83 is being newer bombs, the deployed B61 and the not yet increased to meet larger strategic bomber force require- deployed B83, allow the pilot to release the weapon at as ments with deployment of the B-lB.15 low as 50 feet, activating a parachute-type (drogue) 1 SASC, FY 1982 DOD, Part 7, p. 389. 9 Cancellation was also tied to cancellation of the B-1 2 JCS, FY 1982. p. 78. 10 HAC, FY 1980 DOD, Part 4, p. 667. 3 ACDA, FY 1979 ACIS, p. 92. 11 ACDA, FY 1983 ACIS. p. 65. 4 ACDA, FY 1980 ACIS, p. 169, 12 Ibid. 5 Aerospace Daily, 28 December 1978, p. 263. 13 ACDA, FY 1981 ACIS, p. 114. 6 ACDA, FY 1979 ACIS, p. 92; ACDA, FY 1980 ACIS. p. 169 14 SANDIA, "Lab News," 12 June 1981. 7 ACDA, FY 1979 ACIS, p. 92. 15 SASC, FY 1983 DOD, Part 7. p. 4172. 8 SASC, FY 1979 DOE, p. 41. 198 Nuclear Weapons Databook, Volume I 7 Nuclear Capable Aircraft and Bombs Table 7.1 Nuclear Bombs Weight (Ib] Yield (Kt] Aircraft 2027-2540 70-1 450 A-7, F-4, F-100, F-104, B-52 2060-2330 1000 A-4, A-6, A-7, B-52, F-4, F-100, F-104, F-111, FB-111 8850 9000 B-52 765 5-20 A-4, A-6, A-7, B-52, F-4, F-16, F-18, F-100, F-104, F-111, FB-111, P-3, S-3, SH-3 less than 840 10-500 A-4, A-6, A-7, B-52, F-4, F-16, F-18, F-104, F-111, FB-111 2408 1000 + A-4, A-6, A-7, B-1 B, B-52, F-4, F-16, F-111, FB-111 Table 7.2 Nuclear Capable Tactical Aircraft Type Function Nuclear Weapons A-4 Short-range attack MC 643, 657, 661 A-6 Long-range attack N 643, 657, 661 A-7 Medium-range attack ANG, N 643, 657, 661 AV-66 Medium-range fighter MC 657, 661 CF-101 Interceptor Canada GENIE F-4 Medium-range fighter AF, N 628, 643, 657, 661 F-15 Interceptor / fighter AF GENIE, bombs F-16 Medium-range fighter AF, NATO2 643, 661 F-18/A-18 Medium-range fighter / attack MC, N 657, 661 F-100 Medium-range fighter NATO3 626, 643, 657 F-104 Medium-range fighter NATO4 626, 643, 657, 661 F-106 Interceptor AF GENIE F-111 Long-range fighter AF 643, 657, 661 P-3 Long-range Maritime Patrol N 657 S-3 Long-range Maritime Patrol N 657 SH-3 Short-range ASW Helicopter N 657 SH-60F Short-range ASW Helicopter N 657 TORNADO Medium-range fighter NATO5 657, 661 1 Nuclear capable versions. 4 Belgium, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, West Germany. 2 Belgium, Netherlands. 5 Italy, West Germany. 3 Turkey. Nuclear Weapons Databook, Volume I 199 SAFEGUARDS AND Category D PAL, nonviolent ARMING command di~able;~weak link/ FEATURES: strong link, one-point safe by the present criterion" FUZING AND improved low-level, high speed DELIVERY MODE: delivery capabilitie~;~airburst, groundburst, full fuzing; new parachute design permits the B83 to be dropped at transonic and supersonic speeds (up to Mach 2), slowing down the bomb to 60 mph to withstand the shock of delivery at high speeds from altitudes as low as 150 feet and as high as 50,000 feet9 DEVELOPMENT: Laboratory: LLNL History: IOC: 1984 Jan 1979 Lab assignment (Phase 3)1Â Figure 7.1 F-111 delivering 683 bomb prototype. (through FY 1983)" 1981 B83 enters Phase 412 FUNCTION: Modern high-yield strategic 1984 initial deployment (Phase 5) bomb, with improved low level delivery capability.' Production Period: WARHEAD none known DEPLOYMENT: MODIFICATIONS: Number Planned: approximately 2500 (1983) SPECIFICATIONS: Delivery System: primarily carried by the B-lB, B-52, and FB-111 strategic Yield: probably 1000+ Kt, "high bombers; F-4, F-111, A-4, A-6, yield,"2 "megaton class"3 A-7, and F-16 will be secondary carriers.13 It will be the major Weight: 2408 lb4 gravity weapon for the B-1B.14 Dimensions: Service: Air Force, Navy Length: 12 ft Diameter unknown Allied User: none planned Materials: probably plutonium/oralloy mixed weapon; IHE (probably PBX-9502)5 200 Nuclear Weapons Databook, Volume I COMMENTS: B83 is scheduled as a replace- ment for the older high-yield bombs, the B28, B53, and B43.15 Because of the development of the B83, the production and de- velopment of the B77 was nev- er executed.16 The B77 was cancelled in 1978 and develop- ment was shifted to a variant of the B43Y1, then the B83. The B83 is still one of the more complicated and expensive bombs.17 1 HASC, FY 1982 DOE, p. 116. 8 SAC, FY 1981 EWDA, Part 2, p. 726. 2 SASC, FY 1981 DOE, p. 37. 9 ACDA, FY 1981 ACIS, p. 115; ACDA, FY 1983 ACIS, p. 65. 3 Dennis Rockstroh, "A New Hydrogen Bomb Being Built." Son Jose Mercury, 2 July 1981; 10 Continued in Phase 3 in FY 1980; SAC, FY 1981 EWDA, p. 818. Information also provided by Sandia Corporation. 11 DOE Justification, FY 1983, p. 51. 4 Sandia, "Lab News," 12 June 1981; GAO, Draft Study for B-1. 12 Sandia, "Lab News." 12 June 1981. 5 ACDA, FY 1982 ACIS, p. 115; SASC, FY 1981 DOE, p. 37. 13 HAC, FY 1981 EWDA, Part 4, p. 2669; HASC, FY 1981 DOE, p. 119; SASC, FY 1981 DOE, p.
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