There are several main types of nuclear weapons, and one of them is neutron (ERW in English terminology). The concept of such weapons appeared in the middle of the last century and then, over several decades, was brought to use in real systems. Certain results were obtained, but after the development of neutron weapons actually stopped. The existing samples were removed from service, and the development of new ones was not carried out. Why did special weapons, once considered promising and necessary for armies, quickly disappeared from the scene?
History and concept
The American physicist Samuel T. Cohen of Livermore National Laboratory is considered the author of the idea of neutron weapons, namely the neutron bomb. In 1958, he proposed an original version of a nuclear weapon with a reduced detonation power and an increased neutron yield. According to calculations, such a device could show certain advantages over "traditional" nuclear bombs. It turned out to be less expensive, easier to operate, and at the same time capable of showing unusual results. In English terminology, this concept is referred to as the Enhanced Radiation Weapon.
The US Army MGM-52 Lance tactical missile system is the world's first carrier of a neutron warhead. US Army Photos
The Neutron Bomb / ERW concept involves the manufacture of a reduced-yield nuclear weapon with a separate unit serving as a neutron source. In real projects, one of the isotopes of beryllium was most often used in this role. The detonation of a neutron bomb is carried out in the usual way. A nuclear explosion provokes a thermonuclear reaction in the additional unit, and its result is the release of a flux of fast neutrons. Depending on the design of the ammunition and other factors, from 30 to 80% of the energy of a thermonuclear reaction can be released in the form of neutrons.
The neutron flux can be used to destroy certain targets. First of all, ERW was considered as a more effective means of engaging enemy personnel. Also, in the course of research, other areas of its application were found, in which such weapons showed advantages over other weapons.
Livermore National Laboratory has continued theoretical work on the ERW topic for several years. In 1962, the first tests of an experimental ammunition took place. Later, a project of a charge suitable for real use appeared. Since 1964, the design of warheads for the MGM-52 Lance ballistic missile has been carried out. A year later, the development of a warhead for the Sprint anti-missile complex began. Other projects of neutron warheads of various kinds for various purposes were also proposed. By the mid-seventies, the United States launched mass production of several new ERW warheads designed for a number of missile types.
It quickly became clear that the use of a neutron charge in the atmosphere seriously limits the radius of damage due to the absorption and dispersion of particles by air and water vapor. In this regard, the creation of a powerful neutron ammunition for use "on the ground" was impractical, and serial products of this kind had a capacity of no more than 10 kt. At the same time, the full potential of neutron weapons can be unleashed in space. So, for anti-missile defense, combat units with a capacity of several megatons were created.
According to known data, in our country, work on the topic of neutron weapons has been carried out since the beginning of the seventies. The first tests of the new type of bomb took place at the end of 1978. Then the development of ammunition continued and led to the emergence of several new products. As far as is known, the USSR planned to use neutron ammunition as a tactical nuclear weapon, as well as on missile defense interceptor missiles. These plans have been successfully implemented.
According to public information, at the end of the sixties, a similar project appeared in France. Then Israel and China joined the development of neutron weapons. Presumably, over time, these states were armed with certain ammunition with an increased yield of fast neutrons. However, for obvious reasons, some of them were in no hurry to disclose information about their weapons.
Since a certain time, the leading countries, together with the neutron bomb, have been developing another version of such a weapon - the so-called. neutron gun. This concept provides for the creation of a fast neutron generator capable of emitting them in the indicated direction. Unlike a bomb that "scatters" particles in all directions, the cannon was supposed to be a selective weapon.
In the early 1980s, neutron weapons became one of the reasons for the deterioration of relations between the Soviet Union and the United States. Moscow pointed to the inhuman nature of such weapons, while Washington spoke of the need for a symmetrical response to the Soviet threat. A similar confrontation continued over the next several years.
After the collapse of the USSR and the end of the Cold War, the United States decided to abandon neutron weapons. In other countries, according to various sources, similar products have survived. However, according to some sources, almost all developing countries have abandoned neutron bombs. As for neutron guns, such weapons never made it out of the laboratories.
Applications
According to famous statements and legends of past years, the neutron bomb is a cruel and cynical weapon: it kills people, but does not destroy property and material values, which can then be appropriated by a cruel and cynical enemy. However, in reality, everything was different. The high efficiency and value of neutron weapons for the armies were determined by other factors. The rejection of such weapons, in turn, also had reasons far from pure humanism.
The flux of fast neutrons, in comparison with the damaging factors of a "conventional" nuclear explosion, shows the best penetrating ability and can hit the enemy's manpower, which is protected by buildings, armor, etc. However, neutrons are relatively quickly absorbed and scattered by the atmosphere, which limits the actual range of the bomb. So, a neutron charge with a power of 1 kt during an air blast destroys buildings and instantly kills manpower within a radius of up to 400-500 m. particles per person is minimal and does not pose a fatal threat.
Thus, contrary to established stereotypes, the neutron flux is not a substitute for other damaging factors, but an addition to them. When using a neutron charge, the shock wave causes significant damage to surrounding objects, and there is no talk of any preservation of property. At the same time, the specificity of the scattering and absorption of neutrons limits the useful power of the ammunition. Nevertheless, such weapons with characteristic limitations have been used.
First of all, a neutron charge can be used as a supplement to other tactical nuclear weapons (TNW) - in the form of an aerial bomb, a warhead for a rocket or an artillery shell. Such weapons differ from "conventional" atomic ammunition in the principles of operation and in a different ratio of the effect from the damaging factors. Nevertheless, in a combat situation, both nuclear and neutron bombs are capable of exerting the necessary impact on the enemy. Moreover, the latter has serious advantages in some situations.
Back in the fifties and sixties of the last century, armored vehicles received protection systems against weapons of mass destruction. Thanks to them, a tank or other vehicle, having come under a nuclear attack, could withstand the main damaging factors - if it was at a sufficient distance from the center of the explosion. Thus, traditional tactical nuclear weapons could be insufficiently effective against the "tank avalanche" of the enemy. Experiments have shown that a powerful flux of neutrons is capable of passing through the armor of a tank and hitting its crew. Also, particles could interact with atoms of the material part, leading to the appearance of induced radioactivity.
Launch of the Russian 53T6 missile from the A-135 missile defense system. This missile is possibly equipped with a neutron warhead. Photo by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation / mil.ru
Neutron charges have also found applications in missile defense. At one time, the imperfection of control and guidance systems did not allow counting on obtaining high accuracy of hitting a ballistic target. In this regard, it was proposed to equip the interceptor missiles with nuclear warheads capable of providing a relatively large radius of destruction. However, one of the main damaging factors of an atomic explosion is a blast wave that is not generated in an airless space.
The neutron ammunition, according to calculations, could show many times the greater range of guaranteed destruction of a nuclear warhead - the atmosphere did not interfere with the propagation of high-speed particles. Upon hitting the fissile material in the target warhead, the neutrons would cause a premature chain reaction without reaching critical mass, also known as the "pop effect." The result of such a reaction is a low-power explosion with the destruction of the warhead. With the development of anti-missile systems, it became clear that the neutron flux can be supplemented with soft X-rays, which increase the overall effectiveness of the warhead.
Arguments against
The development of new weapons was accompanied by the search for ways to protect against them. According to the results of such studies, already in the seventies and eighties, new methods of protection began to be introduced. Their widespread use in a known way affected the prospects of neutron weapons. Apparently, it was technical issues that became the main reason for the gradual abandonment of such weapons. This assumption is supported by the fact that ERW-type products have gradually gone out of service, while anti-missiles, according to various sources, still use such warheads.
Armored vehicles were one of the main targets for neutron bombs, and they were defended against such threats. From a certain time, new Soviet tanks began to receive special coatings. On the outer and inner surfaces of the hulls and towers, linings and linings made of special materials that trap neutrons were installed. Such products were made using polyethylene, boron and other substances. Abroad, depleted uranium panels built into the armor were used as a means of confining neutrons.
In the field of armored vehicles, a search was also carried out for new types of armor, excluding or reducing the formation of induced radioactivity. For this, some elements capable of interacting with fast neutrons were removed from the metal composition.
Even without special modification, a stationary concrete structure is a good protection against neutron flux. 500 mm of this material attenuates the neutron flux up to 100 times. Also, moist soil and other materials, the use of which is not particularly difficult, can be quite effective protection.
Tower of the main tank T-72B1. The characteristic slabs on the dome and hatches are anti-neutron overhead. Photo Btvt.narod.ru
According to various sources, the warheads of intercontinental ballistic missiles, which risk colliding with a neutron warhead of an anti-missile, were not left without protection. In this area, solutions are used that are similar to those used on land vehicles. Together with other protection, which provides resistance to thermal and mechanical stress, neutron absorption means are used.
Today and tomorrow
According to available data, only a few countries with developed science and industry were involved in the subject of neutron weapons. As far as is known, the United States refused to continue work on this topic in the early nineties. By the end of the same decade, all stocks of neutron warheads were disposed of as unnecessary. France, according to some sources, also did not keep such weapons.
In the past, China has declared that there is no need for neutron weapons, but at the same time it has pointed to the availability of technologies for their early creation. Whether the PLA currently has such systems is unknown. The situation is similar with the Israeli program. There is information about the creation of a neutron bomb in Israel, but this state does not disclose information about its strategic weapons.
In our country, neutron weapons were created and mass-produced. According to some reports, some of these products are still in service. In foreign sources, there is often a version about the use of a neutron warhead as a warhead of the 53T6 anti-missile from the A-135 Amur ABM complex. However, in domestic materials on this product, only a "conventional" nuclear warhead is mentioned.
In general, at the moment, neutron bombs are not the most popular and widespread type of nuclear weapon. They could not find application in the field of strategic nuclear weapons, and also failed to noticeably squeeze tactical systems. Moreover, to date, most of such weapons, most likely, have gone out of service.
There is reason to believe that in the near future, scientists from leading countries will again return to the topic of neutron weapons. At the same time, now we can talk not about bombs or warheads for missiles, but about the so-called. neutron guns. So, in March last year, US Deputy Secretary of Defense for Advanced Development Mike Griffin spoke about the possible ways of developing advanced weapons. In his opinion, the so-called directed energy weapons, including neutral particle beam sources. However, the deputy minister did not disclose any data on the start of work or on the real interest of the military.
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In the past, neutron weapons of all major types were considered promising and convenient means of warfare. However, further development and development of such weapons was associated with a number of difficulties that imposed certain restrictions on the use and design efficiency. In addition, effective means of protection against the flux of fast neutrons appeared rather quickly. All this seriously affected the prospects of neutron systems, and then led to the well-known results.
To date, according to the available data, only a few samples of neutron weapons have remained in service, and their number is not too large. It is believed that the development of new weapons is not underway. However, the armies of the world are showing an interest in weapons based on the so-called.new physical principles, including neutral particle generators. Thus, neutron weapons get a second chance, albeit in a different form. It is too early to say whether promising neutron guns will reach exploitation and use. It is quite possible that they will repeat the path of their "brothers" in the form of bombs and other charges. However, another scenario cannot be ruled out, in which they again will not be able to leave the laboratories.
