[lit-ideas] Re: Al Quaeda and Suitcase Nukes
- From: Eric Yost <eyost1132@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2006 15:21:40 -0500
This site, hosted by a company that produces
"radiation emergency products," makes a clear
distinction between "suitcase" and "Backpack"
nukes. -EY
http://www.nukepills.com/nuclear_dirty_bombs.htm
Suitcase Bombs
In 1997, the public became aware of a Russian
nuclear device they had not known even
existed--the "suitcase bomb". One of these
portable nuclear bombs had an explosive charge of
one kiloton, equivalent to one thousand tons of
TNT. If a device like this made its way to the
U.S. it could destroy everything within a
half-mile radius of the Capitol in Washington,
D.C. Within hours, prevailing winds would carry
the nuclear fallout throughout Washington.
Radioactive Iodine (I-131) would be carried
downwind for miles. One particular pocket-size
radiation detector has the technology to detect
both the beta and gamma radiation of I-131.
Another portable weapon is a "backpack" bomb. The
Soviet nuclear backpack system was made in the
1960s for use against NATO targets in time of war
and consists of three "coffee can-sized" aluminum
canisters in a bag. All three must be connected to
make a single unit in order to explode. The
detonator is about 6 inches long. It has a 3-to-5
kiloton yield, depending on the efficiency of the
explosion. It's kept powered during storage by a
battery line connected to the canisters.
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