W86
Encyclopedia
The W86 was an American thermonuclear warhead with earth-penetrating characteristics (see Nuclear bunker buster
) which was intended for use on the Pershing II IRBM missile.
The W86 design was canceled in September 1980 when the Pershing II missile mission shifted from destroying hardened targets to targeting soft targets at greater range. The W85
warhead, which had been developed in parallel with the W86, was used for all production Pershing II missiles.
Design details on the W86 are vague; it has been stated that the W86 and W85 were yet more derivatives of the B61
bomb family (along with the W80, W81
, and W84
). All of those weapons have a maximum diameter of roughly 13 inches. The later B61-11 bomb is another earth-penetrating bomb type.
Nuclear bunker buster
Bunker-busting nuclear weapons, also known as earth-penetrating weapons , are a type of nuclear weapon designed to penetrate into soil, rock, or concrete to deliver a nuclear warhead to a target. These weapons would be used to destroy hardened, underground military bunkers buried deep in the ground...
) which was intended for use on the Pershing II IRBM missile.
The W86 design was canceled in September 1980 when the Pershing II missile mission shifted from destroying hardened targets to targeting soft targets at greater range. The W85
W85
The W85 was a thermonuclear warhead developed by the United States of America to arm the Pershing II missile. It had a variable yield— often referred to as "dial-a-yield" — which could be set between 5 and 80 kilotons.-Overview:...
warhead, which had been developed in parallel with the W86, was used for all production Pershing II missiles.
Design details on the W86 are vague; it has been stated that the W86 and W85 were yet more derivatives of the B61
B61 nuclear bomb
The B61 nuclear bomb is the primary thermonuclear weapon in the U.S. Enduring Stockpile following the end of the Cold War. It is an intermediate yield strategic and tactical nuclear weapon featuring a two-stage radiation implosion design....
bomb family (along with the W80, W81
W81
The W81 thermonuclear warhead was a planned US warhead to be mounted on the SM-2 surface to air missile used by the US Navy. The W81 was a design derivative of the B61 nuclear bomb as many other modern US warhead designs are...
, and W84
W84
The W84 is an American thermonuclear warhead designed for use on the BGM-109G Gryphon Ground Launched Cruise Missile . It is a derivative of the B61 nuclear bomb design and a close relative of the W80 warhead used on the AGM-86 ALCM, AGM-129 ACM, and BGM-109 Tomahawk SLCM cruise missiles.The W84...
). All of those weapons have a maximum diameter of roughly 13 inches. The later B61-11 bomb is another earth-penetrating bomb type.
See also
- List of nuclear weapons
- B61 nuclear bombB61 nuclear bombThe B61 nuclear bomb is the primary thermonuclear weapon in the U.S. Enduring Stockpile following the end of the Cold War. It is an intermediate yield strategic and tactical nuclear weapon featuring a two-stage radiation implosion design....
- Pershing II
External links
- Allbombs.html at the Nuclear Weapon Archive at nuclearweaponarchive.org