According to Wikipedia, this warhead (9.1 megatons) was apparently never tested, although an experimental TX-46 predecessor design was detonated 28 June 1958 as Hardtack Oak, which detonated at a yield of 8.9 Megatons.
From The National Nuclear Security Administration
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) today
The dismantlement of the 1960s-era weapon system is consistent with President Obama’s goal of reducing the number of nuclear weapons. In his 2009 speech in Prague, the President said “We will reduce the role of nuclear weapons in our national security strategy, and urge others to do the same.” The dismantlement of the last remaining B53 ensures that the system will never again be part of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile.
The elimination of the B53 by Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is consistent with the goal President Obama announced in his April 2009 Prague speech to reduce the number of nuclear weapons. The President said, “We will reduce the role of nuclear weapons in our national security strategy, and urge others to do the same.” The dismantlement of the last remaining B53 ensures that the system will never again be part of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile.
As a key part of its national security mission, NNSA is actively responsible for safely dismantling weapons that are no longer needed, and disposing of the excess material and components.
Fact Sheet
B53 highlights:
- The B53 bomb is a 1960s-era system and was introduced into the stockpile in 1962.
- NNSA’s Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories designed the B53 bomb.
- The B53 served a key role in the U.S. nuclear deterrent until its retirement in 1997.
- The B53 supported the B-52G strategic bomber program.
- The B53 was built at Iowa Army Ammunition Plant in Burlington, Iowa.
- The Pantex Plant, Amarillo, Texas, dismantled the B53 bomb.
- Y-12 will dismantle the remaining nuclear portion of the B53 bomb.
- The B53 is one of the longest-lived and highest-yield nuclear weapons ever fielded by the United States.
- The B53 is about the size of a minivan and weighs about 10,000 pounds.
- Dismantlement process utilized the rigid Seamless Safety for the 21st Century (SS-21) process in dismantling the B53.
- NNSA’s SS-21 process fully integrates the weapon system with the facility, tooling, operating procedures, and personnel involved in the dismantlement program to form a safe, efficient, and effective operating environment.
- The B53 dismantlement program was safely completed 12 months ahead of schedule.
- The DoD played a role in staging the weapon prior to dismantlement.
- The B53 dismantlement program involved more than 130 engineers, scientists, and technicians from Pantex, Y-12, Los Alamos National Laboratory (physics designers and weapon response), Sandia National Laboratories (weapon system), and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (weapon response subject matter expert).
The dismantlement process includes: retiring a weapon from active or inactive service; returning and staging it at NNSA’s Pantex Plant; taking it apart by physically separating the high explosives from the special nuclear material; and processing the material and components, which includes evaluation, reuse, demilitarization, sanitization, recycling, and ultimate disposal.
In other news, a spokesman for the Union of Concerned Scientists, Kenji Watts, was said to be less concerned than before by the reduction in whimpering observed.
I thought the BLU82 was delivered by pushing it out the back of a C-130.
Lucy Skywalker says:
October 26, 2011 at 1:47 am ” evidence of UFOs’ overall beneficial intent, and, most importantly, deep concern at our development of nuclear weapons.”
RE: The Fermi paradox
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermi_Paradox
As this particular warhead/bomb seems to have outlived it’s military purpose, I’m not complaining. The idea of a world without nukes is childishly naive. We need to maintain a credible deterrent and redundancy is part of what make the deterrent credible.
Laurie Bowen (the troll?) says: October 26, 2011 at 8:22 am
Lucy Skywalker says: ” evidence of UFOs’ overall beneficial intent, and, most importantly, deep concern at our development of nuclear weapons.”
RE: The Fermi paradox
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermi_Paradox
Thanks Laurie you’ve taught me another phrase. I shall add it to my library.
But of course, you don’t trust Wikipedia to give a fair portrayal of the evidence do you?? Hope not, anyway.
Lucy Skywalker says:
October 26, 2011 at 10:18 am
“But of course, you don’t trust Wikipedia to give a fair portrayal of the evidence do you?? Hope not, anyway.”
No, But it is like starting with an Encyclopedia . . . . as a start to circumspection . . . .
Jay,
My unit did not carry that weapon on alert, we were just the test crew. The timers were suppose to give us time to get over the horizon. But, who knows, just over the hill may have been another target and some other units bomb. I did not have much confidence we would get home again if there really was a nuclear war. I kissed all my kids good by every time I went on alert, knowing it might be my last kiss.
“”””” David A. Evans says:
October 25, 2011 at 9:07 pm
George E. Smith.
After the Powers incident, the Vulcan did still contribute to the British nuclear deterrent. The Valiant was retired because design flaws meant it could not fly the new low/high/low profile. The Victor was relegated because, although it could fly the profile, it’s flight envelope was inferior to the Vulcan “””””
Dave.,
I believe that I said “was eventually scrapped” as in “eventually”.
I knew that the Valiant dropped out because of design issues. But you have to consider when these three aircraft were designed. The wing profile of the Victor, gave it some ground effect self landing capability. All three were remarkable aircraft for the era when they were designed, which was before the British Aircraft Industry sort of fell out of the sky. The Hawker Hunter, and the DeHavilland DH-110 were designed around the same era; and both eventually had relatively good careers, in a somewhat quiet world.
The DH-110 was the one that crashed at Farnborough, when it was first shown to the public. I actually built a balsa stick and paper model of a DH-110.
Too bad that the British aircraft Industry took it in the shorts as a result of the Comet fatigue problems; leaving Boeing and Lockheed to benefit from the pieces, and the research.
Laurie Bowen (the troll?) says: October 26, 2011 at 10:31 am
Lucy Skywalker says: “But of course, you don’t trust Wikipedia to give a fair portrayal of the evidence do you?? Hope not, anyway.”
No, But it is like starting with an Encyclopedia . . . . as a start to circumspection . . . .
Have to agree there. Wikipedia is more often than not a fabulous start… but in certain areas even that start has to be viewed with great suspicion…
Lucy Skywalker says:
October 26, 2011 at 1:36 pm “Have to agree there. Wikipedia is more often than not a fabulous start… but in certain areas even that start has to be viewed with great suspicion…”
Fine. . . but discussing the “truth” about aliens is like discussing the “truth” about religions . . . there is very little out there that is not based on faith or blind belief . . . . I would view anything and anyone with “with great suspicion” that uses an pespective like that . . . I come from an area where you can “live or die” by what beliefs you have or “pretend” to have. So I’ll just leave it at that . . . . anything more is a waste of time, effort, and becomes a phishing expidition . . .
Does this seem all too sureeal? Here is a picture of some good ol’e boys in Texas pulling a large nuke off the back of a lowboy trailer with a fork lift. Just another day at work I suppose