Neutron Bomb

A small thermonuclear weapon that produces a minimal blast and heat while releasing large amounts of lethal radiation. Sometimes called enhanced radiation warheads, neutron bombs are designed to kill troops—especially those protected by armor. The bomb's blast and heat can be confined to a relatively small area, perhaps a few hundred feet in radius, but the bomb throws off a massive wave of neutron and gamma radiation that can penetrate armor and is extremely pernicious to humans.

The weapon can be delivered to the battlefield via missile or aircraft, or it can be launched from an 8-inch howitzer, making it effective against tanks and infantry formations. A neutron bomb disables tank crews in minutes, and troops exposed to the radiation wave die within days.

The alloys used to protect tanks can absorb the radiation and become radioactive themselves. Some types of tank armor, such as the M-1 tank, employ depleted uranium, which can undergo fast fission after being exposed to the radiation wave generated by a neutron bomb blast. These tanks remain toxic to crews for some time. The United States suspended production of neutron bombs in 1978, but production was resumed in 1981.