B83 nuclear bomb - Definition

The B83 nuclear gravity bomb

The B83 nuclear weapon is variable-yield gravity bomb developed by the United States. in the late 1970s, entering service in 1983. It was based partly on the earlier B77 program, which was terminated due to cost overruns. The first underground test detonation took place 15 December 1984.

The B83 replaced several earlier weapons, including the B28, B43, and ultra-high yield B53. It was the first U.S. nuclear weapon designed from the start to avoid accidental detonation, with the use of 'insensitive' explosive in the trigger lens system. Its internal design and layout are similar to the smaller B61, with the warhead mounted in the forward part of the weapon to make the bomb deliberately nose-heavy. It was intended for high-speed carriage (up to Mach 2.0) and delivery at either high or low altitude. For the latter role, it can be equipped with a parachute retardation system, with a 46 ft (14 m) Kevlar parachute capable of rapid deceleration. It can be employed in free fall, retarded, contact, or laydown detonation modes, for either airburst or ground burst detonation.

The bomb is 12 ft (3.67 m) long, with a diameter of 18 in (457 mm). It weighs approximately 2,400 lb (1,089 kg). Maximum yield is 1.2 megatons.

The B83 can be deployed by a wide range of U.S. aircraft including:

• B-1
• B-2
• B-52
• F-15
• F-16
• F-18
• A-6
• A-7
• AV-8B

About 650 B83s were built, and the weapon remains in service as part of the United States "Enduring Stockpile."

External links

B83 Information Site (http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/systems/b83.htm)