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Putin, before vote, unveils 'invincible' nuclear weapons to counter West
President Vladimir Putin unveiled an array of new nuclear weapons on Thursday, in one of his most bellicose speeches in years, saying they could hit almost any point in the world and evade a U.S.-built missile shield. [...] His remarks were greeted with scepticism in Washington, where officials cast doubt on whether Russia has added any new capabilities to its nuclear arsenal beyond those already known to the U.S. military and intelligence agencies.
[...] Among weapons that Putin said were either in development or ready was a new intercontinental ballistic missile "with a practically unlimited range" able to attack via the North and South Poles and bypass any missile defense systems.
Putin also spoke of a small nuclear-powered engine that could be fitted to what he said were low-flying, highly maneuverable cruise missiles, giving them a practically unlimited range. The new engine meant Russia was able to make a new type of weapon - nuclear missiles powered by nuclear rather than conventional fuel. "Nothing like it in the world exists," Putin told the audience. "At some point it will probably appear (elsewhere) but by that time our guys will have devised something else."
Other new super weapons he listed included underwater nuclear drones, a supersonic weapon and a laser weapon. In one of his video clip demos, a weapon appeared to be hovering over what looked like a map of the state of Florida.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by c0lo on Friday March 02 2018, @07:43AM (2 children)
Fission can be small - the radiation protection is what makes it big and heavy.
On a missile carrying a thermonuke, I don't think that the radiation protection matters that much, except for the electronics in the guidance system. Using a modicum radiation hardening and an isotope emitting very little as γ, you don't need that much protection.
I imagine something like a classic rocket engine for the takeoff and place it on a high altitude ballistic trajectory, then it switches on using Po210 (140W/g) to heat the propulsion gas.
Once in the stratosphere, the drag is substantially reduce, kilowatts of power should suffice to keep the missile on track and 10kg of Po210 will get you in the (low) MW range.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 02 2018, @03:45PM (1 child)
The world, mostly Russia, produces about 100 g per year. At that rate, getting 10 kg would take a century.
One would want more than a single weapon. One would also want to test the weapon, preferably without spilling all over one's own country.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Friday March 02 2018, @10:11PM
Given the 100-something days as the half-life, it can't be polonium then.
But replace it with plutonium and arrange a subcritical but hot enough mass.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford