ABSTRACT
One US military analyst defines tactical nuclear weapons as ‘Nuclear weapons designed to support land forces’; another believes them to be weapons ‘designed to influence the land or air defence battle directly, rather than indirectly (for example, by interdicting an enemy’s lines of communications or by carrying a threat to his homeland’). Most western analysts take one of two approaches when defining the difference between tactical and strategic nuclear weapons – yield and range of delivery systems. According to official data, the tactical nuclear weapons, or nuclear weapons in a theatre of operations include: land-based tactical nuclear weapons, nuclear-capable tactical aircraft, and sea-based tactical nuclear weapons. The USA also makes a difference between strategic and tactical nuclear weapons according to their use. It is assumed that strategic nuclear weapons are intended for deterring (or waging) an all-out nuclear war, and that tactical nuclear weapons are intended for deterring (or waging) a nuclear war in the theatre of hostilities.
