ABSTRACT
This chapter describes briefly the present arsenals of tactical nuclear weapons in Europe, their command, planned use and modernization trends and evaluate their significance to the military balance in Europe. The battlefield category mainly consists of: nuclear artillery, short-range battlefield missiles, and aerial bombs and air-to-ground missiles. The terms ‘mini-nukes’ and ‘enhanced radiation weapons’ mentioned in the title refer to yields and ratios of weapons effects, not to the delivery system. The long range nuclear weapons are mainly intended for a global strategic role. They include the Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile, Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles and strategic bombers, some long range bombers, the strategic cruise missiles under development and possibly, a small number of naval cruise missiles which can be used against coastal targets in some conditions. The USA modernizes its nuclear weapons on all levels. The goals were well described by the US Secretary of Defense James R. Schlesinger in his Defense Budgets FY 1975 and FY 1976 and 197T.
