ABSTRACT
The ending of World War II with the destruction of several Japanese cities by atomic bombs set the stage for much speculation about the nature of future war. Nuclear weapons technology allows for the effective destruction of a wide variety of military targets while clearly reducing the collateral damage generally associated with their use. The phenomena associated with a nuclear explosion vary with the location of the burst in relation to the surface of the earth. Nuclear energy can be released through several types of reactions—fission, fusion, or a combination fission-fusion method. In view of nuclear technological developments, weapons can be designed and employed in different ways depending upon the target and the employment objective. For example, enhanced radiation weapons could be employed against troops using the cover and concealment in a city, without blast or heat effects causing significant damage to buildings and property.
