Nothing drives progress like war. This is an absolute fact, albeit a very sad one. In order to defend its right to the territory, humanity invents simply fantastic mechanisms and principles that allow it to resist the enemy, to have an advantage in strength and power.
Know-how comes from the 60s
One of the incredible inventions mastered by Soviet physicists during the Cold War. The news that atomic bullets were created and tested by domestic defense technology specialists was revealed relatively recently and became a real sensation. All documentation about secret developments was kept under seven seals.
Only after the USSR collapsed and Semipalatinsk became part of sovereign Kazakhstan, secret information began to leak into the media. It was then that it became known what atomic bullets were. The description and characteristics of this fantastic weapon made many people wonder. It was not entirely clear how such a miniature nuclearammunition could melt a huge armored tank and wipe out a multi-storey building.
Small and daring
Yes, the size of these bullets was really small for the scale of atomic weapons. The ammunition had a caliber of 14.3 mm and 12.7 mm and was intended for heavy machine guns. But the scientists did not stop there and created a bullet with a caliber of only 7.62 mm specifically for the Kalashnikov machine gun. To this day, there is no atomic projectile in the whole world that could compare with such a miniature ammunition.
The basis for any nuclear weapon is the so-called fissile material. In bombs, this component is represented by uranium 235 or plutonium 239. In nuclear physics, there is the concept of "critical mass" - the weight of the projectile at which it must work and explode. For uranium and plutonium, this parameter is at least 1 kilogram. It is quite logical that the question arises in the head: “What are atomic bullets made of? How can you fit such power in such a small caliber?”
What's inside an atomic bullet?
The answer is quite simple, but behind it lies the painstaking work of Soviet physicists. Atomic bullets were made from the transuranium element californium, or to be precise, from its radioactive isotope. This substance has an atomic weight of 252 units. Surprisingly, the California isotope has a critical mass index of only 1.8 g. But this is not the most important advantage of the amazing substance. During its decay, californium 252 exhibits the property of efficient nuclear fission with the formation of 5 to 8 neutrons. And this is surprising, since uranium andA pluton can only generate 2 or 3 neutrons. Soviet physicists were inspired by their success: it is enough to take just a pea of California 252, and you can produce a colossal atomic explosion! This incredible discovery marked the beginning of a top-secret project to create a new type of weapon.
To obtain California, scientists can use two methods. The simplest is the explosion of a powerful thermonuclear bomb filled with plutonium. Another way is to create isotopes using a nuclear reactor. Despite its simplicity, the first method is considered the most effective, since it makes it possible to obtain a neutron flux with a density many times higher than that in a nuclear reactor. However, this way of extracting californium requires continuous nuclear testing, since the mass production of atomic bullets requires replenishment of the stocks of the necessary raw materials.
What does a miniature atomic projectile look like?
After studying the documentation for this project, you can imagine what atomic bullets look like. Their device is incredibly simple. The base of the bullet is a tiny piece of californium that weighs no more than 6 grams. In its shape, it resembles a dumbbell, consisting of two hemispheres with a thin bridge.
The explosive inside the projectile is packed in the form of a compact ball, the diameter of which for a bullet with a caliber of 7.62 mm is 8 mm. Such dimensions are sufficient to ensure a supercritical state and provoke a nuclear explosion. Atomic bullets, the photos of which you see below, containinside a fuse of the contact type. It provides undermining the charge. This is the simple device of a weapon bomb. It is worth noting that the weight of such a bullet turned out to be much heavier than a conventional counterpart. In order for the ballistic properties of the invention to be at their best, the sleeve had to be equipped with a more powerful charge of gunpowder.
Why did the USSR stop this project?
There is one important feature that an atomic bullet has. The USSR project to develop and introduce into service this invention was curtailed for the most part due to the fact that the shells were very hot. During the decay of californium, intense heat is released. This phenomenon is natural, since all radioactive substances heat up during decay. This effect is more intense, the shorter their half-life. Thus, an atomic bullet filled with California generated up to 5 watts of thermal energy. Along with this process, there was a change in the properties of the explosive and the fuse itself. The most dangerous thing was that rapid and strong heating could cause the bullet to get stuck in the chamber or in the barrel, and there was also a great danger of spontaneous explosion of the bullet when fired.
In connection with these circumstances, it was found that a specialized refrigerator is required to store atomic bullets. This unit was a 15 cm thick copper plate equipped with sockets for 30 rounds. In the space between the shells, a refrigerant was set in motion through channels under pressure, whichliquid ammonia served. This system provided the projectiles with the required temperature of -15˚С. The refrigeration unit was characterized by increased power consumption (200 watts) and a heavy weight of 110 kg. Moving this structure was possible only when using special transport, which caused a lot of inconvenience.
In the device of a classic type of bomb, the system that cools the charge is also an indispensable element of the design, but it is located inside. In the case of atomic bullets, the need for an external reduction in the temperature of the projectiles was recognized.
The peculiarity of the use of such bullets was as follows: they were stored in a refrigerator at a temperature of -15˚С. After the projectile was removed from storage, it had to be used within half an hour. During this period of time, it was required to install a bullet in the gun magazine, place it in a firing position, aim with the required accuracy and fire. If the fighter did not have time to meet this interval, then the bullet should have been returned to the refrigerator for storage. A projectile that has lain without proper storage conditions for more than an hour must be destroyed using special equipment.
Features of atomic bullets
Scientists have identified another serious flaw that characterized atomic bullets. Tests of these projectiles showed a high proportion of instability in the indicators of the energy released during the explosion. This indicator could vary from 100 to 700 kg in TNT equivalent. Its value directly depended on the conditions in which the bullets were stored, and on the material of the chosen target.
Experienceshowed that atomic bullets are something special in terms of the nature of the explosion. They are very different from the usual atomic bomb and chemical explosives, which, when torn apart, release huge volumes of hot gases. Their temperature reaches hundreds of thousands of degrees. A small ball with a small amount of charge is physically unable to impart the full power of nuclear decay to its environment.
We can imagine how powerful the explosion will be even from 100 kg of explosives. Atomic bullets are characterized by a weaker blast wave, but they surpassed their chemical counterparts in terms of radiation levels. In connection with this circumstance, these shells could only be used to hit the most distant targets. However, even this could not save the shooter from significant exposure. Snipers using atomic bullets were not allowed to fire long bursts or fire more than three shots.
Where can these bullets be used?
Agree, these shells are quite whimsical military ammunition in use, and the question arises by itself: “Where are atomic bullets used? What targets are they irreplaceable for?” The armor of a modern tank is strong enough for a shell to pierce through it. However, this was not required. When hitting a tank, an atomic bullet releases such an amount of heat that the protective layer from the combat vehicle simply evaporates, and the metal melts. As a result, the tracks became one with the turret, and the tank turned into an absolutely immobilized and unusable object. Onean atomic bullet can turn a cubic meter of brickwork into dust.
Colossus with feet of clay
But this colossus also has its weak spot. It is known for certain that if atomic bullets fall into the aquatic environment, then a nuclear explosion does not occur. This is explained by the fact that this liquid medium tends to slow down and reflect neutrons. This property was taken into account by scientists and Soviet tanks began to be protected by water tanks. A kind of armor protected combat vehicles from enemy bullets with california.
Expensive, unpredictable and exotic
The history of the creation of atomic bullets was forced to sink into oblivion along with the introduction of a moratorium on testing weapons with nuclear potential. The whole problem was that those reserves of California, which were obtained through powerful explosions, disappear rather quickly.
There was only an alternative way to obtain it - with the help of a nuclear reactor. However, this method was considered expensive, and the yield of the valuable element was small. Such circumstances were reinforced by the absence of an urgent need for further development of the development of atomic bullets. The leadership of the country's defense forces decided that the enemy can be destroyed with ammunition that does not require so much effort in production, storage and movement. In this regard, the USSR abandoned the Atomic Bullets project and sent it to collect dust on the shelves of secret archives.
You can most likely see the developments of those years somewhere in museums or in private collections of rarities, but theyeffectiveness has long been lost. The fact is that the shelf life of these bullets is limited to six years. It is possible that research is currently underway to improve miniature atomic shells with californium, but titanic work should be done in order to make them convenient to use and reduce their cost of production. It's hard to resist the laws of physics. Whatever one may say, but atomic bullets with California as a filling have negative characteristics:
- get very hot during storage;
- need constant cooling;
- use them no later than half an hour after defrosting;
- unstable and unregulated charge explosion power;
- are neutralized when they enter the environment with water;
- California production in a nuclear reactor is a long and expensive process.
The combination of these circumstances was the reason that the incredible project called "Atomic Bullets" of the USSR was mothballed until better times. It's not even that for the further development of these military weapons it was a pity for money. The country's leadership considered this project inappropriate and too exotic for the early 80s.
At the moment, Russia is armed with several mobile anti-aircraft missile systems, such as Strela and Igla. Their design has a homing system that needs to be cooled down to -200˚С. This is done by creating a liquid nitrogen environment and is also expensive. However, this is not a reason forThe Ministry of Defense considered this weapon to be unnecessarily complex in design and inappropriate.
Maintaining the combat power of the state justifies the use of such expensive technologies. Perhaps in the future, a portable mini-cooling system for atomic bullets will be developed, and they will be in service with the most ordinary soldiers.
Development of small nuclear weapons in the US
About who first invented atomic bullets, and now disputes do not subside. The first mention of ultra-small and powerful weapons arose back in the 60s of the last century, when the situation in the world pushed the development of the military industry. The issue of armament with lethal mechanisms was then very acute, and the two superpowers - the USA and the USSR went side by side in the creation of nuclear technologies to maintain military parity. Many scientists tend to believe that atomic bullets are the work of the minds and hands of American specialists. Their development is based on the idea of destroying living beings within a certain range of the projectile with the help of a special damaging gas released during a nuclear reaction. In the USSR, the development of atomic bullets was a prospect for confronting a potential enemy.
Today, the controversy around this project has subsided, it would seem that the topic has remained in the last century. However, recent publications in the American media have made everyone remember what atomic bullets are. In Texas, a group of physicists performed a series of experiments related to testing a bomb filled with the isomer of hafnium.
ForIn order to obtain this substance, the core of the element was irradiated with X-ray waves. Scientists were amazed: the process released an amount of energy that exceeded the cost of initiation by 60 times. In terms of quality, the received radiation consisted mainly of the gamma spectrum, which is detrimental to living organisms. The destructive power of hafnium is equal to the equivalent of 50 kg of TNT. This type of weapon accepts the rules for the use of mini-atomic bombs or mini-nukes, which are described in the Bush Security Doctrine.
It is not known for certain whether developments on this issue are underway in Russia, however, perhaps in the near future our scientists will have something to answer the developments of their American colleagues.
