Targeting Considerations (VNTK Overview)

Charles Deel SAIC

Abstract:
The effect of non-ideal airblast effects are examined within the framework of how physical vulnerability numbers (VNTKs) are calculated, and the subsequent impact on nuclear weaponeering. Current vulnerability calculations for structures are based on surface burst nuclear weapons, assuming ideal airblast waveforms. The sensitivity of the vulnerability assessments of structures when simplified non-ideal airblast waveforms are used is studied, and for several typical aboveground structures, the VNTKs are developed for NIAB waveforms and compared to current vulnerability estimates. Where these vulnerability assessments differ, the effect on standard weaponeering metrics are calculated and presented.

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