Improvised nuclear devices fact sheet what is an improvised nuclear devices ind. Bad actors may weaponize highly enriched nuclear material into improvised nuclear devices inds capable of great destruction or weaponize radiological material into radiological dispersal devices rdds. The basic technical information needed to construct a workable nuclear device is readily available in the open literature. Fortunately there have not been any acts of nuclear or radiological terrorism so far. Cdc radiation emergencies more information on types of.
The second is radioactive contamination by a diffuser, such as a dirty bomb, or environmental poisoning. A nuclear terrorist attack might be carried out with an improvised nuclear device ind, which is a crude nuclear device built from. Ultimately, the only way to eliminate this danger is to eliminate these weapons and establish strict international control of all fissile materials that could be used to make new weapons. This webbased and mobile course provides an overview of the expected effects from the detonation of an improvised nuclear device ind in a major u. Terrorists seeking to unleash massive violence and destruction may climb the escalation ladder to the highest rungs. In 1945, the united states detonated two atomic weapons abombs, or fission bombs over japan to end world. Introduction to radiological nuclear wmd operations familiarity with the national incident management system nims and the incident command system ics via completion of all the following courses or their equivalents. Making an improvised nuclear device the second nuclear threat is that a nonstate actor could acquire sufficient fissile material such as highly enriched uranium heu. Improvised explosive device ied safe standoff distance cheat sheet open pdf 168 kb this document is a cheat sheet for the specific threat posed by improvised explosive devices. The paper analyses the probabilities of an attack, its lethal effects and the nuclear risk. This training prepares the responders to take immediate, decisive action to prevent or mitigate terrorist use of radiological or nuclear weapons of mass destruction wmd, such as improvised nuclear devices inds and radiological dispersal devices rdds of dirty bombs.
President obama, along with nearly fifty world leaders, discussed the threat of nuclear terrorism, what steps needed to be taken to mitigate illicit nuclear trafficking, and how to secure nuclear material. This essay uses 80% uranium235 when discussing highly enriched uranium. The dictionary of military and associated terms jcs pub 102 includes two definitions for improvised devices. These definitions address the nuclear and explosive in cbrne. First, dirty bombs or radioactive bombs or radiological dispersion devices rdds, and second, crude atom bombs or improvised nuclear devices inds. Wehling, the four faces of nuclear terrorism monterey, calif. Can terrorists build an improvised nuclear device ind. When an ind explodes, it gives off four types of energy. Dirty bombs, radiological terrorism, nuclear terrorism, disaster preparedness.
The report document 17 of a radiological survey of washington, d. The threat of nuclear terrorism has become a global concern. Mar 16, 2012 there is a consensus among international leaders that the threat of nuclear terrorism is real, not a hollywood confection. Improvised nuclear device ind or crude nuclear bomb. To be sure we need to keep a close eye on the threat of the improvised wmd, and in particular the icdd. Medical responses to such disasters are difficult to. This paper presents two effects of nuclear terrorism. As vice president dick cheney once argued, if there is a one percent chance of a terrorist developing a nuclear weapon, we have to treat it as a certainty in terms of our response. Introduction to improvised detonation device effects and response strategies. There is a consensus among international leaders that the threat of nuclear terrorism is real, not a hollywood confection. There are three types of nuclear terrorism that arouse wide concern. Implications of an improvised nuclear device on command and control for surrounding regions at the local, state and federal levels.
Public health improvised nuclear devices fact sheet. Ind health and safety planning guide homeland security. Nuclear and radiological threats making the nation safer. There are several types of nuclear terrorism devices 8, 9, 10. A nuclear terrorist attack might be carried out with an improvised nuclear device ind, which is a crude nuclear device built from the components of a stolen weapon or from scratch using nuclear material plutonium or highly enriched. Adopted by 52 heads of delegation april 1, 2016, washington, dc. Improvised nuclear devices and nuclear terrorism ebook, 2004. Device rdd and improvised nuclear device ind incidents pdf 519 kb. Improvised explosive device ied safe standoff distance. The radiological risk and comparison with an improvised. Nuclear explosions produce fallout radioactive materials that can be carried long distances by the wind. Medical preparedness and response to nuclear terrorism.
Nuclear explosions produce fallout radioactive materials that can be carried long distances by. Improvised nuclear devices are nuclear weapons fabricated by terrorists, with or without state assistance, using stolen or diverted snm. Conceivably, the nonstate actor could blackmail nuclear custodians by making credible threats to the custodians themselves or their loved ones. Improvised nuclear devices and nuclear terrorism ebook. Pdf design of nuclear security regime to combat nuclear. Radiation monitoring arthur levy despite decades of attempts at arms control, nuclear weapons continue to proliferate. Feb 09, 2002 as long as there are stockpiles of nuclear weapons in the world, the possibility of nuclear terrorism remains. Improvised nuclear devices and nuclear terrorism federation. These devices, known by a variety of namessuitcase nukes, mininukes, or improvised nuclear devices indsare small enough to put in a backpack or suitcase and can yield an explosion of up to 20 kilotons. Improvised nuclear device an improvised nuclear device ind is a type of nuclear weapon.
Homeland security policy and concluded that attacks using improvised nuclear devices. Jun 15, 2010 today, detonation of a compact, portable nuclear device by a small group of terrorists is a real threat. The graphic above is from the nuclearradiological incident annex to the response and recovery federal interagency operations plan pdf 3. The bomb dropped on hiroshima, japan, at the end of world war ii is an example of an ind. Either can be utilized to attack governmental or financial centers, populace, or critical infrastructure. Nuclear terrorism refers to any person or persons who detonate a nuclear weapon in an act of.
In this nightmare scenario, they may try to seize an intact nuclear weapon residing in a nuclear weapon states arsenal. Document preparing to save lives and recover after a nuclear detonation. It provides an overview of the current preplanning guidance. Creation of the sigma 20 nuclear weapons data category to protect information about data on improvised nuclear devices document 12. Improvised nuclear devices inds 4, 8 an illicit nuclear weapon bought, stolen, or otherwise originating from a nuclear state, or a weapon fabricated by a terrorist group from illegally obtained fissile nuclear weapons material that produces a nuclear explosion. Faqs about a nuclear blast cdc nuclear attack fact sheet the national academiesdhs nrt quick reference guide. Nuclear emergencies what is an improvised nuclear device ind. White paper commissioned for the ind workshop, authored by rick hansen and dave pasquale, of national security technologies, llc. The second category includes, but is not limited to, response to the effects of deliberate attacks perpetrated with radiological dispersal devices rdds, nuclear weapons, or improvised nuclear devices inds. Request pdf improvised nuclear devices the very mention of nuclear terrorism is enough to rouse strong reactions, and understandably so, because it combines the most terrifying weapons.
This sparked further work on the question of smuggled atomic devices during the 1950s. Weapons, improvised nuclear devices hhs quick reference guide. The sheet gives an estimate of how far a person should stand from different explosive devices to avoid any injury. Weapons of mass destruction commission stockholm, sweden terrorists seeking to unleash massive violence and destruction may climb the escalation ladder to the highest rungs. The very mention of nuclear terrorism is enough to rouse strong reactions, and understandably so, because it combines the most terrifying weapons and the most threatening of people in a single phrase.
Jan 11, 2017 the health and safety planning guide for planners, safety officers, and supervisors for protecting responders following a nuclear detonation provides response planners, safety officers, and supervisors with specific information and recommendations to protect responders from the effects and impacts of an extreme event. Improvised nuclear devices inds and nuclear weapons. A variety of scenarios could lead to the widespread exposure of human populations to nuclear radiation. Expected timeline of events for a 10kiloton improvised nuclear device detonation. A nuclear emergency involves the explosion of a nuclear weapon or improvised nuclear device ind. Jul 18, 2006 30 the legal definition of highly enriched uranium is a concentration of 20% or more uranium235 contained with uranium238, however the practical limit for improvised nuclear devices is more likely to be 80%. Ics100 introduction to the incident command system ics200 basic incident commandics, for single resources. The guidance provides response planners, safety officers, and supervisors with specific information and recommendations to protect responders from the effects and impacts of an extreme event. A terrorists use of either a radiological dispersal device rdd frequently referred to as a dirty bombor an improvised nuclear device ind to release radioactive materials into the environment could have devastating consequences. The dispersed nuclear material would be a mess to clean up, but the likelihood of it amounting to a wmd in terms of human loss is minimal.
The explosion produces an intense pulse of heat, light, air pressure, and radiation. The third is the sabotage of nuclear facilities, to diffuse radiation. To launch a nuclear attack, terrorists must first obtain a nuclear bomb. Improvised nuclear devices or inds are theoretical illicit nuclear weapons bought, stolen, or otherwise originating from a nuclear state, or a weapon fabricated by a terrorist group from illegally obtained fissile nuclear weapons material that produces a nuclear explosion. Radiological and nuclear devices and terrorism john w. Many countries continue to make efforts to strengthen nuclear security by enhancing systems of nuclear material protection, control. Radiation risk information for responders following a nuclear. If terrorists acquired a nuclear weapon or improvised nuclear device, and had the flexibility to choose a target, their most likely primary target would be a population center that includes banking, finance, or commercial districts, government. One is the detonation of a nuclear weapon or improvised nuclear device ind. Key elements of preparing emergency responders for nuclear.
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