Funny thing is that we really had all three. Canada had a stock of Nuclear Depth Charges, the Bomarc and we had purchased Honest John Surface to Surface missiles,
How about a nuclear fueled, ramjet powered supersonic low altitude missile (SLAM)?
Project Pluto was perhaps the most horrifying idea of the entire Cold War:
"SLAM was perhaps the most fearsome weapon ever conceived. The missile was designed to deliver as many as 26 nuclear bombs over the Soviet Union in a single mission. It would do this while flying at Mach 3 and less than 1,000 feet above ground level. SLAM’s shock wave overpressure alone (162 dB) would devastate structures and people along its flight path. And, as if that were not enough, the type’s nuclear-fueled ramjet would continuously spew radiation-contaminated exhaust all over the countryside."
Let that sink in, this thing would be conventionally launched and then at a safe distance and altitude the nuclear reactor would kick in and fuel the craft for an almost unlimited amount of time. The plan was for them to circle over the oceans until being ordered "down onto the deck" to make their dashes in the Soviet Union.
So not only does it deliver 26 nuclear warheads, but its speed and low altitude destroys buildings with its pressure wave and it spews out deadly radioactive exhaust along its path.
Jesus. If that doesn't send chills down your spine you are one cold operator.
Funny thing is that we really had all three. Canada had a stock of Nuclear Depth Charges, the Bomarc and we had purchased Honest John Surface to Surface missiles,
We also (at one point) had 7 squadrons of CF-104's (the other two [initially] were Tac Recon), which were tasked to deliver "tactical" Nukes in support of NATO. And don't forget the "Genie" armed CF-101 units (409, 416, and 425) which continued in service until 1983, carrying ("low-yield") "Nukes" over our own territory.
I made a couple of posts (which are now buried somewhere in this database) listing references for further reading on the whole matter.
I'm going to try and dig up the links. Worth reading, if the "Cold War era is something that interests you.
We also (at one point) had 7 squadrons of CF-104's (the other two [initially] were Tac Recon), which were tasked to deliver "tactical" Nukes in support of NATO. And don't forget the "Genie" armed CF-101 units (409, 416, and 425) which continued in service until 1983, carrying ("low-yield") "Nukes" over our own territory.
I made a couple of posts (which are now buried somewhere in this database) listing references for further reading on the whole matter.
I'm going to try and dig up the links. Worth reading, if the "Cold War era is something that interests you.
... And Nuc depth charges for the Argus antisubmarine patrols ( although the US navy held the keys for them)
How about a nuclear fueled, ramjet powered supersonic low altitude missile (SLAM)?
Project Pluto was perhaps the most horrifying idea of the entire Cold War:
"SLAM was perhaps the most fearsome weapon ever conceived. The missile was designed to deliver as many as 26 nuclear bombs over the Soviet Union in a single mission. It would do this while flying at Mach 3 and less than 1,000 feet above ground level. SLAM’s shock wave overpressure alone (162 dB) would devastate structures and people along its flight path. And, as if that were not enough, the type’s nuclear-fueled ramjet would continuously spew radiation-contaminated exhaust all over the countryside."
Let that sink in, this thing would be conventionally launched and then at a safe distance and altitude the nuclear reactor would kick in and fuel the craft for an almost unlimited amount of time. The plan was for them to circle over the oceans until being ordered "down onto the deck" to make their dashes in the Soviet Union.
So not only does it deliver 26 nuclear warheads, but its speed and low altitude destroys buildings with its pressure wave and it spews out deadly radioactive exhaust along its path.
Jesus. If that doesn't send chills down your spine you are one cold operator.
We also (at one point) had 7 squadrons of CF-104's (the other two [initially] were Tac Recon), which were tasked to deliver "tactical" Nukes in support of NATO. And don't forget the "Genie" armed CF-101 units (409, 416, and 425) which continued in service until 1983, carrying ("low-yield") "Nukes" over our own territory.
I made a couple of posts (which are now buried somewhere in this database) listing references for further reading on the whole matter.
I'm going to try and dig up the links. Worth reading, if the "Cold War era is something that interests you.
I picked up a book in the cheap bin called Learning to Love the Bomb, Canada's Nuclear Weapons During the Cold War by Sean Maloney. If you can find it, its an excellent book.
How about a nuclear fueled, ramjet powered supersonic low altitude missile (SLAM)?
Project Pluto was perhaps the most horrifying idea of the entire Cold War:
"SLAM was perhaps the most fearsome weapon ever conceived. The missile was designed to deliver as many as 26 nuclear bombs over the Soviet Union in a single mission. It would do this while flying at Mach 3 and less than 1,000 feet above ground level. SLAM’s shock wave overpressure alone (162 dB) would devastate structures and people along its flight path. And, as if that were not enough, the type’s nuclear-fueled ramjet would continuously spew radiation-contaminated exhaust all over the countryside."
Let that sink in, this thing would be conventionally launched and then at a safe distance and altitude the nuclear reactor would kick in and fuel the craft for an almost unlimited amount of time. The plan was for them to circle over the oceans until being ordered "down onto the deck" to make their dashes in the Soviet Union.
So not only does it deliver 26 nuclear warheads, but its speed and low altitude destroys buildings with its pressure wave and it spews out deadly radioactive exhaust along its path.
Jesus. If that doesn't send chills down your spine you are one cold operator.
The Active Denial System (ADS) is a non-lethal, directed-energy weapon developed by the U.S. military,[1] designed for area denial, perimeter security and crowd control.[2] Informally, the weapon is also called the heat ray[3] since it works by heating the surface of targets, such as the skin of targeted human subjects. Raytheon is currently marketing a reduced-range version of this technology.[4] The ADS was deployed in 2010 with the United States military in the Afghanistan War, but was withdrawn without seeing combat.[5] On August 20, 2010, the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department announced its intent to use this technology on prisoners in the Pitchess Detention Center in Los Angeles, stating its intent to use it in "operational evaluation" in situations such as breaking up prisoner fights.[6] The ADS is currently only a vehicle-mounted weapon, though U.S. Marines and police are both working on portable versions.[7] ADS was developed under the sponsorship of the DoD Non-Lethal Weapons Program with the Air Force Research Laboratory as the lead agency.[8][9] There are reports that Russia is developing its own version of the Active Denial System.[10]
