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This presentation from David Burns of the Medium Caliber Weapons Systems Branch of ARDEC reveals much more about the weapon than previously released. In particular, it is described as being able to dig down to 150 feet. That's impressive on its own, but the 'Concept Of Operations' in Slide 4 is staggering: an array of 20 Deep Diggers would be detonated together to produce a shockwave which will collapse all underground structures to a depth of 300 feet over a 200-yard square area.
Compare this to this description of the B61-11, the only bunker-busting nuclear bomb in the arsenal:
For a penetration depth of three meters and a yield of 0.3 kilotons, the B61-11 could destroy a target buried under roughly 15 meters [= 50 feet] of hard rock or concrete. For the same penetration depth and the maximum yield of 340 kilotons, the destruction depth would be roughly 70 meters [ =210 feet ] for a hardened target.
In other words, the Deep Digger array is more effective than a 340-kiloton nuclear weapon optimised to attack underground targets.
United States Readies Earthquake Weapon for use in War On Terror (Not Satire)
Article Source: defensetech.org- Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.
- Public Discussion (25)
This is an amazing and horrifying weapon. While it's ability to damage civilian structures is likely no more pronounced than the simple dropping of bombs, the ability to create something approaching a man-made localized earthquake is quite far reaching. This is a technology in its infancy - where it goes from here is the real question.
- 8 votes
#1 - Mon Dec 4, 2006 11:29 PM ESTWow, quite a find! Nice post.
(I had to check for a satire tag when I first got here...)
- 5 votes
#2 - Tue Dec 5, 2006 12:23 AM EST(I had to check for a satire tag when I first got here...)
so did i. i expected an onion article or something.
- 3 votes
I've added a "not satire" markup so we're clear for future readers. Thanks!
- 9 votes
Yeah, I was thinking weatherwars.info until i saw the source was defensetech.org. BTW, there's a few articles online about some of the black-ops weapons being developed, including some that use microwave and sonic (sound waves) to disrupt crowds.
- 6 votes
#3 - Tue Dec 5, 2006 3:01 AM ESTThere's no end to the tools the devious minds create to control the masses, if only they gave that type of concerned thought to controlling waste, fraud and pollution, we'd be in paradise.
- 11 votes
They really need a short term edit option, clearly my memory and skills won't be getting the upgrade. Wanted to add a tip of the hat for the find and suggest that a good alternate source for development info is the Commerce Business Daily or CBD that lists every procurement RFP and award. Clearly not like this report but a good trail to search if you're up for a random wander for who, what, how much.
- 6 votes
we'd be in paradise.
Too bad the resat of the world doesn't want to hold hands and sing songs. It is naive to believe that it is not important to have superior weapons systems for deterrence and defense.
This is good technology. I am always in favor of developing better weapons. Jimmy Carter was wrong for cancelling the neutron bomb program and the B-1A bomber program.
- 2 votes
#4 - Tue Dec 5, 2006 10:44 AM ESTI agree with both cancellations, not because I'm a pacifist, but because I don't' see any long term value in either program. The Neutron Bomb has all the disadvantages (politically) of a nuclear weapon which makes it ineffective as a tactical munition. It seems both silly and far fetched to assume that we'd be involved in a nuclear exchange with anyone wherein much of anything would remain unscathed for long.
The B1A program had a number of serious problems as I understand it and US weapons development was already heading in the direction of stealthy aircraft at this time. While the fast and low strategic bomber certainly had a roll to play, it wasn't a roll that would exist long enough to justify the enormous cost involved in deploying such a short lived strategic bomber fleet.
The F117A, with a maiden flight in 1981 (and a production decision in 1973), was a strong prospect to fill the "spear tip" roll envisioned for the B1A and as a consequence the far less versatile B1A project was seen as having a much more limited roll in a post-stealth air force The Nighthawk's ability to strike by stealth what the B1A could hit with speed made the aircraft a preferable weapon as the leading edge of a US air assault primarily concerned with knocking out Soviet Anti-Air capability across Europe. Note that the F117A is, like the B1 series, capable of in-air-refueling, giving it strategic range.
Carter's cancellations of these projects can be seen as the beginning of the leaner and more sophisticated fighting force displayed under George HW Bush and later lauded by Rumsfeld.
- 9 votes
The B1A program had a number of serious problems as I understand it and US weapons development was already heading in the direction of stealthy aircraft at this time. While the fast and low strategic bomber certainly had a roll to play, it wasn't a roll that would exist long enough to justify the enormous cost involved in deploying such a short lived strategic bomber fleet.
While it's true that B1/A was seen as more of a traditional cold war weapon, I believe that Carter's expressed reason for cancelling the program was the Cruise missile. Certainly a much more cost-effective weapon if one desires a "leaner" military.
- 2 votes
wow, what a missleading title.
Its just a bunker busters biggger smarter brother. You trying to tell everyone that we now have an earthquake machine. Thats quite a strech to get votes.
- 2 votes
#5 - Tue Dec 5, 2006 11:16 AM ESTNo, it's not. The Deep Digger array uses - as I understand it - harmonics to set up earth tremors that self-reinforce, spreading well beyond the initial concussive blast. The result is a small man-made earthquake and is limited only by the desire to deploy it from the air. Similar technology planted by excavation would produce a result almost wholly indistinguishable from a natural earthquake
- 11 votes
Just like Joshua, that weapon is for the battle of Jericho. Amazing really, what computing power can do to change how we wage war. More powerful than a nuclear weapon. Horrifying.
So, I am going to assume from this that the United States is ready to go ahead with the inevitable aerial bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities.
Oh boy.
- 3 votes
#6 - Tue Dec 5, 2006 12:11 PM ESTPerhaps - though that's going to depend enormously on the roll-out time frame and the sort of bombers necessary to do this.
- 2 votes
Scarlet Termite—in my opinion the US and Israel are actively trying to destabilize and force an Iranian regime change from within. Sadly, though, I think that it's entirely and (horrifyingly) true that if the "from within" methodology fails, other, "more invasive" means will be used.
Unfortunately a surgical attack on Iran's nuclear infrastructure is far more problematic than most people understand. Iran's nuclear facilities are significantly better protected and dispersed throughout the country than was the case in Iraq in '81.
Secondly, Iraq's nuclear plant never went active. There was no danger of radiation fallout, but it is my understanding that if Iran's enrichment facilities get to the point where thousand and thousands of gas centrifuges have produced enough fissile material (I'm not sure of the exact status at this moment), then any kind of strike against their nukes could result in a serious regional, radiological nightmare.
Finally, assuming a limited attack, Iran's potential ability to respond in Gaza/Lebanon or Iraq or in the vital Straits of Hormuz, the potential for escalation into a full-blown affair seems both real and quite dangerous.
By all accounts the Pentagon has developed 2 basic "Iran scenarios": The first is the "surgical strike" on nuclear infrastructure. The second is apparently a broad-spectrum effort to destroy a large percentage of the country's military infrastructure.
Given the targets, it would seem that an "Earthquake Weapon" would be just what the Dr. ordered for an attack on a facility such as Natanz.
Although from a fringe source, I think this author's scenario of an US/Israeli-Iran confrontation is at least something to consider:
- 3 votes
"If you wish for peace, prepare for war." old latin quote
- 3 votes
#7 - Tue Dec 5, 2006 1:37 PM ESTIt seems worth pointing out that Rome was a peace exactly twice (if memory serves) since the establishment of its Empire.
- 4 votes
Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum.
- Vegetius, Epitoma rei militaris
- 2 votes
Rome indeed. Quite literally an ongoing scenario of "barbarians at the gate"!
:)
- 3 votes
Do you think the US military caused the recent earthquake in China? Could have been a safe test location in central China. What do you think?
#9 - Thu May 15, 2008 3:56 PM EDTI don't think so... the earthquake in China was orders of magnitude more powerful than what this article describes.
- 2 votes
And was located on the edge of the place where the Indian Plate intersects with the Asian. Basically, big earthquake central.
- 2 votes
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