Weapons of mass destruction (brief description). Weapons of mass destruction

A great threat to mankind throughout its history has been the dangers that arise during armed conflicts, especially with the use of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Emergencies wartime are characterized by the types of weapons used (nuclear, chemical and biological, conventional, incendiary, high-precision, etc.).

It is a weapon of great lethality, designed to inflict mass casualties and destruction. Weapons of mass destruction or destruction include: nuclear, chemical and biological (bacteriological) weapons.

Weapons of mass destruction and defense against them

One of the main tasks still remains the protection of the population from weapons of mass destruction and other modern means of enemy attack. Of course, the modern multipolar world does not imply, as in the last century, an open military confrontation between the two superpowers and military-political blocs. But does this mean that the study of issues of protection against weapons of mass destruction has become unnecessary? Explosions of residential high-rise buildings in Russia, the destruction of buildings of the World shopping center and other facilities in the United States, as well as other large-scale terrorist acts of recent years, indicate that a new danger has replaced state-political hostility - international terrorism. International terrorists stop at nothing. And if weapons of mass destruction fall into their hands, they will use them without a shadow of a doubt. This is confirmed by the latest public statements by the leaders terrorist organizations. Based on this, it becomes clear that the need to train the population in the field of protection against weapons of mass destruction has not lost its relevance today.

Nuclear weapon

It is one of the main types of weapons of mass destruction. It is capable of incapacitating a large number of people and animals in a short time, destroying buildings and structures over vast territories. The massive use of nuclear weapons is fraught with catastrophic consequences for all mankind, therefore Russian Federation persistently and unswervingly fights for its prohibition.

The population must know and skillfully apply methods of protection against weapons of mass destruction, otherwise huge losses are inevitable. Everyone knows the terrible consequences of the atomic bombings in August 1945 of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki - tens of thousands of dead, hundreds of thousands of victims. If the population of these cities knew the means and methods of protection against nuclear weapons, if they were warned of the danger and took refuge in shelters, the number of victims could be much less.

The destructive effect of nuclear weapons is based on the energy released during explosive nuclear reactions. Nuclear weapons are nuclear weapons. The basis of a nuclear weapon is a nuclear charge, the power of a destructive explosion of which is usually expressed in TNT equivalent, that is, the amount of conventional explosive, the explosion of which releases as much energy as it is released during the explosion of a given nuclear weapon. It is measured in tens, hundreds, thousands (kilo) and millions (mega) tons.

The means of delivering nuclear weapons to targets are missiles (the main means of delivering nuclear strikes), aircraft and artillery. In addition, nuclear bombs can be used.

Nuclear explosions are carried out in the air at different heights, near the surface of the earth (water) and underground (water). In accordance with this, they are usually divided into high-altitude (produced above the Earth's troposphere - above 10 km), air (produced in the atmosphere at a height at which the luminous area does not touch the surface of the earth (water), but not higher than 10 km), ground ( are carried out on the surface of the earth (contact) or at such a height when the luminous area touches the surface of the earth), underground (are carried out below the surface of the earth with or without ejection of soil), surface (are carried out on the surface of the water (contact) or at such a height from it, when the luminous area of ​​the explosion touches the surface of the water), underwater (produced in water at a certain depth).

The point at which the explosion occurred is called the center, and its projection on the surface of the earth (water) is called the epicenter of the nuclear explosion.

The damaging factors of a nuclear explosion are a shock wave, light radiation, penetrating radiation, radioactive contamination and electromagnetic pulse.

shock wave- the main damaging factor of a nuclear explosion, since most of the destruction and damage to structures, buildings, as well as the defeat of people, are usually due to its impact. The source of its occurrence is the strong pressure that forms in the center of the explosion and reaches billions of atmospheres in the first moments. The region of strong compression of the surrounding air layers formed during the explosion, expanding, transfers pressure to the neighboring air layers, compressing and heating them, and they, in turn, act on the next layers. As a result, a high-pressure zone propagates in the air at supersonic speed in all directions from the center of the explosion. The front boundary of the compressed air layer is called shock wave front.

The degree of damage by a shock wave to various objects depends on the power and type of explosion, the mechanical strength (stability of the object), as well as on the distance at which the explosion occurred, the terrain and the position of objects on it.

The damaging effect of the shock wave is characterized by the amount of excess pressure. Overpressure is the difference between the maximum pressure in the shock wave front and the normal atmospheric pressure ahead of the wave front. It is measured in newtons per square meter (N/m2). This unit of pressure is called Pascal (Pa). 1 N / m 2 \u003d 1 Pa (1 kPa% "0.01 kgf / cm 2).

With an excess pressure of 20-40 kPa, unprotected people can get light injuries (light bruises and concussions). The impact of a shock wave with an excess pressure of 40-60 Pa leads to moderate injuries: loss of consciousness, damage to the hearing organs, severe dislocations of the limbs, bleeding from the nose and ears. Severe injuries occur at an excess pressure of more than 60 kPa and are characterized by severe contusions of the whole body, fractures of the limbs, and damage to internal organs. Extremely severe lesions, often fatal, are observed at excess pressure over 100 kPa.

The speed of movement and the distance over which the shock wave propagates depend on the power of the nuclear explosion; as the distance from the explosion increases, the speed decreases rapidly. Thus, during the explosion of a munition with a capacity of 20 kt, the shock wave travels 1 km in 2 seconds, 2 km in 5 seconds, 3 km in 8 seconds. During this time, a person after a flash can take cover and thereby avoid being hit by a shock wave.

light emission is a stream of radiant energy, including ultraviolet, visible and infrared rays. Its source is a luminous area formed by the hot products of the explosion and hot air. Light radiation spreads almost instantly and lasts, depending on the power of the nuclear explosion, up to 20 seconds. However, its strength is such that, despite its short duration, it can cause skin (skin) burns, damage (permanent or temporary) to the organs of vision of people, and ignition of combustible materials of objects.

Light radiation does not penetrate opaque materials, so any obstruction that can create a shadow protects against the direct action of light radiation and eliminates burns. Significantly attenuated light radiation in dusty (smoky) air, in fog, rain, snowfall.

penetrating radiation is a stream of gamma rays and neutrons. It lasts 10-15 seconds. Passing through living tissue, gamma radiation ionizes the molecules that make up the cells. Under the influence of ionization, biological processes occur in the body, leading to a violation of the vital functions of individual organs and the development of radiation sickness.

As a result of the passage of radiation through the materials of the environment, the intensity of the radiation decreases. The weakening effect is usually characterized by a layer of half attenuation, that is, such a thickness of the material, passing through which the radiation is halved. For example, the intensity of gamma rays is halved: steel 2.8 cm thick, concrete - 10 cm, soil - 14 cm, wood - 30 cm.

Open and especially closed slots reduce the impact of penetrating radiation, and shelters and anti-radiation shelters almost completely protect against it.

Main sources radioactive contamination are fission products of a nuclear charge and radioactive isotopes formed as a result of the impact of neutrons on the materials from which a nuclear weapon is made, and on some elements that make up the soil in the area of ​​​​the explosion.

When ground nuclear explosion the luminous area touches the ground. Inside it, masses of evaporating soil are drawn in, which rise up. Cooling, the vapors of fission products and soil condense on solid particles. A radioactive cloud is formed. It rises to a height of many kilometers, and then moves with the wind at a speed of 25-100 km / h. Radioactive particles, falling from the cloud to the ground, form a zone of radioactive contamination (trace), the length of which can reach several hundred kilometers. At the same time, the area, buildings, structures, crops, water bodies, etc., as well as the air are infected.

Radioactive substances pose the greatest danger in the first hours after falling out, since their activity is highest during this period.

electromagnetic pulse are electrical and magnetic fields resulting from the impact of gamma radiation from a nuclear explosion on the atoms of the environment and the formation in this environment of a stream of electrons and positive ions. It can cause damage to radio electronic equipment, disruption of radio and radio electronic equipment.

The most reliable means of protection against all damaging factors of a nuclear explosion are protective structures. In the field, one should take cover behind strong local objects, reverse slopes of heights, in the folds of the terrain.

When operating in contaminated areas, to protect the respiratory organs, eyes, and open areas of the body from radioactive substances, respiratory protection equipment (gas masks, respirators, anti-dust fabric masks and cotton-gauze bandages), as well as skin protection equipment, are used.

basis neutron munitions make up thermonuclear charges that use nuclear fission and fusion reactions. The explosion of such a munition has a damaging effect, first of all, on people due to the powerful flow of penetrating radiation.

During the explosion of a neutron munition, the area of ​​the zone affected by penetrating radiation exceeds the area of ​​the zone affected by the shock wave by several times. In this zone, equipment and structures can remain unharmed, and people will receive fatal defeats.

The focus of nuclear destruction called the territory that has been directly affected by the damaging factors of a nuclear explosion. It is characterized by massive destruction of buildings and structures, blockages, accidents in public utilities networks, fires, radioactive contamination and significant losses among the population.

The size of the source is the larger, the more powerful the nuclear explosion. The nature of destruction in the hearth also depends on the strength of the structures of buildings and structures, their number of storeys and building density. For the outer boundary of the focus of nuclear damage, a conditional line is taken in the locality, drawn at such a distance from the epicenter (center) of the explosion, where the magnitude of the excess pressure of the shock wave is 10 kPa.

The focus of a nuclear lesion is conditionally divided into zones - areas with approximately the same destruction in nature.

A zone of complete destruction is a territory exposed to a shock wave with an overpressure (at the outer boundary) of more than 50 kPa. In the zone, all buildings and structures, as well as anti-radiation shelters and part of the shelters, are completely destroyed, solid blockages are formed, and the utility and energy network is damaged.

The zone of severe destruction - with excess pressure in the front of the shock wave from 50 to 30 kPa. In this zone, ground buildings and structures will be severely damaged, local blockages will form, and continuous and massive fires will occur. Most of the shelters will remain, with individual shelters blocked by entrances and exits. People in them can only be injured due to a violation of the sealing of shelters, their flooding or gas contamination.

The zone of medium destruction is with excess pressure in the front of the shock wave from 30 to 20 kPa. In it, buildings and structures will receive medium destruction. Shelters and shelters of the basement type will remain. From light radiation there will be continuous fires.

The zone of weak destruction - with excess pressure in the front of the shock wave from 20 to 10 kPa. Buildings will receive minor damage. Separate fires will arise from light radiation.

Zone of radioactive contamination- this is a territory that has been contaminated with radioactive substances as a result of their fallout after ground (underground) and low air nuclear explosions.

The damaging effect of radioactive substances is mainly due to gamma radiation. The harmful effect of ionizing radiation is estimated by the radiation dose (irradiation dose; D), that is, the energy of these rays absorbed per unit volume of the irradiated substance. This energy is measured in existing dosimetric instruments in roentgens (R). X-ray - this is such a dose of gamma radiation that creates 2.083 billion pairs of ions in 1 cm 3 of dry air (at a temperature of 0 ° C and a pressure of 760 mm Hg. Art.).

Usually, the radiation dose is determined for a certain period of time, called the exposure time (the time people stay in the contaminated area).

To assess the intensity of gamma radiation emitted by radioactive substances in contaminated areas, the concept of "radiation dose rate" (radiation level) has been introduced. The dose rate is measured in roentgens per hour (R / h), small dose rates - in milliroentgens per hour (mR / h).

Gradually, the radiation dose rates (radiation levels) decrease. Thus, dose rates (radiation levels) measured 1 hour after a ground-based nuclear explosion will be halved after 2 hours, 4 times after 3 hours, 10 times after 7 hours, and 100 times after 49 hours.

The degree of radioactive contamination and the size of the contaminated area of ​​the radioactive trace during a nuclear explosion depend on the power and type of explosion, meteorological conditions, as well as on the nature of the terrain and soil. The dimensions of the radioactive trace are conditionally divided into zones (Fig. 1).

Rice. 1. Formation of a radioactive trace from a ground-based nuclear explosion

Zone of dangerous infection. At the outer boundary of the zone, the radiation dose (from the moment radioactive substances fall out of the cloud onto the terrain until their complete decay) is 1200 R, the radiation level 1 hour after the explosion is 240 R/h.

Highly contaminated area. At the outer boundary of the zone, the radiation dose is 400 R, the radiation level 1 hour after the explosion is 80 R/h.

Zone of moderate infection. At the outer boundary of the zone, the radiation dose is 40 R, the radiation level 1 hour after the explosion is 8 R/h.

As a result of exposure to ionizing radiation, as well as exposure to penetrating radiation, people develop radiation sickness. A dose of 100-200 R causes radiation sickness of the first degree, a dose of 200-400 R - radiation sickness of the second degree, a dose of 400-600 R - radiation sickness of the third degree, a dose of more than 600 R - radiation sickness of the fourth degree.

The dose of a single irradiation for four days up to 50 R, as well as repeated irradiation up to 100 R for 10-30 days, does not cause external signs of the disease and is considered safe.

Chemical weapon

is a weapon of mass destruction, the action of which is based on the toxic properties of certain chemicals. It includes chemical warfare agents and means of their use.

Signs of the use of chemical weapons by the enemy are: a faint, dull sound of ammunition explosions on the ground and in the air and the appearance of smoke in places of explosions, which quickly dissipates; dark stripes that follow the aircraft, settling on the ground; oily spots on leaves, soil, buildings, as well as near the craters of exploding bombs and shells, a change in the natural color of vegetation (green leaves tinged); people at the same time feel irritation of the nasopharynx, eyes, constriction of the pupils, a feeling of heaviness in the chest.

(OV)- these are chemical compounds that, when used, are capable of infecting people and animals over large areas, penetrating various structures, infecting terrain and water bodies.

They are equipped with missiles, aerial bombs, artillery shells and mines, chemical bombs, as well as pouring aircraft devices (VAP). When used, agents can be in a drop-liquid state, in the form of gas (steam) and aerosol (fog, smoke). They can penetrate the human body and infect it through the respiratory, digestive, skin and eyes.

According to the effect on the human body, toxic substances are divided into nerve-paralytic, blistering, asphyxiating, general poisonous, irritating and psychochemical.

poisonous substances nerve agent(VX - Vi-X, GB - sarin, GD - soman) affect the nervous system when acting on the body through the respiratory system, when penetrating in a vaporous and drip-liquid state through the skin, and also when it enters the gastrointestinal tract along with food and water. Their resistance in the summer is more than a day, in the winter for several weeks and even months. These OVs are the most dangerous. A very small amount of them is enough to defeat a person.

Signs of damage are: salivation, constriction of the pupils (miosis), difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, convulsions, paralysis. In severe lesions, signs of poisoning develop very quickly. After about 1 minute, loss of consciousness occurs and severe convulsions are observed, turning into paralysis. Death occurs in 5-15 minutes from paralysis of the respiratory center and heart muscle.

A gas mask and protective clothing are used as personal protective equipment. To provide first aid to the affected person, they put on a gas mask and inject him with a syringe tube or by taking an antidote tablet. When a nerve agent comes into contact with the skin or clothing, the affected areas are treated with a liquid from an individual anti-chemical package.

poisonous substances blister action(mustard gas, lewisite) have a multilateral damaging effect. In the drop-liquid and vapor state, they affect the skin and eyes, when inhaled vapors - the respiratory tract and lungs, when ingested with food and water - the digestive organs. Feature mustard gas - the presence of a period of latent action (the lesion is not detected immediately, but after a while - 4 hours or more). Signs of damage are reddening of the skin, the formation of small blisters, which then merge into large ones and burst after two or three days, turning into ulcers that are difficult to heal. Eyes are very sensitive to mustard gas. If drops or an aerosol of O B get into the eyes, after 30 minutes a burning sensation, itching and increasing pain appear. The lesion develops rapidly in depth and for the most part ends in loss of vision. With any local lesion, the agents cause a general poisoning of the body, which manifests itself in fever, malaise.

In the conditions of application of agents of blistering action, it is necessary to be in a gas mask and protective clothing. If OB drops get on the skin or clothing, the affected areas are immediately treated with liquid from an individual anti-chemical bag.

poisonous substances suffocating action(phosgene, diphosgene) affect the body through the respiratory system. Signs of defeat are a sweetish, unpleasant aftertaste in the mouth, cough, dizziness, general weakness. These phenomena disappear after leaving the focus of infection, and the victim feels normal within 2-12 hours, unaware of the lesion. During this period (latent action) pulmonary edema develops. Then breathing may deteriorate sharply, a cough with copious sputum, headache, fever, shortness of breath, and palpitations may appear. Death usually occurs on the second or third day. If this critical period passed, then the condition of the affected person gradually begins to improve, and after 2-3 weeks recovery may occur.

In case of damage, a gas mask is put on the victim, they take him out of the infected area, cover him warmly and provide him with peace. Under no circumstances should artificial respiration be given to the victim.

poisonous substances general poisonous action(hydrocyanic acid, cyanogen chloride) affect only by inhalation of air contaminated with their vapors (they do not act through the skin). Signs of damage are a metallic taste in the mouth, throat irritation, dizziness, weakness, nausea, severe convulsions, paralysis. To protect against them, it is enough to use only a gas mask.

To help the victim, it is necessary to crush the ampoule with the antidote and insert it under the gas mask helmet. In severe cases, the victim is given artificial respiration, warmed up and sent to the medical center.

poisonous substances irritant(CS - CS, adamsite, etc.) cause acute burning and pain in the mouth, throat and eyes, severe lacrimation, cough, difficulty breathing.

poisonous substances psychochemical action(BZ - Bi-Zet) specifically act on the central nervous system and cause mental (hallucinations, fear, depression) or physical (blindness, deafness) disorders. Signs of damage are manifested in dilated pupils, dry mouth, increased heart rate, dizziness, muscle weakness.

After 30-60 minutes, there is a weakening of attention and memory, a decrease in reactions to external stimuli. The affected person loses orientation, phenomena of psychomotor agitation occur, periodically replaced by hallucinations. Contact with the surrounding world is lost, and the affected person is unable to distinguish reality from the illusory representations occurring in his mind. The consequence of impaired consciousness is insanity with partial or complete loss of memory. Separate signs of damage persist up to 5 days.

In case of damage to toxic agents of irritating and psychochemical action, it is necessary to treat the infected areas of the body with soapy water, rinse the eyes and nasopharynx thoroughly clean water, and shake out or clean the clothes with a brush. Victims should be removed from the infected area and given medical attention.

The territory within which mass destruction of people and farm animals occurred as a result of the impact of chemical weapons is called site of chemical attack. Its dimensions depend on the scale and method of application of RW, type of RW, meteorological conditions, terrain, and other factors.

Persistent nerve agents are especially dangerous, the vapors of which spread downwind over a fairly long distance (15-25 km or more). Therefore, people and animals can be hit by them not only in the area where chemical munitions are used, but also far beyond its borders.

The duration of the damaging effect of the OV is the shorter, the stronger wind and ascending air currents. In forests, parks, ravines, on narrow streets, OM persists longer than in open areas.

The territory directly exposed to the chemical weapons of the enemy, and the territory over which a cloud of contaminated air has spread in damaging concentrations, is called zone of chemical contamination. Distinguish between primary and secondary zones of infection. The primary zone is formed as a result of the impact of the primary cloud of contaminated air, the source of which is the vapors and aerosols of the agents that appeared directly during the explosion of chemical munitions; the secondary zone - as a result of the impact of a cloud, which is formed during the evaporation of OM droplets that have settled after the rupture of chemical munitions.

Biological weapons

It is a means of mass destruction of people, farm animals and plants. Its action is based on the use of the pathogenic properties of microorganisms (bacteria, rickettsia, fungi, as well as toxins produced by some bacteria). Biological weapons include formulations of pathogens and means of delivering them to the target (missiles, aerial bombs and containers, aerosol dispensers, artillery shells, etc.).

Biological weapons are capable of causing massive dangerous diseases of people and animals over vast territories, they have a damaging effect for a long time, and have a long latent (incubation) period of action. Microbes and toxins are difficult to detect in the external environment, they can penetrate with the air into unsealed shelters and rooms and infect people and animals in them. Signs of the use of biological weapons by the enemy are: a muffled, unusual for conventional ammunition, the sound of shells and bombs exploding; the presence of large fragments and individual parts of ammunition in places of ruptures; the appearance of drops of liquid or powdery substances on the ground; unusual accumulation of insects and mites in places where ammunition bursts and containers fall; mass diseases of people and animals. In addition, the use of biological agents by the enemy can be determined using laboratory tests.

As biological means, the enemy can use pathogens of various infectious diseases: plague, anthrax, brucellosis, glanders, tularemia, cholera, yellow and other types of fever, spring-summer encephalitis, typhus and typhoid fever, influenza, malaria, dysentery, smallpox, etc. In addition, botulinum toxin can be used, causing severe poisoning of the human body. For the defeat of animals, along with the pathogens of anthrax and glanders, it is possible to use foot-and-mouth disease viruses, plague cattle and birds, pig cholera, etc. For the defeat of agricultural plants, it is possible to use pathogens of rust of cereals, late blight of potatoes, late wilt of corn and other crops; insects - pests of agricultural plants; phytotoxicants, defoliants, herbicides and other chemicals.

Infection of people and animals occurs as a result of inhalation of contaminated air, contact with microbes or toxins on the mucous membrane and damaged skin, consumption of contaminated food and water, bites of infected insects and ticks, contact with contaminated objects, injury by fragments of ammunition equipped with biological agents, as well as as a result of direct communication with sick people (animals). A number of diseases are quickly transmitted from sick people to healthy people and cause epidemics (plague, cholera, typhoid, influenza, etc.).

The main means of protecting the population from biological weapons include: vaccine-serum preparations, antibiotics, sulfanilamide and other medicinal substances used for special and emergency prevention of infectious diseases, personal and collective protective equipment, chemicals used to neutralize pathogens of infectious diseases.

If signs of the use of biological weapons by the enemy are found, they immediately put on gas masks (respirators, masks), as well as skin protection and report this to the nearest civil defense headquarters, the director of the institution, the head of the enterprise, organization.

Cities are considered to be the focus of biological damage. settlements and objects of the national economy that have been directly affected by biological agents that create a source of the spread of infectious diseases. Its boundaries are determined on the basis of biological intelligence data, laboratory studies of samples from objects external environment, as well as identifying patients and ways of spreading emerging infectious diseases. Armed guards are installed around the hearth, entry and exit, as well as the export of property, are prohibited.

To prevent the spread of infectious diseases among the population in the lesion, a complex of anti-epidemic and sanitary-hygienic measures is carried out: emergency prevention; observation and quarantine; sanitary treatment of the population; disinfection of various infected objects. If necessary, destroy insects, ticks and rodents (desinsection and deratization).

The twentieth century was not only an era of rapid technological growth and the greatest scientific discoveries, it also "gave" humanity completely new threats, some of which may well put a bullet in the history of our civilization. The most real of them, of course, are weapons of mass destruction, which are quite capable of sending our biological species into oblivion after dinosaurs or mammoths.

Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) is a definition that combines several different types of weapons in their action, each of which is capable of leading to mass death of people. Moreover, in this case, the term "mass" is interpreted very broadly: from several thousand to many millions of dead. Currently, only nuclear, chemical and biological weapons are classified as WMD. However, science does not stand still: scientists different countries world without rest are developing new weapons of mass destruction, which in terms of their deadly qualities may well surpass the existing ones.

The first large-scale use of WMD occurred during the First World War - on April 22, 1915, the Germans carried out the famous chlorine attack near Ypres. The “capabilities” of the new weapon impressed the military so much that in just a few months the conflict turned into a real chemical war. Used OV and the Russian army.

Much louder was the "benefit performance" of another type of weapon of mass destruction - a nuclear bomb. In August 1945, the Americans dropped similar munitions on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. As a result of these attacks, about 200 thousand people died ... This event was included in all historical books, dictionaries and encyclopedias.

The third type of WMD, biological weapons, fortunately, has never been used on a large scale in the course of hostilities, although there have been attempts to use it in a limited way.

Improving weapons of mass destruction is happening in our days. New types of combat gases and pathogens are being developed, more powerful and effective means delivery of nuclear weapons. It is possible that in the near future there will be new types of weapons of mass destruction based on other physical principles. In parallel with the work on the development of WMD, various states are conducting serious research aimed at protecting against weapons of mass destruction - new vaccines are being synthesized, more effective personal protective equipment (PPE) is being adopted, etc.

What are weapons of mass destruction

The current classification of weapons of mass destruction is quite simple, WMD is divided into three types:

• nuclear (thermonuclear);
• chemical;
• biological.

In turn, nuclear weapons (NW) are divided into:

• Nuclear explosive devices that use only the fission energy of plutonium or uranium nuclei.
• Thermonuclear explosive devices, in which the bulk of the energy comes from nuclear fusion reactions.

At present, the vast majority of existing nuclear weapons charges work on the basis of fusion reactions, that is, they belong to thermonuclear weapons. It is also customary to divide nuclear weapons by power, from ultra-small (up to 1 Kt) to extra-large (over 1 Mt). Separate mention should be made of nuclear weapons, in which one of the damaging factors significantly prevails over the others. So, for example, a cobalt bomb gives the maximum possible contamination of the area, and the main damaging factor of a neutron bomb is penetrating radiation.

The classification of chemical weapons is based on the physiological effects they have on the human body. This is the most important characteristic of weapons of mass destruction of this type. Given it, combat gases are:

• Nerve agents (sarin, soman, tabun and V-gases);
• Skin blister action (mustard gas, lewisite);
• General toxic action (cyanogen chloride, hydrocyanic acid);
• Choking action (phosgene);
• Psychochemical action;
• Irritant action (chloropicrin, adamsin).

Depending on the degree of impact of weapons of mass destruction, toxic substances are divided into lethal and those that incapacitate a person temporarily. However, this division is somewhat arbitrary. There are also classifications of agents based on their persistence and rate of exposure to humans.

Biological or bacteriological weapons of mass destruction are classified according to the types of pathogenic organisms, as well as the methods of their use.

Nuclear weapons and their main damaging factors

The most powerful type of WMD is, without a doubt, nuclear weapons. Almost immediately after its appearance, it turned into the most important strategic factor, which it remains to this day. The power of nuclear weapons is capable of demolishing huge megacities and killing millions of people in a matter of seconds, and the radiation generated during the explosion can infect vast territories for many years. At present, only a few states in the world have this weapon of mass destruction in their arsenals, the United States and Russia possess the largest number of nuclear charges.

Below are the main damaging factors of nuclear weapons:

• light radiation;
• shock wave;
• penetrating radiation;
• electromagnetic impulse;
• long-term contamination of the area with radiation.

Of all the energy of a nuclear explosion, 50% is spent on the shock wave, 35% goes to light radiation, 10% to radioactive contamination, and 5% to penetrating radiation. This must be taken into account when creating shelters from the effects of this type of WMD.

The shock wave is the main damaging factor of nuclear weapons. She represents the front compressed air, which propagates in all directions from the epicenter of the explosion at supersonic speed.

Light radiation is a stream of energy that spreads instantly after an explosion, but acts for a rather short time. Radiation burns or ignites all combustible materials, causes burns, affects the organs of vision of people and animals. The intensity of light radiation decreases with distance from the epicenter of the explosion. You should also be aware that any opaque materials that give a shadow are an obstacle to this defeat factor.

Penetrating radiation is a stream of hard radiation, mainly consisting of neutrons and gamma rays. Its impact is also short-term - 10-15 seconds after the explosion. However, this time may be enough to lose health and “catch” radiation sickness. Steel and concrete shield penetrating radiation well, earth and wood make it somewhat worse.

Another serious threat of nuclear weapons of mass destruction is the radioactive contamination of the area. It occurs due to the products of a nuclear reaction, as well as the impact of the explosion on objects and materials that were at the epicenter. At the moment of a nuclear explosion, a cloud is usually formed, saturated with radioactive elements, which can be carried by the wind for tens of kilometers. This factor of destruction carries the greatest danger in the first hours and days after the use of nuclear weapons, then it decreases somewhat.

Another damaging factor of nuclear weapons is a powerful electromagnetic pulse that occurs at the time of the explosion. It disables electronic equipment and disrupts the operation of communications.

Ways to protect against nuclear weapons

Is it possible to protect against weapons of mass destruction (WMD) of this type? It should be understood that if you find yourself close to the epicenter of a powerful nuclear explosion, then no protection or shelter will save you. If the distance is significant, then, using various methods of protection, you will get the opportunity not only to stay alive, but also significantly reduce the harmful effects of damaging factors on your body.

Also in Soviet time a thermonuclear strike of high power (from 2 to 10 megatons) was simulated in the center of Moscow. At the epicenter of the explosion, a fiery sphere with a diameter of 1.5-2 km will appear, which will cover the area boulevard ring- Kremlin - Polyanka. Everything that is there will instantly turn into plasma. Light and heat radiation will incinerate all organic matter at a distance of 3-4 km from the epicenter, within the radius of the Garden Ring the temperature will rise to tens of thousands of degrees and almost everything will burn there, from asphalt to brick and concrete walls. Within a radius of 25 km, all combustible materials and structures aimed at an explosion will flare up, a large-scale and massive fire will engulf the entire city up to the Moscow Ring Road. The shock wave will turn the entire center within the radius of the Garden Ring into a leveled landscape, littered with crushed burning debris. Further, all ground structures will be destroyed, and the reverse shock wave caused by the burning out of oxygen at the epicenter will lead to the so-called firestorm effect. Within the Moscow Ring Road, the city will be a leveled surface covered with burning coals and baked glassy mass. Neither bomb shelters, nor the subway, nor other underground communications will help Muscovites - all this will inevitably be overwhelmed ... Large-scale fires will continue for at least several days, preventing rescue work from starting. The creators of this model came to the conclusion that it is expedient to save someone at a distance of at least 5-10 km from the Moscow Ring Road.

If the distance from the epicenter of the explosion is still large, then you can save your life by hiding in a shelter. Usually this is an underground room, which protects mainly from penetrating radiation and radioactive fallout. In addition, individual protection against weapons of mass destruction of this type is also used, as a rule, these are gas masks and special suits. They are effective against radioactive dust and fallout.

Chemical weapons and their main features

Developments in the field of poison gases began actively in the last third of the 19th century. Even before the start of the large-scale use of this WMD, it was banned by international conventions as inhumane and inhumane. However, this did not stop anyone at all. As mentioned above, for the first time combat gases were used during the First World War, very soon all parties to the conflict began to use these weapons.

After the end of WWI, work on chemical weapons was continued, and protection against weapons of mass destruction of this type was improved in parallel. Fortunately for mankind, war gases were never used on a large scale again. During the Great Patriotic War, the Nazis used poisonous substances (OV) to kill defenseless prisoners of concentration camps.

At present, the most deadly chemical weapons are nerve gases, which were first synthesized in Germany in the mid-1930s. Why Hitler did not use this OV against his opponents still remains a mystery.

It should be understood that modern types of these weapons of mass destruction of toxic substances are much more terrible than their counterparts a century ago. Nerve gases can affect the human body not only through the respiratory system, but also simply by getting on the skin. Moreover, the toxicity of these substances is simply monstrous.

If you open a vial of soman nerve gas for just a few seconds and hold your breath, you will still die. You will be killed by vapors of OM that enter the body through the skin.

It should be noted that soman was synthesized in the 40s of the last century. Since then, chemists have managed to create even more deadly gases. Immediately after the war, specialists from private Western companies discovered VX gases, which today are considered one of the most toxic substances on the planet. They are several hundred times more toxic than phosgene.

Currently, there are several types of delivery of chemical weapons to the point of their use. Most often, ammunition is equipped with toxic substances: artillery shells, rockets or air bombs. It is also possible to spray agents from special aviation containers.

Defense against chemical weapons of mass destruction

Since the first use of chemical weapons, there has been continuous work on ways to protect against them. And it must be said that notable results have been achieved in this area. The most well-known and common way to protect against OV is the use of gas masks. The first samples of such devices appeared in the 19th century, they were used in hazardous industries and in extinguishing fires. However, gas masks became truly widespread already during the First World War. Through numerous trials and errors, the optimal design of this protective agent was developed, which has not fundamentally changed to this day. Currently, there are dozens of models of gas masks designed for military personnel, civilians, children, etc.

With the advent of toxic substances capable of penetrating the human body through the skin, various protective suits began to be used in addition to the gas mask.

The complex of protective equipment also includes a variety of systems for determining OM in the environment, as well as antidotes that are injected into the body of victims of a chemical attack. Moreover, these protection elements are no less important than the reliability of a gas mask - many of the modern gases are practically colorless and odorless, so it is very difficult to detect a mortal danger without special devices. Antidotes are no less important: if you introduce an antidote at the first sign of poisoning, then a person’s life can be saved.

In general, it can be said that in our time chemical weapon is gradually losing its relevance. And there are several reasons for this:

• Non-selectivity. Chemical weapons are very unpredictable and extremely difficult to control. This process is strongly influenced by meteorological factors: wind direction and speed, temperature, humidity, and the presence of precipitation. By using chemical weapons, one cannot be sure that the civilian population will not suffer - the gas does not "go over to the individual" and kills everyone in a row. The recent events in Syria are a clear confirmation of this;
• Low efficiency. For more than half a century, generals have been preparing for chemical warfare, so the army is protected from poisonous substances quite reliably. Each serviceman has a chemical protection kit, military equipment is equipped with filter and ventilation units. Every armed force is made up of troops chemical protection. So you can’t poison the military with gas. What OV is really suitable for is almost ideal for the genocide of civilians, but such actions in the modern world usually have very serious consequences for their organizers;
• Problems with production and storage. Explosions in warehouses with conventional ammunition are a serious man-made disaster, fraught with numerous victims and great destruction. It's scary to even imagine what will happen if shells filled with, for example, sarin start to explode. Storage of chemical weapons is very expensive, the same can be said about their production.

Nevertheless, it is still too early, unfortunately, to write off chemical weapons to the museum. Developments in this area are carried out by many third world countries that cannot afford nuclear weapons. An even greater danger is the possibility of OM falling into the hands of terrorists. Making this type of WMD in our age of the Internet is quite simple, but the consequences of a terrorist attack using it in a peaceful city can be terrible.

Biological weapons and features of their use

Biological weapons use the pathogenic properties of pathogens various diseases for the mass destruction of enemy manpower, its population, agricultural plants and animals. Since ancient times, mankind has suffered from various epidemics, and the military has long dreamed of using diseases as a weapon. However, this was only possible in the last century.

This type of WMD consists of the pathogenic organisms themselves and their means of delivery, which can be shells, rockets, bombs, mines, and air containers. The spread of pathogens can be carried out with the help of infected rodents or insects. Plague, cholera, Ebola, anthrax, typhoid, influenza, malaria, and smallpox are used as pathogens.

The British thought about the possible use of biological weapons during World War II, during the same period the Japanese used it in Mongolia and China. There is unconfirmed information about the use of biological weapons by the Americans in the Korean War. In the Soviet Union, anthrax was leaked from a secret laboratory in 1979, killing more than 60 people.

Means of protection against biological weapons of mass destruction can be divided into several groups. First of all, these are, of course, all the same gas masks and protective suits - that is, individual protective equipment. Vaccination is also very important. In the focus of infection, a complex of sanitary-hygienic and anti-epidemic measures is being carried out, including quarantine, sanitization and disinfection.

The main disadvantage of biological weapons is their non-selectivity. Moreover, in this it is significantly superior to chemical. It is possible to organize an epidemic behind enemy lines, but how then to control it? And in today's globalized world, the likelihood that, in a matter of days, the causative agent of plague or anthrax will be on your own territory is very high. Moreover, biological weapons will first of all hit the civilian population, the armed forces are quite reliably protected from it.

Viruses and pathogenic bacteria can become the most dangerous weapon in the hands of terrorists. The Americans calculated that several hundred kilograms of anthrax spores sprayed into major city, can cause the death of hundreds of thousands, and even millions of citizens during the day.

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Weapons of mass destruction

Nuclear explosion

Weapons of mass destruction (weapons of mass destruction) - a weapon of great lethality, designed to cause massive losses or destruction. .

Such capabilities have, and, therefore, can be considered weapons of mass destruction (WMD), in particular, the following types of weapons:

Many types of WMD have environmentally hazardous side effects. (For example, radioactive contamination of the area by products of a nuclear explosion.)

Consequences comparable to the consequences of the use of environmentally hazardous types of WMD may also occur in the case of the use of conventional weapons or the commission of terrorist acts on ecologically dangerous objects, (for example: nuclear power plants or chemical plants, dams and waterworks, etc.).

Also, the impact of WMD demoralizes both the troops and the civilian population.

The following types of weapons of mass destruction are in service with modern states:

Characteristics

They are characterized by high destructive power and a large area of ​​action. The objects of influence can be both the people themselves, structures, and the natural habitat: fertile soils, terrain (in order to fetter the enemy), plants, animals.

The damaging factors of WMD always have both an instantaneous effect and a more or less extended one in time. Typical examples of damaging factors of instant action:

• shockwave,
• strong light flash (strong light emission),
• streams of high-energy particles,
• electromagnetic pulse,
• artificial tsunami,
• artificial earth tremors.

Typical examples of long-term damaging factors:

• contamination of the area with products of a nuclear explosion and the resulting sharp increase in the local radiation background,
• chemical pollution.

For example, the damaging factors of the following types of WMD are known.

• The damaging factors of a nuclear explosion:
  • air shock wave,
  • light radiation of a nuclear explosion,
  • intense flow of high-energy particles, X-ray and -radiation - penetrating radiation,
  • electromagnetic pulse,
  • contamination with nuclear products.
• The damaging factors of chemical weapons are:
  • actually, a toxic substance in various forms (gaseous, aerosol, on the surface of objects),
  • chemical pollution of air, water, soil;

The duration of action varies depending on the type of poisonous substance and meteorological conditions.

• The damaging factors of biological weapons are the following pathogen (aerosol, on the surface of objects).

(Duration may vary depending on pathogen and external conditions from several hours or days to tens of years (natural foci of anthrax exist for at least decades)).

Hypothetical and promising types of weapons of mass destruction

Possible promising types of WMD:

• Geophysical weapons
• Annihilation weapon (Antimatter bomb, relativistic electron accelerator, gamma laser)
• Orbital cannon

Not a single adopted sample of such a weapon is known.

Hypothetical types of WMD:

• Microwave weapons

The danger of war

The development of research in the development of weapons of mass destruction has led to a significant increase in the danger of war both for the participating countries and for the whole world. In some cases, WMD, on the contrary, acts as a guarantor of peace. For example, a country with a small military potential is able to deter a stronger country from aggression by the threat of inflicting unacceptable damage in the event of the use of WMD. During the Cold War, peace between NATO and the WTO was maintained by the threat of mutually assured destruction.

see also

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Types of weapons of mass destruction.

The types of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) include: nuclear, chemical and biological weapons that can destroy masses of people and animals, cause destruction, and cause large-scale damage to the environment.

Nuclear weapon.

Nuclear weapons are based on the use of intra-nuclear energy released during a reaction that has the character of an explosion.

If an explosion occurs on the ground or fairly close to its surface, then part of the explosion energy is transferred to the Earth's surface in the form of seismic vibrations. A phenomenon occurs, which in its features resembles an earthquake. As a result of such an explosion, seismic waves are formed, which propagate through the thickness of the earth to very large distances. The destructive effect of the wave is limited to a radius of several hundred meters.

As a result of the extremely high temperature of the explosion, a bright flash of light arises, the intensity of which is hundreds of times greater than the intensity of the sun's rays falling on the Earth. A flash releases a huge amount of heat and light. Light radiation causes spontaneous combustion of flammable materials and burns the skin of people within a radius of many kilometers.

A nuclear explosion produces radiation. It lasts about a minute and has such a high penetrating power that powerful and reliable shelters are required to protect against it at close distances.

The power of an explosion of nuclear munitions is usually characterized by the weight of a conventional explosive - TNT, the explosion of which, in its destructive effect, is approximately equivalent to the explosion of nuclear munitions. Such a value, as a rule, is expressed in thousands of tons (kilotons) or millions of tons (megatons) of TNT and is called the TNT equivalent of a nuclear charge.

For example, bombs with TNT equivalent of 20 kilotons were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The explosion power of such a bomb was equal to the power of a simultaneous explosion of 20,000 tons of TNT.

Nuclear explosions are divided into air, ground, underwater and underground. Air explosions can be made at a height of several hundred meters, ground (surface) - near the surface of the earth (water), underground (underwater) - underground (water).

A nuclear explosion has four damaging factors: a shock wave, light radiation, penetrating radiation and radioactive contamination of the area.

shockwave. In a nuclear explosion in a small spherical space, a huge amount of energy is released almost instantly, which leads to a sharp increase in the temperature and pressure of the surrounding air.

The rapid expansion of compressed hot gases creates a strong seal on its outer surface. It propagates rapidly in the atmosphere like waves on the surface of water from a thrown rock. The compaction wave travels so fast that it is called a shock wave. Half of the energy of a nuclear explosion is transferred to the shock wave. Most of the destruction caused by a nuclear explosion falls on its share. It propagates at supersonic speed. The degree of destructive power of a shock wave is determined by the magnitude of the excess pressure in its front, the unit of which is pressure in kilograms per square centimeter of area (kg/cm2). Very severe injuries people outside shelters occur at pressures above 1 kg / cm2.

As you move away from the explosion site, the excess pressure gradually decreases and the degree of destruction decreases. So, during the explosion of atomic bombs in the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, all buildings were destroyed within a radius of 800-1000 m, in a radius of 1000-1500 m buildings received strong and medium damage, in a radius of 1500-2500 m mainly weak destruction prevailed, and then 2500 m - partial.

In addition to the direct impact of the shock wave, damage can be caused by flying debris from buildings, stones and other objects. The nature of the wave action is also influenced by the terrain and green spaces. In the Japanese city of Nagasaki, located on the hills, buildings were destroyed in a significantly smaller area than in Hiroshima, located on a flat area.

One shockwave ability needs to be noted. It can, like water, "flow" into closed rooms not only through windows and doors, but also through small holes and even cracks. This leads to the destruction of partitions and equipment inside the building and the defeat of people in it.

With a nuclear explosion with a capacity of 3 megatons (Mt), you can get light injuries at a distance of 6-10 km from the center of the explosion, medium - 5-7 km, severe - 4 km. The best protection against shock waves are underground and buried structures.

Light emission. A huge mass of energy, released suddenly during a nuclear explosion, forms a fiery luminous ball. Its temperature is about the same as inside the Sun. About one third (30-35%) of the energy of a nuclear explosion is spent on light radiation.

Intense light radiation is capable of igniting combustible materials, causing numerous fires and skin burns, eye damage and temporary blindness to people and animals located in an open area within a radius of many kilometers from the epicenter of a nuclear explosion.

The damaging effect of light radiation is determined by a light pulse, measured in kilocalories per square centimeter (cal / cm2) of a surface perpendicular to the direction of its propagation. The light pulse decreases with increasing distance from the center of the explosion.

Burns of the first degree (light) are caused by a light pulse of 2-4 cal/cm2, second-degree (medium) - 4-10 cal/cm2 and third-degree (strong) - 10-15 cal/cm2. Light radiation propagates only in a straight line, and any opaque barrier can serve as protection against its effects.

In fog, rain, snowfall, the damaging effect of light radiation is negligible.

penetrating radiation. Nuclear explosions, in addition to the shock wave and light radiation, are characterized by another damaging factor - radiation. It can affect people in different ways: in some it can cause instant death, in others it can lead to serious illness, in others it can leave hard-to-detect damage in the body. Penetrating radiation is an invisible and imperceptible flow of gamma rays and neutrons emitted from the zone of a nuclear explosion. It acts for a short time: 10-15 seconds from the moment of explosion.

Gamma rays and neutrons, propagating in any medium, ionize its atoms. As a result of the ionization of the atoms of the human body, the normal vital activity of cells and organs is disturbed in it, which leads to the disease of radiation sickness. The degree of exposure to radioactive radiation on the human body depends mainly on its dose, as well as on the general physical condition. The received dose of radiation distinguishes three degrees of radiation sickness:

A) mild (first) degree - with a radiation dose of 100 to 200 roentgens (r);

B) medium (second) degree - with a radiation dose of 200 to 300 r;

C) severe (third) degree - with a radiation dose of more than 300 r.

At low doses of radiation, signs of radiation sickness may appear after a few hours, and at 400r and above - immediately after exposure. The first signs of the disease include: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, general malaise and weakness.

Protection against penetrating radiation is based on the physical ability of various materials to attenuate the intensity of radioactive radiation. The heavier the material and the thicker the layer, the more reliable the protection. So, radiation is halved when it passes through a 10 cm layer of concrete, a 14 cm layer of earth, a 25 cm layer of wood. People who are in a shelter during an explosion receive a significantly lower dose of radiation than outside the shelter at the same distance.

Radioactive contamination of the area. During a nuclear explosion, radioactive particles (fission products of the warhead nuclei, undecayed particles) are in the fireball. Rising up, the ball is enveloped in fog and smoke and turns into a swirling cloud in a few seconds. Ascending air currents capture soil, small objects, materials from the ground, carrying them with the cloud, and they become radioactive. So, in a ground nuclear explosion, a huge amount of dust rises to a height of 10-12 km more. The largest particles fall out of the cloud directly in the area of ​​the explosion during the first 30-40 minutes after the explosion. But most of them remain in the cloud and are moved by air currents hundreds and thousands of kilometers from the place of the explosion.

The shape and size of the radioactive "trail" depend on the type and power of the nuclear explosion, the direction and speed of the wind at different heights. The settling rate of particles of radioactive dust is directly dependent on their density and size.

Air, terrain, buildings, structures, reservoirs, crops, pastures and all ground objects can be contaminated with radioactive substances.

Being in a contaminated area is extremely dangerous. Humans and animals are exposed to continuous external radiation. When inhaling air, eating food and drinking water, radioactive substances can enter the body. As a result of external and internal exposure, humans and animals fall ill with radiation sickness.

When protecting people and animals, it is necessary to take into account some specific features of radioactive substances. They do not have any external signs, and they can only be detected with the help of special dosimetric instruments. Radioactive decay cannot be stopped or accelerated by any means or methods. Therefore, disinfection of the area and various objects contaminated with radioactive substances can only be carried out by mechanical removal of these objects and soil.

Chemical weapon.

Chemical weapons are commonly referred to as poisonous substances. They can be used in the form of gases, liquids, fumes and mists and are intended to affect people, animals and the area, various structures, industrial equipment, food, water and fodder.

For the first time poisonous substances as weapons were used in the first world war. Many countries of the world have accumulated a large amount of poisonous substances, but during the Second World War they were not widely used. The main reason for their limited use is that this tool is not always a sufficiently effective weapon.

The defeat of people and animals occurs from the inhalation of contaminated air, from the ingress of liquid droplets of poisonous substances on the skin or mucous membranes, as well as from the use of contaminated food, water and fodder. Poisonous substances in small doses are capable of inflicting severe injuries on people and animals.

Depending on the duration of the preservation of the main combat damaging properties, poisonous agents are divided into persistent and unstable.

Slowly evaporating oily liquid poisonous substances such as mustard gas, lewisite and others are related to the resistant. They can, infecting the area, retain their damaging properties for many days, and at low temperatures for much longer.

Unstable poisonous substances include gas and smoke-forming, rapidly dissipating and evaporating, which retain their damaging properties for several minutes. They are subdivided into groups of nerve-paralytic, blistering, general poisonous and suffocating.

Nerve agents attack the central nervous system. These include strong fast-acting poisons - sarin, soman, tabun. Sarin is a colorless, odorless liquid. Soman is also colorless, but has a faint aromatic odor. Tabun is a red-brown liquid with a slight fruity odor.

These toxic substances can be used in a vapor-fog or drop-liquid state.

Poisonous substances of blistering action affect the skin. These include mustard gas and lewisite. Mustard gas is a heavy oily liquid of dark brown color with the smell of garlic or mustard. Lewisite is an oily heavy liquid with a strong pungent odor reminiscent of the smell of geranium leaves.

Skin-blister poisonous substances are used in a drop-liquid state to infect the area and injure people, but can also be used in the form of fogs. On contact with the skin, they cause swelling of the affected areas, turning into blisters, and then into purulent ulcers.

Poisonous substances of general poisonous action cause general poisoning of the body. These substances include hydrocyanic acid, cyanogen chloride. Hydrocyanic acid is a rapidly evaporating colorless liquid with the smell of bitter almonds. Cyanogen chloride is a colorless, rapidly evaporating liquid with a sharp peculiar odor.

General poisonous poisonous substances can be used in the vapor state. Lesions are applied through the respiratory organs. Signs of damage: irritation in the throat, dizziness, shortness of breath, convulsions.

Asphyxiating poisonous substances affect the respiratory system. These include phosgene, a colorless gas with the smell of rotten hay. The defeat is felt after 4-6 hours.

It is possible to detect poisonous substances in the air and on the ground and determine their nature only with the help of chemical reconnaissance instruments. But in some cases, the use of chemical weapons can be established by outward signs. When chemical bombs and shells explode, a dull sound is heard and a white or slightly colored cloud appears, which quickly dissipates. If poisonous agents are used with the help of aviation pouring devices, dark, quickly disappearing streaks can be seen behind the tail of the aircraft, and drops appear on the surface of the soil, on the walls of buildings, structures (from the leeward side), on vegetation and objects.

At the slightest suspicion of the use of toxic substances, a gas mask should be immediately put on, and also, if available, other means of protection - stockings, gloves and capes.

Bacteriological weapon.

There are two main classes of combat bacteriological agents: pathogenic and poisonous.

Pathogenic bacteriological agents are characterized by the ability to multiply very quickly and, therefore, quickly affect the infected organism. Bacteria that enter the body through the respiratory tract (nose, mouth) or through abrasions on the skin can very quickly disable it. The carriers of pathogens are insects, rodents, and larger animals that spread epidemic diseases. Such diseases may include diseases caused by viruses: the common cold (viral flu), chicken pox, certain types of fever (including yellow), measles, infantile paralysis, meningitis, cholera, trachoma, viral pneumonia.

Diseases caused by bacteria are anthrax, dysentery, bubonic plague, diphtheria, gas gangrene, gonorrhea, leprosy, scarlet fever, tuberculosis, tularemia.

Fungal diseases do not pose a serious threat to humans. Fungi can infect plants and cereals, causing great damage to agriculture.

Poisonings are caused by toxins and are very severe. Toxins produced by various types of bacteria lead to disease and death.

The use of bacteriological weapons can cause massive dangerous diseases in large areas.

Foci of damage.

Nuclear lesion.

The most difficult focus of destruction is nuclear. In it, people and animals can get various injuries and burns, as well as be exposed to penetrating radiation or radioactive contamination. From the impact of the shock wave, residential and industrial buildings, structures are destroyed or damaged to varying degrees, accidents occur in the water supply, sewerage, gas, heating, and electrical networks. Massive fires start from light emission. The area in the focus of the lesion and along the trail of the spread of a radioactive cloud is infected with falling radioactive substances. When a shock wave destroys dams, dams and hydraulic structures, large areas are flooded.

The boundaries of the nuclear lesion are determined by the destructive ability of the shock wave. According to the nature of the damage, there can be several zones in the nuclear focus. The division into zones is determined by the magnitude of the excess pressure on the front shock wave and the destruction caused by it.

The first zone of damage includes the territory located within a radius with an overpressure of 1 kg/cm2 or more, the second - the territory where the overpressure is from 1 to 0.3 kg/cm2, and the third - the territory with an overpressure of 0.3 up to 0.1 kg/cm2.

For the complete destruction of an industrial building made of reinforced concrete, an excess pressure of 0.7-0.8 kg/cm2 is sufficient. A stone residential building can withstand a load of up to 0.4-0.5 kg/cm2, while a wooden one is destroyed at a pressure of 0.2-0.3 kg/cm2. Shelter and the simplest basement-type shelters withstand a load of 1 kg / cm2 or more, the same shelters in open areas - 0.5 kg / cm2.

From the foregoing, we can conclude that in the first zone, all reinforced concrete, stone and wooden buildings are completely destroyed, but basement-type shelters and shelters remain. In the second zone, reinforced concrete and stone structures are severely damaged, and wooden buildings are completely destroyed. Shelters and shelters can be flooded and gassed as a result of utility service failures. In the third zone, only wooden buildings receive various damage, but shelters and shelters remain.

The focus of chemical infection.

In the case of the use of chemical weapons, people and animals are affected, and water sources, food, fodder and the area with all buildings are contaminated with poisonous substances. The size of the source of infection and the nature of the lesions in it depend on the method of application of poisonous substances, the toxicity and persistence of chemical substances, the terrain, weather and other reasons.

Persistent poisonous substances affect people and animals, and also infect the area, unstable ones mainly affect people and animals, while the area is partially infected (swamps, lowlands, bushes, ravines).

Bacteriological focus of infection.

Large settlements, railway junctions, food and fodder stores, sources of water supply, livestock farms, meadows and pastures, and agricultural crops may be chosen by the enemy as the most likely targets for the use of bacteriological weapons. The enemy can use the spraying of pathogenic microbes in the air from aircraft (the so-called aerosol method), spread infected rodents (mice, rats, ground squirrels, ferrets), insects (flies, mosquitoes, ticks), and also carry out sabotage, contaminating water sources, fodder and food. The bacteriological focus of infection is characterized by mass diseases of people and animals with a dangerous infectious disease. To prevent the further spread of diseases, quarantine is introduced in the infected area.

Bibliography:

1.)

G.I. Goncharenko. Publisher: "ATOMIZDAT", Moscow - 1967.

"Conversations with the population about civil defense". M.V. Kachulin. Publisher: "ATOMIZDAT", Moscow - 1967.

The outgoing 20th century leaves humanity with huge mountains of weapons capable of destroying life on Earth more than once. People are increasingly making a concerted effort to reduce stockpiles of weapons, or at least reduce the risk of their use, to give newly developed weapons a more “humane” look by increasing the selectivity of targets hit, reducing the negative impact on unplanned objects and the environment. This is the origin of the observed desire to develop non-lethal and other means of influencing the enemy, forcing him to accept the conditions of the opponent without the large-scale use of military force. And among these means are increasingly called the means of information confrontation.

Despite the variety of types of weapons, all of them have a damaging effect primarily on manpower, various objects, natural environment using some form of energy that underlies the action of any type of weapon. Thus, all means of armed struggle, including WMD, depending on the type of impact used to destroy manpower and objects, can be divided into four groups: physical, chemical, biological and social.

The physical group includes all types of weapons based on the principle of explosive action: these are nuclear weapons, as well as the widest class of ammunition based on explosives, particles and radiation (rockets, shells, bombs, mines, land mines, etc.). The most dangerous of them nuclear weapon- weapons of mass destruction based on the use of intranuclear energy released during chain reactions of fission of heavy nuclei of some uranium and plutonium isotopes or during thermonuclear fusion reactions of light nuclei of hydrogen isotopes (deuterium and tritium). The main damaging factors of nuclear weapons: shock wave, light radiation, penetrating radiation, radioactive contamination, electromagnetic pulse. The use of nuclear weapons is fraught with catastrophic consequences for all mankind, therefore, efforts are being made to limit its spread, reduce stocks and delivery vehicles. However, the number of members of the "nuclear club" is steadily expanding, which objectively increases the likelihood of nuclear conflicts.

Chemical weapon based on the use of toxic (commonly poisonous, nerve-paralytic, blistering and other) chemicals (poisonous substances). This type of weapon can be used for mass destruction of troops and the population, contamination of the area, military equipment and materiel. The use of chemical weapons is prohibited the Geneva Protocol of 1925 and the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and Their Destruction, signed in 1993 in Paris to which more than 140 states have joined. Recently, some chemicals have been considered among non-lethal means of destruction for incapacitating manpower (psychotropic and irritating types), as well as weapons and military equipment by rapidly thickening fuel, destroying the anti-friction properties of oils and lubricants, destroying load-bearing structural elements, rubber products etc. But in this case, chemical weapons from WMD are automatically transferred to the category of weapons of local action.

Bacteriological (biological) weapons- one of the types of weapons of mass destruction, capable of causing mass diseases or death of people, animals and plants with the help of bacterial (biological) agents. The use of bacteriological weapons is prohibited Geneva Protocol of 1925 and the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) Weapons and on Their Destruction which has been ratified by over 100 states. However, just like chemical weapons, they are considered for use as non-lethal means of limited action for the functional destruction of weapons and military equipment (destruction of semiconductors and insulating materials, transformation of liquid and solid fuels, lubricants and other materials into unusable ones).

If the first three groups of influences are known and do not require explanation, then the group of social defeat today is interpreted in a very broad sense and requires clarification. It seems logical to subdivide the social impact into material and spiritual. All types of influence on the conditions of life support and existence of the state, population and troops can be attributed to the material. This the widest range measures of an economic, financial, food and other nature, which in modern society are turning into a kind of quasi-weapon- the state can be brought to its knees by imposing an embargo on essential goods, raw materials, food, fuel, by unbalancing its financial system, etc. - i.e. by achieving social and material defeat state structures. Spiritual influence includes everything that affects the spiritual climate of a people, nation, collective, its spiritual heritage, its centuries-old foundations, intellectual and creative potentials. This is the de-ideologization, demoralization and deculturization of society, implemented through artificially organized events along the educational line, in the field of art, science, education, literature, means mass media, i.e. through all possible channels of influence on the process of educating and informing people - what is now usually attributed to a greater extent to the information sphere of the state. The latter is nothing but information impact carried out with the help of information weapons, which is understood as a set of information technologies, methods and means information impact, intended for information warfare .

In the literature (for example,) they distinguish two types of information warfare: information-technical and information-psychological. In information and technical warfare, the main objects of influence and protection are information and technical systems (communication systems, telecommunication systems, radio electronic equipment, etc.), affected by means of software and mathematical influence (viruses, special tabs, interference, etc. .). In information-psychological warfare, such objects are the psyche of the personnel of the Armed Forces, special services and the population of the opposing sides; public opinion formation and decision-making systems. Here as a weapon they act as traditional methods influencing the opinions, moods, feelings of people (disinformation, emphasizing the positive aspects of the problem and hushing up the negative ones, alternating truthful information with false, etc.), and unconventional information technologies with a highly effective impact on the psyche of the masses. Many authors refer to these psychotronic weapons, considered by some of them as the result of research in the field of bioenergy associated with the creation of various technical devices based on the energy of the biofield that exists around a living organism. The possibility of creating psychotronic weapons on this basis is also linked to the use of extrasensory perception, telepathy, clairvoyance, psychokinesis and telekinesis. In the work, psychotronic weapons are considered as one of the components psychophysical weapons, including psychotropic drugs, psychotronic weapons, suggestive methods, as well as various combinations of these means and methods of influencing the human psyche in order to modify it in a given direction. In turn, psychophysical weapons are considered as one of the branches of informational weapons.

What is the place of information weapons among the known and hypothetical types of weapons that may appear in the arsenal of the armies in early XXI century? Naturally, it is impossible to compare with all types of weapons being developed in numerous laboratories around the world. Therefore, we will limit the circle of comparison only with the most dangerous species that, in terms of their lethality, reach the level of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), adhering to the following definition of WMD given to it by the UN Commission: “Weapons intended for mass destruction must be defined, including atomic weapon explosive weapons, radioactive weapons, chemical and biological means of destruction, and any other weapon that will be invented in the future, having properties similar in destructive effect to the atomic bomb and other types of weapons listed above” (UN Reports C3 /32 dated December 1, 1948).

Along with those already mentioned nuclear, chemical and bacteriological (biological), scientists refer to new types of WMD geophysical, laser, genetic, ethnic, radio frequency, infrasonic, based on particle and antiparticle annihilation, asteroid drop, radiological and information weapons. Some experts add to this list beam weapon .

Geophysical weapons is based on the use of means of influence for military purposes on the processes occurring in the solid, liquid and gaseous shells of the Earth. Using the unstable states of these shells, with the help of a small “push”, catastrophic effects of the huge destructive forces of nature are caused. Geophysical weapons include means capable of stimulating earthquakes, the emergence of huge waves such as tsunamis, changes in the thermal regime or the destruction of the ozone layer over certain regions of the planet. According to the nature of the impact, geophysical weapons are sometimes divided into meteorological, ozone and climatic. Weather weapon already used by the Americans during the Vietnam War. Then, with the help of dispersion of silver iodide or lead iodide in rain clouds, heavy rains were provoked, making it difficult to move equipment and troops, flooding large areas, worsening the living conditions of the population. climate weapon is able to influence the processes of weather formation, reducing the agricultural production of the enemy and thereby influencing the development of economic and political situations in the country of impact. Ozone weapon is a set of tools for destroying the ozone layer over the territory of the enemy and, thereby, for penetrating the Earth's surface with hard ultraviolet radiation from the Sun, which has a detrimental effect on the cells of living organisms and plant crops, causes skin burns, contributes to a sharp increase in diseases, and disrupts the thermal balance of the affected area. The ozone weapon, as it were, merges with the climatic one. The use of both can be detrimental neighboring countries and the country that applies them. Given the catastrophic nature of the consequences of the use of geophysical weapons, their use is recognized by international law as a crime against humanity, which is enshrined Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Means of Interference with the Natural Environment adopted by the UN in 1977.

laser weapons strikes objects with a powerful beam of coherent radiation in the optical range, causing melting (evaporation) of metal, damage to sensitive elements and optics of reconnaissance and aiming systems, missile homing heads, blinding and thermal burns of military personnel. Due to their low efficiency, high-power lasers are bulky and heavy structures that have not yet been implemented as combat weapons. Therefore, relatively low-energy devices for creating interference with weapons and military equipment, as well as for disabling instruments and operators of observation, reconnaissance and weapon guidance are mentioned in the press as the latter. In this regard, it seems premature to classify laser weapons as weapons of mass destruction.

Genetic weapons (including ethnic) owes its birth to the rapid development of molecular genetics. The damaging effect of this weapon is based on the implementation of the recombination of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) - the carrier of genetic information. With the help of genetic engineering, it was possible to separate genes and their subsequent recombination with the formation of new DNA molecules with properties changed in the right direction. By introducing such genetic material with pronounced, for example, toxic properties, into virulent bacteria or human viruses, it is possible to obtain an extremely dangerous bacteriological weapon of selective action. This selectivity will be based on differences in blood groups, skin pigmentation, genetic structure. Genetic weapons can affect some ethnic groups of the population, while remaining indifferent to others (ethnic weapons). In terms of striking effectiveness, such weapons, according to experts, are comparable to thermonuclear ones. Like the latter, it carries with it mass deaths of people and can be classified as barbaric weapons; due to the low efficiency, radio frequency weapons cannot yet be put into practice, especially as WMD. At the same time, as experiments show, even low-intensity EMR, comparable to the permissible radiation level of 10 microwatts, can lead to functional disorders in various organs of the human body and adversely affect the human psyche. In this regard, low-intensity radio-frequency weapons should be classified as psychotronic agents.

infrasonic weapons is based on the use of sound waves of the infrasonic range, which are not perceived by the human ear. It has been experimentally established that by selecting the frequency of sound vibrations in the region of 10 Hz, it is possible to influence a person, causing him discomfort (feelings of anxiety, fear, horror), damage to the cardiovascular system, destruction of blood vessels and internal organs. Due to a number of intractable technical, operational and ethical problems, the development of powerful infrasonic weapon systems is being hampered. At the same time, the properties of low-intensity infrasound in a specific way to interact with bioorganisms are of great interest to potential creators of psychotronic drugs.

Antimatter weapons theoretically possible to create using the effect of annihilation of antiparticles with matter. According to the calculations of physicists, the interaction of 1 milligram of antiparticles with matter releases energy equivalent to the explosion of several tens of tons of trinitrotoluene. However, obtaining antiparticles in sufficient quantities and then keeping them in a limited amount make the creation of weapons based on antimatter very problematic.

Dropping asteroids from orbit theoretically considered in the USA in the 60s. It was assumed that the de-orbiting of the asteroid could be carried out with the help of explosions of powerful nuclear charges in a charging chamber specially created on the surface of the asteroid. When they explode, the asteroid will receive a powerful jet impulse, which will transfer it to the selected orbit with a fall in a given enemy territory. In a collision with the Earth, energy equivalent to the explosion of millions of nuclear charges will be released, capable of destroying whole continent. Due to unpredictable consequences, the likelihood of using asteroids as a weapon is reduced to zero.

Radiological weapons is based on the use of radioactive substances in the form of powder mixtures or liquid solutions with radioactive isotopes of chemical elements with specially selected radiation intensity and half-life. These can be waste generated during the operation of nuclear reactors, or specially selected and irradiated substances. The handling of such substances is complicated by the risk of exposure of the operating personnel. Another option for radiological weapons is the so-called "cobalt bomb" - a thermonuclear charge with a shell of natural cobalt. The isotope cobalt-60 obtained from a nuclear explosion has a high intensity of gamma radiation, which creates strong radioactive radiation after falling to the ground. Taking into account the duration of the half-life of cobalt-60, equal to 5.7 years, the use of the irradiated area is possible not earlier than this period. Today in the media, in conjunction with the problem of terrorism, the possibility of destroying nuclear power plants with conventional ammunition, followed by radiological contamination of the area, is widely discussed. The Chernobyl disaster is an ominous example of such a possibility.

Beam weapon- these are various accelerators of charged or neutral particles (electrons, protons, neutral hydrogen atoms) focused into a highly directed beam. Possessing high energy, such a beam is capable of mechanically destroying the structure of the target, causing its intense heating, initiating X-ray radiation, and damaging the molecular structure of the human body. Distinctive feature beam weapons are immediacy and suddenness of action, the disadvantages are low efficiency, large losses in the air and a relatively short range in the surface layers of the atmosphere. The listed shortcomings sharply limit the creation of ground combat systems, and the large mass of the structure and the high energy consumption - the use in space.

A comparative assessment of the considered types of WMD according to the possible scale of application shows that only geophysical and radiological weapons, weapons based on annihilation and dropping asteroids from orbit, as well as information weapons have a strategic scale of combat use and consequences, “similar in destructive action to the atomic bomb...” . Radio frequency, laser, infrasonic and beam, as noted above, cannot be classified as weapons of mass destruction, and weapons based on annihilation and dropping asteroids from orbit practically unrealizable. However, if we take into account that chemical, bacteriological (biological) and geophysical prohibited international agreements, A nuclear, near-nuclear (radiological) and genetic weapons are practically impossible to use because of the extremely dangerous consequences for humanity, then among the relatively wide range of weapons of mass destruction only information weapon.

The nature of destruction by information weapons is fundamentally different from all other types of WMD - this is non-lethality, stealth and selectivity of destruction, which, together with the scale of use, makes information weapons preferable over any other existing and hypothetical WMD.

Only information weapons and their branch - psycho-physical weapons have real prospects for their widespread use, which is already becoming an obvious fact.

In terms of the nature of its damaging ability, information weapons are unparalleled, because they are capable, while preserving material values, people and the environment, to achieve the goals of a war (conflict, dispute) by transforming the consciousness and behavior of a person in the direction necessary for the attacking side.

The universality of the information weapon, especially its component - the psychophysical weapon, elevates it to the rank ultimate weapon, accessible to all organized structures (and not only government, and not necessarily law enforcement agencies), in wartime and peacetime, on an individual target and global scale, openly and covertly, and even without people realizing the very fact of the attack. Particularly effective information weapons can be against a country in which there is social tension, ethnic, religious or class conflicts. It can in a short time cause panic, riots, pogroms, destabilize the political situation and, ultimately, force the country to capitulate to the aggressor without the widespread use of destructive weapons.

However, what has been said does not mean that information weapons will replace all known types of weapons. Information weapon creates desired background, which reduces the level of the necessary need for these weapons to achieve the goals of the war (conflict), and with the development of psychophysical weapons - practically eliminating this need itself.

Information weapons are turning into the most important threat to the national security of the country and the peculiarities of Russia, given the crisis and explosive situation that has developed (and not without the help of this weapon!) in all vital areas of our Fatherland.

Literature

1. Scientific and technical report on R&D “Asteroid-AEN”. - M.: NTC "Diamond", 1993.

2. Abdurakhmanov M.I., Barishpolets V.A., Manilov V.L., Pirumov V.S. "Geopolitics and National security". Dictionary of basic concepts and definitions / Edited by V.L. Manilov - M .: “Druza”, 1998. 256 p.

3. Panarin I.N. Problems of ensuring information security of Russia in modern conditions / Information collection No. 6 (111) .- M .: GSh VS, 1997. P. 3-16.

4. Prokofiev V.F. The secret weapon of the information war. - M.: "SINTEG", 1998. 152 p.

5. Belous V. The possibility of creating weapons of mass destruction on new physical principles / Collection “ nuclear proliferation". Issue. No. 23. M.: 1998. S. 5-14.