Tactical Weapons

Published: 11th May, 2024

Context

Russia’s Defence Ministry announced that it would be holding drills involving tactical nuclear weapons.

About Tactical Weapons

Tactical nuclear weapons, intended for use against troops on the battlefield, are less potent and can have a yield as little as approximately 1 kiloton, in contrast to nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles, which are capable of destroying entire cities.
During World War II, the U.S. bomb dropped on Hiroshima was 15 kilotons.
These nuclear weapons for use in combat, such as artillery ammunition, aerial bombs, and warheads for short-range missiles, can be quite small. They can be discreetly taken on a vehicle or airplane due to their modest size.
A range of missiles, torpedoes, and gravity bombs from land, air, or naval forces can deliver these weapons. They could even be driven into a location and set off by itself.
Tactical weapons have never been restricted by any arms control agreements between Moscow and Washington, unlike strategic weapons, which have been the subject of such accords; Russia hasn't disclosed their quantity or any other relevant information.