Miniaturized nuclear weapons

yes in 1950s were some study about nuclear nuclear tank shells
but they stop somewere in 1960s, I don't know why

maybe because they need 5 kg (11 lb) of Californium-251 for mini nuke
and that Californium ist very rare and to expensive for massproduktion as tank shells
also the problem of save storage and radioactivity play a major role

in this point of view a Neutron bomb against divisions of Sovjet tanks makes more sense
a neutron bomb is small Nuke design with "lower" explosive energy.
but release a large portion of its energy as deathly neutron radiation

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutron_bomb
 
I remember reading a techno-thriller from the 90's (I think), where the Israelis attack a 2nd Iraqi nuclear power plant, and the Russians defend the site with mini-nukes (very small) that essentially vaporize the attacking jets (except for one, who manages to drop his bombs and gut the plant; an Iraqi sneak attack jet at the same time destroys the Israeli nuclear weapons storage site (yeah, pretty much ASB). The fallout from the whole affair was all anti-Russian, since they dared use nukes (even tiny ones) on a battlefield...
 
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