NationMaster - Encyclopedia: South Africa and weapons of mass destruction

South Africa developed six or seven gun-type fission nuclear weapons in the 1980s. The enriched uranium for the bombs was provided by two research reactors, Valindaba and Pelindaba, both near Johannesburg. Weapons of mass destruction (WMD) generally include nuclear, biological, chemical and, increasingly, radiological weapons. ... Weapons of mass destruction (WMD) generally include nuclear, biological, chemical and, increasingly, radiological weapons. ... Biological warfare, also known as germ warfare, is the use of any organism (bacteria, virus or other disease-causing organism) or toxin found in nature, as a weapon of war. ... Chemical warfare is warfare (and associated military operations) using the toxic properties of chemical substances to kill, injure or incapacitate an enemy. ... The mushroom cloud of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan, 1945, rose some 18 km (11 mi) above the hypocenter. ... A radiological weapon (or radiological dispersion device, RDD) is any weapon that is designed to spread radioactive contamination, either to kill, or to deny the use of an area (a modern version of salting the earth) and consists of a device (such as a nuclear or conventional explosive) which spreads... The Peoples Republic of China is said to have an arsenal of about 400 nuclear weapons stockpiled as of 1999, although this number is questionable because the Chinese government releases little information regarding nuclear weapons. ... The Republic of China on Taiwan denies having chemical or nuclear weapons. ... There are currently five states considered to be nuclear weapons states, an internationally recognized status conferred by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). ... World map with nuclear weapons development status represented by color. ... Nuclear strategy involves the development of doctrines and strategies for the production and use of nuclear weapons. ... Nuclear terrorism can be used to describe any of the following terrorist assaults: Use of nuclear weapons against a civilian target Use of a radiological weapon or dirty bomb against a civilian target An attack against a nuclear power plant Some believe that no such act has ever taken place. ... Nuclear war, or atomic war, is war in which nuclear weapons are used. ... A nuclear fireball lights up the night in a United States nuclear test. ... The first nuclear weapons, though large, cumbersome and inefficient, provided the basic design building blocks of all future weapons. ... It has been suggested that Nuclear explosive be merged into this article or section. ... A nuclear test explosion is an experiment involving the detonation of a nuclear weapon. ... The term dirty bomb is most often used to refer to a Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD), a radiological weapon which combines radioactive material with conventional explosives. ... A biodressing or bio-dressing is the generic word used when refering to the patented medical dressing, the WOUND DRESSING IMPERVIOUS TO CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL AGENTS. (US PAT. NO 6,787,680) Specifically, biodressing is a recently patented medical dressing which is impervious to both chemical and biological warfare agents. ... Radiological warfare is any form of warfare involving deliberate radiation poisoning, without relying on nuclear fission or nuclear fusion. ... Gun-type fission weapons are fission-based nuclear weapons whose design assembles their fissile material into a supercritical mass by the use of the gun method: shooting one piece of sub-critical material into another. ... In general fission is a splitting or breaking up into parts. ... The mushroom cloud of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan, 1945, rose some 18 km (11 mi) above the hypocenter. ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... General Name, Symbol, Number uranium, U, 92 Chemical series actinides Group, Period, Block n/a, 7, f Appearance silvery gray metallic; corrodes to a spalling black oxide coat in air Atomic mass 238. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... City motto: Unity in Development Province Gauteng Mayor Amos Masondo Area - % water 1,644 kmÂ² 0. ...

None of the six bombs were particularly sophisticated, being designed to be delivered from one of the aircraft types then in service with the South African Air Force, presumed to have been either the Buccaneer or Cheetah D. SAAF flag The South African Air Force (SAAF) is the Air Force of South Africa. ... Landing on the HMS Eagle The Blackburn Buccaneer was a British attack aircraft serving with the Royal Air Force and the Fleet Air Arm. ... The Atlas Cheetah is a fighter aircraft of the South African Air Force. ...

However, South Africa had a relatively sophisticated Intercontinental Ballistic Missile programme running concurrently with the nuclear programme, and was known to be working on more sophisticated nuclear weapons capable of delivery from such a platform. According to published data one of the missiles, the RSA-4, may have been capable of delivering a 700 kg nuclear warhead from its South African launch site to any point on earth. A Minuteman III missile soars after a test launch. ...

In September, 1979 a flash over the Indian Ocean detected by a U.S. satellite was suspected of being a South African nuclear test, possibly in collaboration with Israel (this event is known as Vela Incident). South Africa had apparently abandoned earlier tests after test preparations at a military base in the Kalahari Desert were detected by a Soviet satellite in August, 1977. Look up September in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This page refers to the year 1979. ... Motto: E pluribus unum (1789 to 1956) (Latin: Out of Many, One) In God We Trust (1956 to present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at federal level; English de facto Government â€¢ President â€¢ Vice President Federal republic George... Orthographic projection centered on the Prince Edward Islands, the location of the Vela incident The Vela Incident (sometimes known as the South Atlantic Flash) was the possible detection of a nuclear weapon test by an American Vela satellite on September 22, 1979. ... The Kalahari Desert (shown in red) The Kalahari Desert is a large arid to semi-arid sandy area in southern Africa extending to some 900,000 kmÂ² and covering much of Botswana, and parts of Namibia and South Africa. ... State motto (Russian): ÐŸÑ€Ð¾Ð»ÐµÑ‚Ð°Ñ€Ð¸Ð¸ Ð²ÑÐµÑ… ÑÑ‚Ñ€Ð°Ð½, ÑÐ¾ÐµÐ´Ð¸Ð½ÑÐ¹Ñ‚ÐµÑÑŒ! (Transliterated: Proletarii vsekh stran, soedinyaytes!) (Translated: Workers of the world, unite!) Capital Moscow Official language None; Russian (de facto) Government Federation of Socialist republics/ Communist state Area - Total - % water Largest on the planet 22,402,200 kmÂ² Approx. ... August is the eighth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ...

Following then-President F.W. de Klerk's decision in 1990 to dismantle apartheid and pave the way for democratic elections, both programmes were cancelled. All the bombs (six constructed and one under construction) were destroyed and South Africa acceded to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1991. Subsequent to this, in 1993 de Klerk admitted the scope of the country's past nuclear activities and gave the IAEA access to the country's nuclear sites in order to verify its disarmament. By 1994 this process was complete, with the IAEA being satisfied that South Africa's nuclear programme had been converted to peaceful use. As a result South Africa joined the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) as a full member on 5 April 1995. South Africa is the only country to have developed nuclear weapons and later given them up. President F.W. de Klerk Frederik Willem de Klerk (born March 18, 1936) is a former President of South Africa, serving from September 1989 to May 1994. ... This article is about the year. ... A segregated beach in South Africa, 1982. ... Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Opened for signature July 1, 1968 at New York Entered into force March 5, 1970 Conditions for entry into force Ratification by the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, the United States, and 40 other signatory states. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... IAEA The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), established as an autonomous organization on July 29, 1957, seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and to inhibit its use for military purposes. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... The Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is a multinational body concerned with reducing nuclear proliferation by controlling the export and re-transfer of materials that may be applicable to nuclear weapon development and by improving safeguards and protection on existing materials. ... April 5 is the 95th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (96th in leap years). ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

South Africa is also known to have had a fairly advanced chemical and biological weapons capability, run under the codename of Project Coast. This programme was shut down at around the same time as the dismantling of the country's nuclear weapons programme. South Africa acceded to the Geneva Protocol on 24 May 1930, ratified the Biological Weapons Convention on 3 November 1975 and the Chemical Weapons Convention on 13 September 1995. Project Coast was a top-secret chemical and biological (CBW) weapons program instituted by South Africas minority white government during the Apartheid-era. ... The Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare, usually called the Geneva Protocol, is a treaty to ban the use of chemical and biological weapons. ... May 24 is the 144th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (145th in leap years). ... 1930 (MCMXXX) is a common year starting on Wednesday. ... Biological Weapons Convention Opened for signature April 10, 1972 at Moscow, Washington and London Entered into force March 26, 1975 Conditions for entry into force ??? Parties ??? The Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction (usually referred to... November 3 is the 307th day of the year (308th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 58 days remaining. ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ... Chemical Weapons Convention Opened for signature January 13, 1993 at Paris Entered into force April 29, 1997 Conditions for entry into force Ratification by 50 states and the convening of a Preperatory Commission Parties 170 The Chemical Weapons Convention is an arms control agreement which outlaws the production, stockpiling and... September 13 is the 256th day of the year (257th in leap years). ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

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