EFFECTS OF COLLISION OF CHEMICAL-CAPABLE SCUD WITH A PATRIOT
MISSILE AND GENERAL EFFECTS OF CHEMICAL-CAPABLE SCUD MISSILES
Filename:0140pgv.00d
TASKER: 0798 SUSPENSE: OPEN
SUBJ: EFFECTS OF COLLISION OF CHEMICAL-CAPABLE SCUD WITH A
PATRIOT MISSILE AND GENERAL EFFECTS OF CHEMICAL-CAPABLE SCUD
MISSILES
[ b.2. ]
1. There are two possible outcomes to the interception of a
SCUD by the Patriot missile. If the Patriot hits the SCUD behind
the warhead, the warhead could escape undamaged and explode at the
predetermined altitude. However, it will be put off course due to
the collision, and depending on the height of intercept, the agent
will not be disseminated over the desired target. If the warhead
is damaged by the collision, the agent will be disseminated in a
less than optimal way and probably at a higher altitude than
usual. This will increase the area that will be contaminated, but
because the SCUD contains a finite amount of CW or BW agent
(350-440 kg,
depanding on the fill), the average contamination per square meter
deck.
2. [ (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4) ] the altitude at which an
Iraqi
chemical missile would open. However, an altitude between
level and 1O meters appears optimal for a nonpersistant agent
Modelling the release zone as a cone with an apex angle of 150o
and using an altitude of 10 meters and a 350 kg payload, this
indicates an average contion density of 80 grams per square meter.
The conminated area would be about 1675 square meters if all of
the
agent fell within the region outlined by the cone. This is not
the
case, so more area will be contaminated, lowering the average
contamination density, possibly to about 4 to 6 grams per square
meter.
3. In general, the area of lethal concentration depends on
the
altitude at which agent is disseminated and the droplet or
particle
size. As droplet or particle size increases, the amount of time
required for it to fail to the ground decreases. This increases
the amount of agent that will reach the ground. Therefore,
contamination density tends to rise as to rise as droplet or
particle size increases. Due to the infinite contents of the
warhead, the area contaminated will decrease as droplet or
particle size increases. A persistent agent could be released at a
somewhat higher altitude, depending on its toxicity, and could
cover a slightly larger area due to the increased burst height.
4. Overall weather conditions, not just wind speed, affect
the persistency of chemical agents. Precipitation, high
temperatures, increased wind speed, and high humidity tend to
reduce the persistency of chemical agents. The contaminated area
will become more oval in shape as wind speed increases, with the
larger axis of the oval along the direction of the prevailing
wind. CW agents will also tend to disseminate along the also tend
to disseminate along the direction of the prevailing wind.
Wind speed decreases in importance as droplet or particle size
decreases. The cutoff is approximately 3 microns, below which a
change in wind velocity has little effect on the velocity of the
droplet or particle.
5. [ (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4) ]
6. If the fuel in a fuel-air explosive does not ignite,
it is possible to mistake an attack with fuel-air explosives for a
chemical attack because the fill can be toxic to personnel doused
with the contents of the bomb. Toxic effects can include
respiratory difficulties and skin blistering.
7. [ b.2. ] and [ (b)(6) ]
8. [ b.2. ] [ (b)(6) ]
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