BIGEYE bomb

The locations and quantities of binary chemical weapons are well documented and understood by the Army. Binary weapon systems principally involve an artillery projectile and components of the bigeye bomb. The projectile is composed of chemical elements, a metal casing, and explosive components. Although the bigeye bomb was never produced or stockpiled, some associated chemical elements must be destroyed. 

The DoD calculates that each C-141/B sortie could carry either 60 Bigeye bombs or 8 TMU-28/B spray tanks or 608 155 mm binary shells or 504 155 mm unitary shells. Written Answer, pp. 4820-1. 

Bigeye Bomb - Only Research Development (R O) Stage Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) - Only R D Stage... 

A more sophisticated but also more problematic approach from an engineering standpoint was the US Bigeye bomb, or what could be more accurately called a spray tank. In this ordnance, relatively innocuous components including solid sulfur and the immediate precursor QL were set to combine and release the deadly nerve agent VX. As the bomb glided over the intended target, the aerosolized compound was sprayed in its wake. ... 

Fears about damaging the President s negotiating position in the US-Soviet summit at Reykjavik in November 1986 led Democrats to withdraw potential wrecking amendments to the FY 87 Defense Authorization Bill. In December 1986, Congress authorised over 200 million for offensive CW - 86 million for procurement of the 155 mm binary shell, 90 million for the construction of production facilities for the Bigeye bomb, and a further 35 million, for Bigeye production, withheld until 1 October 1987, while the final assembly of the Bigeye bombs was barred until 1 October 1988. ... 

Congress was told that binaries were rapidly deployable in a crisis .The administration argued that militarily significant quantities of weapons could be transferred from the US in times of crisis using a small fraction of the available airlift capacity. It was suggested that 60 C-141/B sorties would deliver 20 000155 mm binary shells and 1000 Bigeye bombs. This could be little more than a couple of days consumption of shells. Representative John Porter claimed that ... if we needed to airlift binaries to Europe, we would need our entire C-141 airlift capacity for four to six weeks . 

Letter from R.L. Wagner Jr. to Representative Les Aspin (Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee), cited in Pentagon Refutes Criticism of the Bigeye Bomb , Air Force Times, 17 June 1985, p. 26. Los Angeles Times, 20 June 1985, p. 1 Defense and Foreign Affairs Daily, 27 February 1986 Julian Perry Robinson, Chemical and Biological Warfare Developments 1985, p. 18. 

GAO, Bigeye Bomb An Evaluation of DoD s Chemical and Developmental Tests, GAO/PEMD-86-12BR. 

Bigeye Bomb An Evaluation of DoD s Chemical and Developmental Tests, Briefing Report to the Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives. (GAO/PEMD-86-12-BR) May 1986. 

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