Hiroshima, eighty years ago, endured a pain it still feels. On this day in 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The attack was so devastating that by December 1945, 140,000 people had died. The bomb, named Little Boy, was dropped from a B-29 bomber of the Air Force. While this might sound like any other attack, it wasn’t that simple.
An atomic bomb is considered the most destructive weapon, and it cannot be deployed against any country without careful consideration. A comprehensive process must be followed. The necessity of the nuclear attack must also be justified. When the US attacked Hiroshima and, three days later, Nagasaki, it cited the need to end the war quickly and save the lives of millions of soldiers. The US argued that Japan was not surrendering unconditionally, so this was necessary. However, the entire world condemned it as an act of cruelty. Fortunately, nuclear weapons have not been used since. If such an attack were to occur, the country involved would have to go through a complete process.
Steps involved in a nuclear attack:
1. The initial decision: Different countries have their own nuclear policies. For example, India’s nuclear policy is ‘No First Use,’ meaning India will never launch a nuclear attack on any country unless it is attacked first. In contrast, the US policy allows for a first strike, and if necessary, the US guarantees nuclear security to its allies. Therefore, the US could launch a nuclear attack if it perceives a threat to itself, but only when it is fully convinced that a nuclear attack is imminent.
2. Consensus of advisors: The power to make and execute decisions about a nuclear attack lies with the highest leader of any country, which could be either the Prime Minister or the President. In the US, this power rests with the President, while in India, the Prime Minister has the final decision-making authority. Before making a consensus, a meeting of the Nuclear Command Authority (NCA) is held, chaired by the Prime Minister. Almost all countries have similar arrangements. Before consensus is reached at this meeting, reports from intelligence agencies are considered, and military and strategic advisors provide briefings.
3. Issuance of the Fire Order: After the final decision on the nuclear attack is made, a high and secure communication is established from the location where the nuclear weapons are deployed. The Prime Minister or President of the concerned country sends the Fire Order, which is secured with fully encrypted codes. This is sent to missile bases, Air Force units, and submarines. The concerned unit must first authorize it to ensure that it has been sent by the correct person.
4. Activation of weapons: As soon as the Fire Order is verified, the weapons are activated. For example, if the attack is to be launched from the ground, ballistic or hypersonic missiles are activated. If the attack is to be launched from the air, bomber aircraft or fighter jets take to the runway, and if the attack is to be launched from the sea, submarines or warships are brought into fire mode. After this, the target is determined, and the missile is launched.
Destruction caused:
There is currently no figure for the damage that an atomic bomb can cause. However, in comparison to the devastation in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, a nuclear attack can destroy everything within a radius of 2 to 5 kilometers. The temperature at the center of the attack increases to 5,000 to 6,000 degrees Celsius for a few seconds. This temperature has the power to melt iron. Radioactive particles spread in the air, and the electronic system fails.