The new underwater drone Status-6, which is capable of carrying a nuclear charge on board, is a "cobalt bomb" and could turn entire continents into lifeless territories. This was told by the researcher of the consequences of the use of nuclear weapons Stephen Schwartz in an interview with Business Insider.
According to the specialist, the detonation of nuclear weapons near or on the surface of the earth leads to the fallout of radioactive fallout. During the explosion, the fiery cloud sucks in soil or water, contaminating them with radionuclides, and then the particles are thrown into the atmosphere and carried over long distances.
US nuclear weapons are designed to destroy weapons of mass destruction on enemy territory, while the charges detonate in the air, and the shock wave becomes the damaging factor. As a result, the city over which the explosion was made will be almost completely destroyed, but radioactive contamination will be minimal. At the same time, according to rumors, "Status-6" will not only detonate in the water column, but also contains cobalt-59. As a result of the capture of neutrons, this isotope will be converted into radioactive cobalt-60.
Dust and water particles containing cobalt-60 can be carried by the wind thousands of kilometers from the epicenter of the explosion. If Status 6 explodes near Washington, then radioactive fallout is likely to fall in Canada and Mexico. Moreover, it will take more than 50 years for the intensity of ionizing radiation to return to background values. According to Schwartz, during this time, any contaminated areas will be uninhabitable. People hiding underground will be exposed to lethal doses of radiation while trying to get to the surface.
According to Business Insider, American nuclear weapons are being developed to target strategically important targets with minimal collateral damage.
According to American intelligence, provided by The Washington Free Beacon, the new Russian weapon was tested on November 27, 2016 from the Sarov submarine. "Status-6" has a range of 10 thousand kilometers, a maximum speed of over 56 knots, a diving depth of up to a kilometer. The weapon is credited with two main damaging factors: the creation of a tsunami and radiation pollution.