Laydown delivery 1291409 181403532 2008-01-01T16:49:24Z MichaelLierk 6100028 fixed link '''Laydown delivery''' is a mode of deploying a free-fall [[nuclear weapon]] in which the bomb's fall is slowed by [[parachute]] so that it actually lands on the ground before [[detonation|detonating]]. Laydown delivery requires that the weapon's case be reinforced so that it can survive the impact, and generally involves a time-delay [[Fuse (electrical)|fuse]] for detonation. Laydown mode can be used to increase the effect of the weapon's blast on built-up targets such as [[submarine pen]]s, or to transmit a shockwave through the ground to attack deeply buried targets. It has the additional advantage of allowing the carrier aircraft to fly very low – in order to avoid enemy defences – and still get away without being destroyed in the detonation. This is particularly important where high-yield nuclear weapons such as the [[B53 nuclear bomb]] are concerned. ==See also== *[[Nuclear bunker buster]] *[[B53 nuclear bomb]] - a 9 [[Megaton|MT]] nuclear weapon designed for laydown delivery [[Category:nuclear weapons]] [[Category:Airborne warfare tactics|Laydown delivery]] [[Category:aerial warfare]] {{mil-stub}}