SBU found a Russian Shahed wreckage showing radiation levels at 12 microsieverts per hour, linked to an R-60M depleted uranium warhead.
Archived version: https://archive.is/newest/https://united24media.com/war-in-ukraine/russia-just-used-a-radioactive-drone-in-ukraine-for-the-first-time-heres-what-we-know-18991
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23 Comments
Iconoclast@feddit.uk · 73 pts · 103d
This is not a nuclear weapon or “dirty bomb” designed to spread widespread contamination. It is a conventional explosive warhead that uses depleted uranium as a dense material for better armor-piercing performance.
Not to defend Russia here but just adding some context.
There a good reason "the west" uses tungsten instead.Voroxpete@sh.itjust.works · 53 pts · 103d
Uh... "The West" absolutely uses depleted uranium weapons. The US makes depleted uranium warheads for the Abrams tank, the A-10, and even the Bradley. The UK has depleted uranium rounds for the Challenger tank. This isn't just a Russian thing.
But yes, it's not some kind of "nuclear weapon" despite what the intentionally vague headline suggests.
unwillingsomnambulist@midwest.social · 7 pts · 103d
Hell even the civilian 747-200 used to use depleted uranium as counterweights in its outboard ailerons to counter aerodynamic flutter. I believe El Al 1862 in the early ‘90s (I have probably seen every air crash investigation video on YouTube twice at this point) was what caused the world to take notice of that.
Here’s the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s doc about it, though they talk about the tail assembly a bit more: https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ml0321/ml032180089.pdf
Iconoclast@feddit.uk · -2 pts · 103d
Yes, but do they actually use them in combat? Not to my knowledge.
obre@slrpnk.net · 7 pts · 103d
Yes https://hir.harvard.edu/depleted-uranium-devastated-health-military-operations-and-environmental-injustice-in-the-middle-east/
Iconoclast@feddit.uk · -2 pts · 103d
This was over 20 years ago though. We did a lot of things different back then.
obre@slrpnk.net · 5 pts · 103d
Syria 2015 https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-pentagon-confirms-it-used-depleted-uranium-syria
While it is possible DU API munitions have been used in Iran (https://www.cndsalisbury.org.uk/news_items/9279-are-us-warplanes-firing-depleted-uranium-at-iranian-targets) it is certain in my mind that the U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iranian oil facilities and resulting toxic black rain and oil spills (https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-black-rain-pollution-d5f67db4a772775c83dfa3fd303cf25d) will cause far more dire public health damage than any DU usage.
SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 103d
The real DU health effects are on soldiers. But since when does the US GAF about their soldiers? suckers and losers, amirite?
SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 103d
Wrong. US is still using uranium.
"DU is still used to make ammunition and weapons. DU contamination from spent shells and shell fragments is a hazard at some military firing ranges."
https://www.epa.gov/radtown/depleted-uranium
orlyowl@piefed.ca · 3 pts · 103d
Not sure they still do, but the US definitely has used them.
https://www.wise-uranium.org/dhap992.html
sylver_dragon@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 103d
Yes, the US Military uses DU. Specifically, it's used in both the armor and ammunition for the M1 Abrams tank. It was used extensively by US forces in the recent series of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. And there was enough of an issue around veterans exposure that the VA setup a program to track known cases of soldiers exposed to it. There is also a "helpful" FAQ page from the US Military's health system downplaying the effects of DU exposure.
SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 103d
Absolutely, in Iraq.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7903104/
and there have been health effects on the people.
Gladaed@feddit.org · 5 pts · 103d
The reason is toxicity of uranium, not radiation.
It's lead, but worse.
ryannathans@aussie.zone · 23 pts · 103d
12 uSv/hr is nothing really, depleted uranium is just a dense metal used to penetrate metal armour
Old watches, aircraft cockpit gauges and even old red painted dinner plates have this level or more radiation
Womble@piefed.world · 7 pts · 103d
If you you hugged it tightly against your body for a minute you're recieve the same huge radation dose as you'd get from eating two whole bananas!
laut_sprecher@feddit.org · 3 pts · 103d
Now there’s an image i can work with
Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 103d
How much radiation would I get if I ate two bananas worth of depleted uranium?
degenerate_neutron_matter@fedia.io · 1 pts · 103d
Redditmodstouchgrass@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 103d
Banana for scale.
SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 103d
the dust from bullets when inhaled is extremely toxic.
ryannathans@aussie.zone · 2 pts · 103d
Yeah same as the radium watch paint and uranium plate glaze
Alpha radiation is the primary emission, blocked easily by skin but harmful if consumed
sylver_dragon@lemmy.world · 22 pts · 103d
I hate to be defending Russia, but this article is pushing a narrative around a "radioactive" threat which is really bullshit. First off, Depleted Uranium is already in use in Ukraine. We know this because the US shipped those weapons to Ukraine. Also, DU isn't really a radioactive threat. You can hold a chunk of it with your bare hands and the radiation dose you receive is negligible. It's more of a danger as a toxic heavy metal, like lead. It can bio-accumulate and cause all the same problems which lead does. This isn't good for the long term environmental health of Ukraine. But, it's a common material in tanks and other weapons which are designed to penetrate armor/buildings. So, it's use by Russia isn't exactly shocking. This article is just Yellow Journalism.
SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 103d
The USA dumped 1,700 metric tons of depleted uranium munitions in Iraq. Where do you think Russia gets these ideas?
itrealgood@mander.xyz · 1 pts · 103d
A_norny_mousse@piefed.zip · -4 pts · 103d
NATO offensive when.