Nuclear weapon

A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission (fission bomb) a combination of fission and fusion (thermonuclear weapon) or antimatter. All three reactions release vast quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter. The first Terran fission ("atomic") bomb test released the same amount of energy as approximately 20,000 tons of TNT. The first thermonuclear ("hydrogen") bomb test released the same amount of energy as approximately 10,000,000 tons of TNT.

A thermonuclear weapon weighing little more than 1,100 kg can produce an explosive force comparable to the detonation of more than 1.2 million ton of TNT. A nuclear device no larger than traditional bombs can devastate an entire city by blast, fire, and radiation. Nuclear weapons are considered weapons of mass destruction, and their use and control have been a major focus of governmental policy debate since their debut.

Weapons Classes
Basic nuclear weaponry (Fission and Thermonuclear) are Federal Class IX Weapons requiring a Federal Court Permit to possess. Non-concealable weapons (e.g. the Davy Crockett) are Class IV-C, issued by the Bureau of Colonist Affairs and a Federal License is required.

Antimatter Weapons are Class X and XI weapons, limited to Union Military or Fleet. Civilian possession of these weapons is a Class 1 Union Felony requiring the death penalty.