Editing Operation Argus (section)

{{Short description|Series of 1950s US nuclear tests}}
{{Redirect|Project Argus|the project to search for extraterrestrial intelligence|Project Argus (SETI)}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox nuclear weapons test
 |name                = Operation Argus
 |picture             = Operation Argus.gif
 |picture_description = X-17 with nuclear warhead launched from aboard the USS ''Norton Sound''
 |country             = United States
 |test_site           = South Atlantic Ocean
 |period              = 1958
 |number_of_tests     = 3
 |test_type           = space rocket (>&nbsp;80&nbsp;km)
 |max_yield           = {{convert|1.7|ktTNT|lk=in}}
 |previous_series     = [[Operation Hardtack I]]
 |next_series         = [[Operation Hardtack II]]
}}
{{GeoGroup|article=Operation Argus}}

'''Operation Argus''' was a series of United States low-yield, high-altitude [[nuclear testing|nuclear weapons tests]] and [[missile]] tests secretly conducted from 27 August to 9 September 1958 over the [[Atlantic Ocean|South Atlantic Ocean]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Mundey|first=Lisa|date=2012|title=The Civilianization of a Nuclear Weapons Effects Test: Operation ARGUS|journal=Historical Studies in the Natural Sciences|volume=42|issue=4|pages=283–321|doi=10.1525/hsns.2012.42.4.283}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> The tests were performed by the [[Defense Nuclear Agency]].

The tests were to study the [[Christofilos effect]], which suggested it was possible to defend against Soviet nuclear missiles by exploding a small number of nuclear bombs high over the South Pacific. This would create a disk of [[electron]]s over the United States that would overload the electronics on the Soviet warheads as they descended. It was also possible to use the effect to blind Soviet [[radar]]s, meaning that any [[A-35 anti-ballistic missile system|Soviet missile-based ABM system]] would be unable to attack the US counterstrike.

The tests demonstrated that the effect did occur, but that it dissipated too rapidly to be very effective. Papers concerning the topic were published the next year, emphasizing the events as purely scientific endeavors.