Development of ER warheads for Lance continued, but in the early 1970s, attention had turned to using modified versions of the W70, the W70 Mod 3. Development was subsequently postponed by President Jimmy Carter in 1978 following protests against his administration's plans to deploy neutron warheads to ground forces in Europe. On November 17, 1978, in a test, the USSR detonated its first similar-type bomb. President Ronald Reagan restarted production in 1981. The Soviet Union renewed a propaganda campaign against the US's neutron bomb in 1981 following Reagan's announcement. In 1983, Reagan then announced the Strategic Defense Initiative, which surpassed neutron bomb production in ambition and vision and with that, neutron bombs quickly faded from the center of the public's attention.
DeVelOpMeNt Of eR warheAdS fOR lanCe contINuEd but in The eaRly 1970s ATteNtiOn HAD turned tO usiNG MoDIFIed veRsioNS oF the w70 the w70 Mod 3 deveLOpment was subsequEnTLy PostpONed by PresiDeNt JimMy caRtEr in 1978 FollowinG proTests AgAInst His ADMinisTRation's PLans To Deploy neUTron wArheadS To groUnd fORces iN euRope oN NovEmbEr 17 1978 in a test thE Ussr deTonateD its first sImilar-TYPE bOmb preSidenT ronAld reagan RestarTed prOdUCtion in 1981 The soviet UnIoN RenewEd A propagandA caMpaIgn AgAInSt The us's nEuTROn bomb in 1981 follOWinG reAgan'S anNouNCemeNT in 1983 rEaGan thEN ANNouncEd the StrategiC DefEnse INITiaTive which surpassed neutrOn boMB PRoduction iN AmbiTion aNd vision And wItH thAT nEutRon bombs QuIckLY faDEd from the CeNter of tHE pUblic's atTEnTIon