B83 vs Tsar Bomba
Nuclear weapon side-by-side comparison
Verdict
The Tsar Bomba is 42× more powerful than the B83 by yield. Both weapons are detailed below, with side-by-side blast and thermal radii for an air burst.
Blast & thermal radii (air burst)
| Effect zone | B83 | Tsar Bomba |
|---|---|---|
| Yield | 1.2 megatons | 50 megatons |
| Fireball radius | 1.04 km | 4.62 km |
| Severe blast (20 psi) | 2.55 km | 8.64 km |
| Moderate blast (5 psi) | 6.59 km | 23.1 km |
| Light blast (1 psi) | 18.1 km | 64.1 km |
| 3rd-degree thermal burns | 12.9 km | 54.1 km |
| 2nd-degree thermal burns | 16.0 km | 61.2 km |
Air burst at optimum height, computed by the site's effects engine. [4, 5] Casualty and fallout estimates are withdrawn pending a verified model.
Hiroshima reference
The Hiroshima bomb (Little Boy) had a yield of approximately 15 kilotons. [6] The B83 is 80× more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb. The Tsar Bomba is 3,333× more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb.
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FAQ
Is the B83 bigger than the Tsar Bomba?
No. The Tsar Bomba (50 megatons) is 42× more powerful than the B83 (1.2 megatons) by yield.
What is the blast radius of the B83 compared to the Tsar Bomba?
For an air burst at optimum height, the B83 produces a 5 psi moderate-blast radius of 6.59 km, versus 23.1 km for the Tsar Bomba. Severe blast (20 psi): 2.55 km vs 8.64 km. 3rd-degree thermal burns: 12.9 km vs 54.1 km.
How do the B83 and Tsar Bomba compare to the Hiroshima bomb?
The Hiroshima bomb (Little Boy) was about 15 kt. The B83 is 80× more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb. The Tsar Bomba is 3,333× more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb.
Sources
- 1.Source: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists / FAS (Kristensen, Korda, Johns, Knight-Boyle), United States nuclear weapons, 2026 (Nuclear Notebook, 12 Mar 2026) — retrieved Oct 2026
- 2.Source: Nuclear Weapon Archive (Carey Sublette), Complete List of All U.S. Nuclear Weapons (last changed 30 Mar 2023) — retrieved Oct 2026
- 3.Source: Nuclear Weapon Archive (Carey Sublette), Soviet Atmospheric Tests (last updated 7 Oct 1997) — retrieved Oct 2026
- 4.Source: U.S. DoD / DOE (Glasstone & Dolan, via Atomic Archive), The Effects of Nuclear Weapons, 3rd ed. (1977) §2.127 — retrieved Oct 2026
- 5.Source: Wikipedia, Effects of nuclear explosions — scaling-law table — retrieved Oct 2026
- 6.Source: US DOE / NNSA Nevada Field Office, United States Nuclear Tests, July 1945 through September 1992 (DOE/NV-209 Rev. 16, Sep 2015), NNSS publication library — retrieved Oct 2026