Trinity vs Smiling Buddha
Nuclear weapon side-by-side comparison
Trinity
USA · 1945 · pure fission
25 kt
First nuclear test.
Smiling Buddha
India · 1974 · pure fission
12 kt
First Indian nuclear test.
Verdict
The Trinity is 2.1× more powerful than the Smiling Buddha by yield. Both weapons are described in detail below, with side-by-side blast and thermal radii, casualty estimates at a reference urban density, and historical context.
Blast & thermal effects (air burst)
| Effect zone | Trinity | Smiling Buddha |
|---|---|---|
| Yield | 25 kt | 12 kt |
| Fireball radius | 0.53 km | 0.39 km |
| Severe blast (20 PSI) | 1.39 km | 1.09 km |
| Moderate blast (5 PSI) | 2.98 km | 2.34 km |
| Light blast (1 PSI) | 8.48 km | 6.65 km |
| 3rd-degree thermal burns | 2.51 km | 1.86 km |
| 2nd-degree thermal burns | 4.49 km | 3.32 km |
Casualty estimate (dense urban target)
Estimated immediate fatalities if each weapon air-bursts over a city center with a population density of about 8,000 per km² (representative of dense urban cores like Manhattan or central Paris):
Real casualties depend strongly on time of day, sheltering, weather, and altitude of detonation. See the methodology page for the underlying formulas.
Hiroshima reference
The Hiroshima bomb (Little Boy) had a yield of approximately 15 kilotons. The Trinity is 2× more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb. The Smiling Buddha is 1.3× smaller.
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FAQ
Is the Trinity bigger than the Smiling Buddha?
Yes. The Trinity (25 kt) is 2.1× more powerful than the Smiling Buddha (12 kt).
What is the blast radius of the Trinity compared to the Smiling Buddha?
For an air burst, the Trinity produces a 5 PSI moderate-blast radius of 2.98 km, versus 2.34 km for the Smiling Buddha. Severe blast (20 PSI): 1.39 km vs 1.09 km. 3rd-degree thermal burns: 2.51 km vs 1.86 km.
How many people would die from a Trinity compared to a Smiling Buddha?
Detonated over a typical dense city center (8,000 people/km²), the Trinity would cause an estimated 135,018 immediate fatalities. The Smiling Buddha would cause an estimated 83,179. Real numbers depend on time of day, sheltering, weather, and altitude of detonation.
How do the Trinity and Smiling Buddha compare to the Hiroshima bomb?
The Trinity is 2× more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb (Little Boy, 15 kt). The Smiling Buddha is 1.3× smaller than the Hiroshima bomb.