BLU-82 Daisy Cutter
USA · 1970 · 7.5 tons TNT · conventional high-explosive
Overview
Vietnam-era fuel-air explosive.
With a yield of 7.5 tons TNT, the BLU-82 Daisy Cutter is 2000× smaller than the Hiroshima bomb. It is a conventional high-explosive weapon that releases its energy through chemical reactions, not nuclear processes.
BLU-82 Daisy Cutter Blast Effects
The table below shows the calculated radius of each effect zone for an air burst (optimal altitude, maximum blast spread) and a surface burst (ground level, with massive radioactive fallout). Formulas are scaling laws from The Effects of Nuclear Weapons (Glasstone & Dolan, 1977).
| Effect zone | Air burst | Surface burst |
|---|---|---|
| Fireball radius | 0.02 km | 0.02 km |
| Severe blast (20 PSI) | 0.10 km | 0.05 km |
| Moderate blast (5 PSI) | 0.20 km | 0.11 km |
| Light blast (1 PSI) | 0.58 km | 0.32 km |
| 3rd-degree thermal burns | 0.09 km | 0.05 km |
| 2nd-degree thermal burns | 0.16 km | 0.10 km |
| Lethal fallout zone | minimal | ~1.7 km |
All values are 1-D ground-distance estimates from the detonation point. Real-world effects depend on terrain, weather, and building construction.
Run the BLU-82 Daisy Cutter on a City
Use the interactive simulator to detonate the BLU-82 Daisy Cutter on any city worldwide. Click any location on the map to see the fireball, blast, and thermal radii overlaid on real geography with population-density-based casualty estimates.
🎯 Simulate BLU-82 Daisy CutterRelated Weapons
FAQ
How big is the BLU-82 Daisy Cutter blast radius?
In an air burst, the BLU-82 Daisy Cutter produces a fireball roughly 0.02 km in radius and a 5 PSI moderate-blast zone of about 0.20 km — the area in which most residential buildings would collapse. The 1 PSI light-damage radius extends to roughly 0.58 km, where windows shatter.
What is the yield of the BLU-82 Daisy Cutter?
The BLU-82 Daisy Cutter has a yield of 7.5 tons TNT of TNT equivalent. That is 2000× smaller than the Hiroshima bomb.
Is the BLU-82 Daisy Cutter bigger than the Hiroshima bomb?
The Hiroshima bomb (Little Boy) had a yield of approximately 15 kilotons. The BLU-82 Daisy Cutter at 7.5 tons TNT is 2000× smaller than the Hiroshima bomb.