FAB-5000
USSR/Russia · 1943 · 3 tons TNT · conventional high-explosive
Overview
Largest conventional Soviet bomb.
With a yield of 3 tons TNT, the FAB-5000 is 5000× smaller than the Hiroshima bomb. It is a conventional high-explosive weapon that releases its energy through chemical reactions, not nuclear processes.
FAB-5000 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 | 0.01 km | 0.01 km |
| Severe blast (20 PSI) | 0.07 km | 0.04 km |
| Moderate blast (5 PSI) | 0.15 km | 0.08 km |
| Light blast (1 PSI) | 0.43 km | 0.24 km |
| 3rd-degree thermal burns | 0.06 km | 0.04 km |
| 2nd-degree thermal burns | 0.11 km | 0.07 km |
| Lethal fallout zone | minimal | ~1.2 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 FAB-5000 on a City
Use the interactive simulator to detonate the FAB-5000 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 FAB-5000Related Weapons
FAQ
How big is the FAB-5000 blast radius?
In an air burst, the FAB-5000 produces a fireball roughly 0.01 km in radius and a 5 PSI moderate-blast zone of about 0.15 km — the area in which most residential buildings would collapse. The 1 PSI light-damage radius extends to roughly 0.43 km, where windows shatter.
What is the yield of the FAB-5000?
The FAB-5000 has a yield of 3 tons TNT of TNT equivalent. That is 5000× smaller than the Hiroshima bomb.
Is the FAB-5000 bigger than the Hiroshima bomb?
The Hiroshima bomb (Little Boy) had a yield of approximately 15 kilotons. The FAB-5000 at 3 tons TNT is 5000× smaller than the Hiroshima bomb.