Soviet Test 219
USSR · 1962 · 24.2 megatons · thermonuclear (hydrogen bomb)
Overview
Third largest Soviet test.
With a yield of 24.2 megatons, the Soviet Test 219 is 1,613× more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb. As a thermonuclear (hydrogen bomb) weapon, it derives its energy from a fission primary that ignites a much larger fusion secondary stage.
Soviet Test 219 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 | 8.22 km | 6.58 km |
| Severe blast (20 PSI) | 13.48 km | 7.41 km |
| Moderate blast (5 PSI) | 28.81 km | 15.84 km |
| Light blast (1 PSI) | 81.95 km | 45.07 km |
| 3rd-degree thermal burns | 42.02 km | 25.21 km |
| 2nd-degree thermal burns | 75.26 km | 45.15 km |
| Lethal fallout zone | minimal | ~680.3 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 Soviet Test 219 on a City
Use the interactive simulator to detonate the Soviet Test 219 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 Soviet Test 219Related Weapons
FAQ
How big is the Soviet Test 219 blast radius?
In an air burst, the Soviet Test 219 produces a fireball roughly 8.22 km in radius and a 5 PSI moderate-blast zone of about 28.81 km — the area in which most residential buildings would collapse. The 1 PSI light-damage radius extends to roughly 81.95 km, where windows shatter.
What is the yield of the Soviet Test 219?
The Soviet Test 219 has a yield of 24.2 megatons of TNT equivalent. That is 1,613× more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb.
Is the Soviet Test 219 bigger than the Hiroshima bomb?
The Hiroshima bomb (Little Boy) had a yield of approximately 15 kilotons. The Soviet Test 219 at 24.2 megatons is 1,613× more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb.
What thermal burn radius does the Soviet Test 219 produce?
Thermal radiation from the Soviet Test 219 can cause 3rd-degree burns out to roughly 42.02 km and 2nd-degree burns out to 75.26 km in an air burst. Surface bursts reduce these radii by approximately 40 percent due to ground absorption.