Key Issues: Nuclear Weapons: Issues: Testing: Russian Testing: USSR: Atmospheric Testing

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Atmospheric Testing

Soviet Atmospheric Tests

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This is a complete list of all Soviet nuclear tests conducted during the era of atmospheric testing. Not included are "hydronuclear tests", what are tests involving fissile material with yields (by design) of less than 1 ton. Explosive device fizzles with yields of less than 1 ton are included however.

Abbreviations

FMS = fundamental and methodical studies of the phenomena of a nuclear explosion
ME = military exercise with a real nuclear detonation
MT = Moscow Time
MTR = Missile Testing Range (near Kapustin Yar, Astrakhan region, Russian Federation)
NTSNZ = Northern Test Site Novaya Zemlya (Arctic Ocean, Russian Federation)
NWR = Nuclear Weapons Related (weapon development or modification)
SAM = studies of accident modes and emergencies (i.e. safety tests)
STS = Semipalatinsk Test Site (Kazakhstan)
WIE = Weapons Effects Tests ("weapon injurious effects" studies)

When the exact yield of a test is known, the enti=ries in the minimum and maximum yield columns are identical.

Test Number	Date (MT)	Location	Test Type	Yield (Kt)		Purpose	Comments
				Min.	Max.
1	29-Aug-49	STS	surface	22	22	NWR	First Soviet nuclear test
2	24-Sep-51	STS	surface	38	38	NWR
3	18-Oct-51	STS	air	42	42	NWR	First Soviet air test; aerial bomb drop
4	12-Aug-53	STS	surface	400	400	NWR	First Soviet thermonuclear explosion; highest yield surface nuclear explosion
5	23-Aug-53	STS	air	28	28	NWR
6	3-Sep-53	STS	air	5.8	5.8	NWR
7	8-Sep-53	STS	air	1.6	1.6	NWR
8	10-Sep-53	STS	air	4.9	4.9	NWR
9	14-Sep-54	Totsk	air	40	40	ME	"Military exercise with real nuclear detonation; at Totask, MoD test site, Orenburg Region"
10	29-Sep-54	STS	air	0.2	0.2	NWR
11	1-Oct-54	STS	air	0.03	0.03	NWR
12	3-Oct-54	STS	air	2	2	NWR
13	5-Oct-54	STS	surface	4	4	NWR
14	8-Oct-54	STS	air	0.8	0.8	NWR
15	19-Oct-54	STS	surface	0	0.001	NWR	First nuclear test failure
16	23-Oct-54	STS	air	62	62	NWR
17	26-Oct-54	STS	air	2.8	2.8	NWR
18	30-Oct-54	STS	surface	10	10	NWR	Air dropped bomb, but with a very low height of burst
19	29-Jul-55	STS	surface	1.3	1.3	NWR
20	2-Aug-55	STS	surface	12	12	NWR
21	5-Aug-55	STS	surface	1.2	1.2	NWR
22	21-Sep-55	NTSNZ	underwater	3.5	3.5	WIE	First test at NTSNZ
23	6-Nov-55	STS	air	250	250	NWR
24	22-Nov-55	STS	air	1600	1600	NWR	"First Soviet test of radiation implosion bomb, highest yield test at STS"
25	2-Feb-56	Aralsk	surface	0.3	0.3	WIE	First surface nuclear exploson (near Aralsk in Kazakhstan) from missile launch near MTR
26	16-Mar-56	STS	surface	14	14	NWR
27	25-Mar-56	STS	surface	5.5	5.5	NWR
28	24-Aug-56	STS	surface	27	27	NWR
29	30-Aug-56	STS	air	900	900	NWR
30	2-Sep-56	STS	air	51	51	NWR
31	10-Sep-56	STS	air	38	38	NWR
32	17-Nov-56	STS	air	900	900	NWR
33	14-Dec-56	STS	air	40	40	NWR
34	19-Jan-57	MTR	air	10	10	WIE	First air nuclear explosion with missile launch from MTR
35	8-Mar-57	STS	air	19	19	NWR
36	3-Apr-57	STS	air	42	42	NWR
37	6-Apr-57	STS	air	57	57	NWR
38	10-Apr-57	STS	air	680	680	NWR
39	12-Apr-57	STS	air	22	22	NWR
40	16-Apr-57	STS	air	320	320	NWR
41	22-Aug-57	STS	air	520	520	NWR
42	26-Aug-57	STS	air	0.1	0.1	SAM	First test for nuclear weapons safety
43	7-Sep-57	NTSNZ	surface	32	32	FMS	The only surface test at NTSNZ
44	13-Sep-57	STS	air	5.9	5.9	NWR
45	24-Sep-57	NTSNZ	air	1600	1600	NWR	First air test at NTSNZ; aerial bomb drop
46	26-Sep-57	STS	air	13	13	NWR
47	6-Oct-57	NTSNZ	air	2900	2900	NWR
48	10-Oct-57	NTSNZ	underwater	10	10	WIE
49	28-Dec-57	STS	air	12	12	NWR
50	4-Jan-58	STS	air	1.3	1.3	NWR
51	17-Jan-58	STS	air	0.5	0.5	NWR
52	23-Feb-58	NTSNZ	air	860	860	NWR
53	27-Feb-58	NTSNZ	air	250	250	NWR
54	27-Feb-58	NTSNZ	air	1500	1500	NWR
55	13-Mar-58	STS	air	1.2	1.2	NWR
56	14-Mar-58	STS	air	35	35	NWR
57	14-Mar-58	NTSNZ	air	40	40	FMS
58	15-Mar-58	STS	air	14	14	NWR
59	18-Mar-58	STS	air	0.16	0.16	FMS
60	20-Mar-58	STS	air	12	12	NWR
61	21-Mar-58	NTSNZ	air	650	650	NWR
62	22-Mar-58	STS	air	18	18	NWR
63	30-Sep-58	NTSNZ	air	1200	1200	NWR
64	30-Sep-58	NTSNZ	air	900	900	NWR
65	2-Oct-58	NTSNZ	air	290	290	NWR
66	2-Oct-58	NTSNZ	air	40	40	FMS
67	4-Oct-58	NTSNZ	air	9	9	NWR
68	5-Oct-58	NTSNZ	air	15	15	NWR
69	6-Oct-58	NTSNZ	air	5.5	5.5	NWR
70	10-Oct-58	NTSNZ	air	68	68	NWR
71	12-Oct-58	NTSNZ	air	1450	1450	NWR
72	15-Oct-58	NTSNZ	air	1500	1500	NWR
73	18-Oct-58	NTSNZ	air	2900	2900	NWR
74	19-Oct-58	NTSNZ	air	40	40	FMS
75	19-Oct-58	NTSNZ	air	0	0.001	NWR
76	20-Oct-58	NTSNZ	air	440	440	NWR
77	21-Oct-58	NTSNZ	air	2	2	NWR
78	22-Oct-58	NTSNZ	air	2800	2800	NWR
79	24-Oct-58	NTSNZ	air	1000	1000	NWR
80	25-Oct-58	NTSNZ	air	190	190	NWR
81	25-Oct-58	NTSNZ	air	0	0.1	FMS
82	1-Nov-58	MTR	air	10	10	WIE
83	3-Nov-58	MTR	air	10	10	WIE
84	1-Sep-61	STS	air	16	16	NWR
85	4-Sep-61	STS	air	9	9	NWR
86	5-Sep-61	STS	air	16	16	NWR
87	6-Sep-61	STS	air	1.1	1.1	NWR
88	6-Sep-61	MTR	air	11	11	WIE
89	9-Sep-61	STS	surface	0.38	0.38	SAM
90	10-Sep-61	NTSNZ	air	2700	2700	NWR
91	10-Sep-61	NTSNZ	air	12	12	NWR
92	10-Sep-61	STS	air	0.88	0.88	NWR
93	11-Sep-61	STS	air	0.3	0.3	NWR
94	12-Sep-61	NTSNZ	air	1150	1150	NWR
95	13-Sep-61	NTSNZ	air	6	6	NWR
96	13-Sep-61	STS	air	0.001	20	NWR
97	14-Sep-61	STS	surface	0.4	0.4	NWR
98	14-Sep-61	NTSNZ	air	1200	1200	NWR
99	16-Sep-61	NTSNZ	air	830	830	NWR
100	17-Sep-61	STS	air	20	150	NWR
101	18-Sep-61	NTSNZ	air	1000	1000	NWR
102	18-Sep-61	STS	surface	0.004	0.004	SAM
103	18-Sep-61	STS	air	0.75	0.75	NWR
104	19-Sep-61	STS	surface	0.03	0.03	SAM
105	20-Sep-61	STS	air	4.8	4.8	NWR
106	20-Sep-61	NTSNZ	air	150	1500	NWR
107	21-Sep-61	STS	air	0.8	0.8	NWR
108	22-Sep-61	NTSNZ	air	260	260	NWR
109	26-Sep-61	STS	air	1.2	1.2	NWR
110	1-Oct-61	STS	air	3	3	NWR
111	2-Oct-61	NTSNZ	air	250	250	NWR
112	4-Oct-61	STS	air	13	13	NWR
113	4-Oct-61	NTSNZ	air	1500	10000	NWR
114	6-Oct-61	NTSNZ	air	4000	4000	NWR
115	6-Oct-61	MTR	air	40	40	WIE
116	8-Oct-61	NTSNZ	air	15	15	NWR
117	11-Oct-61	STS	underground	1	1	FMS	First Soviet underground test
118	12-Oct-61	STS	air	15	15	NWR
119	17-Oct-61	STS	air	6.6	6.6	NWR
120	19-Oct-61	STS	air	0.001	20	NWR
121	20-Oct-61	NTSNZ	air	1450	1450	NWR
122	23-Oct-61	NTSNZ	underwater	4.8	4.8	WIE
123	23-Oct-61	NTSNZ	air	12500	12500	NWR
124	25-Oct-61	NTSNZ	air	300	300	NWR
125	25-Oct-61	STS	air	0.5	0.5	FMS
126	27-Oct-61	NTSNZ	water surface	16	16	WIE
127	27-Oct-61	MTR	space	1.2	1.2	WIE	First Soviet space test
128	27-Oct-61	MTR	space	1.2	1.2	WIE
129	30-Oct-61	STS	air	0.09	0.09	NWR
130	30-Oct-61	NTSNZ	air	50000	50000	NWR	The highest yield explosion ever detonated
131	31-Oct-61	NTSNZ	air	5000	5000	NWR
132	31-Oct-61	NTSNZ	air	150	1500	NWR
133	1-Nov-61	STS	air	2.7	2.7	NWR
134	2-Nov-61	NTSNZ	air	120	120	NWR
135	2-Nov-61	NTSNZ	air	280	280	NWR
136	2-Nov-61	STS	air	0.6	0.6	NWR
137	3-Nov-61	STS	surface	0	0.001	SAM
138	3-Nov-61	STS	air	0.9	0.9	NWR
139	4-Nov-61	NTSNZ	air	15	15	NWR
140	4-Nov-61	NTSNZ	air	150	1500	NWR
141	4-Nov-61	NTSNZ	air	6	6	NWR
142	4-Nov-61	STS	surface	0.2	0.2	NWR
143	2-Feb-62	STS	underground	0.001	20	WIE	Tunnel A-1; first Soviet underground test for WIE
144	1-Aug-62	STS	air	2.4	2.4	NWR
145	3-Aug-62	STS	air	1.6	1.6	NWR
146	4-Aug-62	STS	air	3.8	3.8	NWR
147	5-Aug-62	NTSNZ	air	21100	21100	NWR
148	7-Aug-62	STS		9.9	9.9	NWR
149	10-Aug-62	NTSNZ	air	150	1500	NWR
150	18-Aug-62	STS	air	7.4	7.4	NWR
151	18-Aug-62	STS	air	5.8	5.8	NWR
152	20-Aug-62	NTSNZ	air	2800	2800	NWR
153	21-Aug-62	STS	air	20	150	NWR
154	22-Aug-62	NTSNZ	air	1600	1600	NWR
155	22-Aug-62	NTSNZ		6	6	NWR
156	22-Aug-62	STS	air	3	3	NWR
157	23-Aug-62	STS	air	2.5	2.5	NWR
158	25-Aug-62	NTSNZ	air	1500	10000	NWR
159	25-Aug-62	STS	air	0.001	20	NWR
160	27-Aug-62	NTSNZ	air	4200	4200	NWR
161	27-Aug-62	STS	air	11	11	NWR
162	31-Aug-62	STS	air	2.7	2.7	FMS
163	2-Sep-62	NTSNZ	air	80	80	NWR
164	8-Sep-62	NTSNZ	air	1900	1900	NWR
165	15-Sep-62	NTSNZ	air	3100	3100	NWR
166	16-Sep-62	NTSNZ	air	3250	3250	NWR
167	18-Sep-62	NTSNZ	air	1350	1350	NWR
168	19-Sep-62	NTSNZ	air	1500	10000	NWR
169	21-Sep-62	NTSNZ	air	2400	2400	NWR
170	22-Sep-62	STS		0.21	0.21	SAM
171	24-Sep-62	STS	air	1.2	1.2	NWR
172	25-Sep-62	STS		7	7	NWR
173	25-Sep-62	NTSNZ	air	19100	19100	NWR
174	27-Sep-62	NTSNZ	air	10000	20000	NWR
175	28-Sep-62	STS	air	1.3	1.3	FMS
176	7-Oct-62	NTSNZ	air	320	320	NWR
177	9-Oct-62	STS	air	8	8	NWR
178	9-Oct-62	NTSNZ	air	15	15	NWR
179	10-Oct-62	STS	air	9.2	9.2	NWR
180	13-Oct-62	STS	air	4.9	4.9	NWR
181	14-Oct-62	STS	air	0.001	20	NWR
182	20-Oct-62	STS	air	6.7	6.7	NWR
183	22-Oct-62	NTSNZ	air	8200	8200	NWR
184	22-Oct-62	MTR		300	300	WIE
185	27-Oct-62	NTSNZ	air	260	260	NWR
186	28-Oct-62	STS	air	7.8	7.8	NWR
187	28-Oct-62	MTR		300	300	WIE
188	28-Oct-62	STS	air	7.8	7.8	NWR
189	29-Oct-62	NTSNZ	air	360	360	NWR
190	30-Oct-62	STS		1.2	1.2	NWR
191	30-Oct-62	NTSNZ	air	280	280	NWR
192	31-Oct-62	STS	air	10	10	NWR
193	1-Nov-62	STS	air	3	3	NWR
194	1-Nov-62	NTSNZ	air	240	240	NWR
195	1-Nov-62	MTR		300	300	WIE
196	3-Nov-62	NTSNZ	air	390	390	NWR
197	3-Nov-62	NTSNZ	air	45	45	NWR
198	3-Nov-62	STS	air	4.7	4.7	NWR
199	4-Nov-62	STS	air	8.4	8.4	NWR
200	5-Nov-62	STS		0.4	0.4	WIE
201	11-Nov-62	STS		0.1	0.1	NWR
202	13-Nov-62	STS		0	0.001	NWR
203	14-Nov-62	STS	air	12	12	NWR
204	17-Nov-62	STS	air	18	18	NWR
205	24-Nov-62	STS		0	0.001	SAM
206	26-Nov-62	STS		0.031	0.031	SAM
207	1-Dec-62	STS	air	2.4	2.4	NWR
208	18-Dec-62	NTSNZ	air	110	110	NWR
209	18-Dec-62	NTSNZ	air	69	69	FMS
210	20-Dec-62	NTSNZ	air	8.3	8.3	NWR
211	22-Dec-62	NTSNZ	air	6.3	6.3	NWR
212	23-Dec-62	NTSNZ	air	430	430	NWR
213	23-Dec-62	NTSNZ	air	8.3	8.3	NWR
214	23-Dec-62	NTSNZ	air	2.4	2.4	NWR
215	23-Dec-62	STS	surface	0	0.001	SAM
216	24-Dec-62	STS	surface	0.007	0.007	SAM
217	24-Dec-62	STS	surface	0.028	0.028	SAM
218	24-Dec-62	NTSNZ	air	1100	1100	NWR
219	24-Dec-62	NTSNZ	air	24200	24200	NWR
220	25-Dec-62	NTSNZ	air	3100	3100	NWR
221	25-Dec-62	NTSNZ	air	8.5	8.5	NWR	Last Soviet atmospheric test

Source: USSR Nuclear Weapons Tests and Peaceful Nuclear Explosions: 1949 through 1990; The Ministry of the Russian Federation for Atomic Energy, and Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation; ed. V. N. Mikhailov; 1996

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