RDS-5

The RDS-5 (Russian: РДС-5) was a plutonium based Soviet atomic bomb, probably using a hollow core.¹ Two versions were made. The first version used 2 kg Pu-239 and was expected to yield 9.2 kilotons. The second version used only 0.8 kg Pu-239. ¹²

Testing

The two versions of the RDS-5 were tested during a series of 3 tests on September 3, 8 and 10 1953 in the Semipalatinsk test site. The test on September 3 (Joe 6.³) was probably of the 2 kg version and achieved a yield of 5.8 kilotons (compared to the expected 9.2 kiloton yield). The test on September 8 was probably of the 0.8 kg version and yielded 1.6 kilotons.¹²

References

"Interesting document about Soviet nuclear tests in 1953". Archived from the original on May 19, 2017.
"North Korea's Nuclear Capabilities: A Fresh Look" (PDF).
"Database of nuclear tests, USSR: part 1, 1949–1963".

[russianforces-1] "Interesting document about Soviet nuclear tests in 1953". Archived from the original on May 19, 2017.

[nkorea-2] "North Korea's Nuclear Capabilities: A Fresh Look" (PDF).

[Johnston-3] "Database of nuclear tests, USSR: part 1, 1949–1963".

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Testing

See also

References