USAF Nuclear Weapons Specialist Home Page                                   Soviet /Russian Nuclear Weapons Photo Gallery                                              Copyright 2001 by Michael H. Maggelet                                      All photo's are from the Russian Nuclear Weapons Museum at Chelyabinsk (unless otherwise noted)

RDS-1 (1949- ?) Yield-20 kt.  An internal copy of the Fat Man bomb.

Front view of RDS-1 showing dual parabolic radar antenna. Seven U.S. type AN-219 fuzes surround the outside circumference

RDS-6s "Ivan" (1953 to ?). First Soviet thermonuclear bomb of 400 kt yield.

Aft view of RDS-6s

3/4 rear view of RDS-6s

Soviet Nuclear Bombs RDS-1                    Fat Man implosion type RDS-2                    Gun type, never stockpiled RDS-3 "Tatyana"      First tactical bomb   1953- RDS-4                     tactical implosion RDS-5                     Implosion bomb RDS-6                    TN "layer cake" design RDS-6s                   Improved TN design RDS-27                   Strategic bomb, 1-2 Mt RDS-37                   Strategic bomb, 3-5 Mt, same as RDS-27 but                                  used tritium. Project 700 "Vanya"  only three built, tested at 58 Mt                                 (100 Mt yield possible) Source- G.A. Goncharev -

First Soviet tactical bomb, possibly RDS-4 of 30 Kt

RDS-4 was stockpiled from 1954 to 1965

Military Parade

Unidentified tactical bomb, may be RN-40 with 30 Kt yield. This may be the weapon discussed by MiG-29 pilot Alexander Zuyev in his book "Fulcrum". Zuyev died in a civilian plane crash on June 10, 2001.

Left- possibly RDS-27 or -37, Center- possibly RDS-4,  Right- RDS-1

Display at the Arzamus-16 Museum (Chelyabinsk, Russia)

Project 700 "Vanya" thermonuclear bomb of 58 Mt yield.   Inset shows parachute system.

Front view of bomb radar. Weapon was carried semi-recessed in bomb bay of Tu-95.

Aft assembly of Project 700 bomb showing parachute can and deployable fins.

Re-entry vehicle for R-4 missile, deployed 1960 to 1966. Warhead of 3 Mt yield.

RV for R-9 missile, deployed 1970 to 1979.  Yield of 2 Mt.

Note- Russian strategic missiles are controlled by the Army, not the Air Forces.

Note fins on RV to impart spin during re-entry.

Military Parade

Soviet 152mm nuclear artillery shell

Aft view of RV on maintenance stand.

Soviet/Russian Atomic Demolition Munitions Copyright 2001 by Michael H. Maggelet   Not much is known publicly about Soviet atomic demolition munitions, or their current status in the Russian military.   What is known about Soviet ADM's has been available in the open press since 1986, when discussed briefly by former GRU captain "Viktor Suvorov". Survorov discloses that such charges had yields up to 100 tons, or about 200,000 pounds TNT equivalent. They were either transported by one man (in a two man team), or in two components by small squad.   A discussion of Russian naval special operations forces (GRU Naval Spetsnaz) shows the Delfin (Dolphin) group training with ADM's weighing 27 kg (59.4 lbs) and 70 kg (154 lbs) [Note- see the Special Operations.com web site for an in-depth discussion on Russian special operations forces and the Delfin group]. The Chinese People's Liberation Army has shown a great interest in Spetsnaz type operations, and likely field ADM's.

Given the fact that the U.S. B54 Special Atomic Demolition Munition (SADM) was man portable, it's covert emplacement in or near harbors, SLBM bases, airfields, dams, bridges, command posts, and nuclear weapons storage areas was probably extensively practiced by KGB and GRU Spetsnaz (Army and Navy) at their training facilities (some of which just happened to resemble NATO bases).  Under the circumstances, covert infiltration into NATO territory or even into the U.S. with a SADM would not have been a difficult task during the Cold War. In fact, Soviet KGB operatives stored tons of explosives near U.S. and NATO facilities as revealed by KGB archivist Vasily Mitrokhin in his bestseller "The Sword and the Shield".   The unclassified U.S. Army Field Manual 5-25 reveals the SADM had a mechanical timer with delays avaliable from five minutes to twenty-four hours. The B54 was available to U.S. Army ADM platoons, Special Forces, and U.S. Navy UDT and SEAL's from August 1964 to the mid 1980's. In addition to heavy security in storage area's, a mechanical Permissive Action Link was used to prevent unauthorized detonation.   Department of Energy Historical Films offers a short clip on this weapon, entitled "SADM Delivery by Parachutist" (0800031) of nearly ten minutes duration. For more information, visit the 463X0 Home Page and click on the DOE Historical Films link.

U.S. B54 SADM at the National Atomic Museum- the "backpack nuke".

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This page will be updated as more information comes to light.

Created 25 May 2001

Last Change- 29 Apr 2003