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thermonuclear weapon
Photo: Glen Bowman · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
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thermonuclearweapon

Nuclear Warheads · United States · 1952
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thermonuclearweapon

thermonuclear weapon
thermonuclear weapon Photo: Glen Bowman · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
* Absolute score — assessed within category · no era adjustment
Yield
95
Yield-to-Weight Efficiency
90
Deliverability
80
Safety
70
Reliability
85
Miniaturization
80
Survivability
75
Variable-Yield Flexibility
70
Strategic Impact
100
Technology
90
Origin United States
CategoryNuclear Warheads
EraEarly Cold War
In service1952
Operators8 countries
Data Quality88%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
86
Nuclear Warheads MASS Rating
1/13
Early Cold War
3/51
All-Time
Nuclear Warheads · 10 axes scored
Yield
95
Yield-to-Weight Efficiency
90
Deliverability
80
Safety
70
Reliability
85
Miniaturization
80
Survivability
75
Variable-Yield Flexibility
70
Strategic Impact
100
Technology
90
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the nuclear warheads category.
01 / Overview
thermonuclear weapon
Production
1952–
Operators
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
NUCLEAR WARHEADS · EARLY COLD WAR
1
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
60
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
86
nuclear warheads category
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the nuclear warheads category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General2MOD.2
  • Warhead TypeTeller-Ulam configuration
  • Service Entry Year1952
◆Production3MOD.3
  • Designer / LabEdward Teller, Stanisław Ulam, John von Neumann
  • First Test1952
  • Operators5
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
  1. 1952Production started
74
years in service
8
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it.
04 / Operators
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE9terms
A gravity bomb is a type of bomb that relies on gravity to guide it to its target, using no thrust or lift during its descent.
A high explosive designed to detonate reliably despite external shocks, impacts, or fires, used in nuclear warheads to ensure safety and functionality.
A warhead designed for integration into a Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle delivery system.
Explosive payload of a missile, designed to inflict damage on a target.
A nuclear warhead feature that prevents detonation from a single point of impact or shock.
A device that prevents nuclear warhead detonation without authorization.
Relating to nuclear weapons that derive destructive power from both fission and fusion reactions, typically used in intercontinental ballistic missiles.
A nuclear warhead feature allowing adjustable explosive yield, typically via selectable charge configurations, to optimize effects for different targets.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources
📖 ENCYCLOPEDIA Browse the Nuclear Warheads entry →