LETTER TO Z. P. ZAVENIAGIN, 'REGARDING THE CHOICE OF DEVICES FOR STRATEGIC USE'
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Report describing the relative merits of the RDS-27 and the SD nuclear weapon designs for use on the R-7 "Semyorka" ICBM."Letter to Z. P. Zaveniagin, 'Regarding the Choice of Devices for Strategic Use'," April 21, 1955, History and Public Policy Program Digital Archive, Archive Rosatom, f. 4, op. 10, d. 32, l. 260-261. Document no. 148 in Atomnyi proekt SSSR. Dokumenty i materialy. [The atomic project of the USSR. Documents and materials.], vol. 3, book 2, p. 358. Translated for CWIHP by Ronen Plechnin. https://digitalarchive.wilsoncenter.org/document/118805 - Share
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21 April 1955 To Comrade A.P Zaveniagin, It is necessary at this time to determine the type of main compression device that will be chosen for strategic use. Calculations made throughout 1954–5 showed that within the [parameters of the] overall dimensions of the RDS-6 system, and at the expense of (…) kg U235, it is possible to make the following products: If one takes into account the cost of the carrier (the R-7 rocket), and of lithium deuteride six, then the cost of one SD device with a yield of 1.8 million tons would equal the cost of 4 RDS-27 devices. Thus the ratios between the zones of destruction of the two devices will not be 190:117, but 152:117. In our opinion, the RDS-27 is the optimal normal compression strategic device. This system gives us the greatest area of destruction, will provide great flexibility, and the opportunity to destroy a maximal number of targets. It also increases the likelihood of hitting the target in case of the downing of the delivery vehicle, or in case of a significant [unclear] under fire. An important practical implication of our view is the necessity of the deployment of long-range rockets and aircraft, in accordance with the production of the U235 as outlined in our calculations. A. Alexsandrov
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Iu. Khariton
A. Sakharov
Ia. Zel’dovich
21 April 1955