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MR 31

MR 31
Missile warheadFranceImplosion fission
No freely licensed photo of this device yet.
Yield · TNT equivalent120 kt

Key specs

Country
France
Design
Implosion fission
Type
Missile warhead
In service
1971–1980

Overview

The 120 kt warhead of the S2 medium-range ballistic missiles in silos on the Plateau d’Albion. An unboosted pure-plutonium fission design, it is described as the largest pure plutonium weapon ever built.

Effect radii: estimates

Calculated for 120 kt

Fireball, maximum radius
≈ 410 m
Initial radiation, 500 rem (5 Sv)
≈ 2.1 km
Blast 5 psi: most buildings collapse
≈ 3.5 km
Thermal: third-degree burns
≈ 4.8 km
Blast 1 psi: windows shatter
≈ 11 km

Estimated ground ranges for an air burst at the optimum height over flat, open ground, computed from the yield with standard scaling laws. These are not measurements: real effects depend on the height of burst, terrain, buildings and weather.

Formulas from: Glasstone & Dolan, The Effects of Nuclear Weapons (1977), chapter II; Carey Sublette, Nuclear Weapons FAQ, section 5

Sources

  1. MR 31, Wikipedia