1987 Soviet nuclear tests

1987
Information
Country	Soviet Union
Test site	Aktobe, Kazakhstan; Balapan, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan; Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan; NZ Area B, Matochkin Shar, Novaya Zemlya, Russia; Perm, Russia; Sakha, Russia
Period	1987
Number of tests	24
Test type	underground shaft, underground tunnel
Max. yield	150 kilotonnes of TNT (630 TJ)
Navigation
Previous test series	1985 Soviet nuclear tests
Next test series	1988 Soviet nuclear tests

The Soviet Union's 1987 nuclear test series^[1] was a group of 24 nuclear tests conducted in 1987. These tests ^{[note 1]} followed the 1985 Soviet nuclear tests series and preceded the 1988 Soviet nuclear tests series.

Soviet Union's 1987 series tests and detonations

Name [note 2]	Date time (UT)	Local time zone [note 3][2]	Location [note 4]	Elevation + height [note 5]	Delivery, [note 6] Purpose [note 7]	Device [note 8]	Yield [note 9]	Fallout [note 10]	References	Notes
669	26 February 1987 04:58:24.3	ALMT (6 hrs)	Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 130 49°49′48″N 78°05′01″E / 49.8299°N 78.0835°E	635 m (2,083 ft) +	underground tunnel, fundamental science		24 kt		[1][3][4][5][6]
670 - 1	12 March 1987 01:57:19.63	ALMT (6 hrs)	Balapan, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 1315 49°56′11″N 78°49′36″E / 49.93633°N 78.82663°E	330 m (1,080 ft) +	underground shaft, weapons development		11 kt		[1][3][4][5][6]
670 - 2	12 March 1987 01:57:19.6	ALMT (6 hrs)	Balapan, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 1315 49°56′11″N 78°49′36″E / 49.93633°N 78.82663°E	330 m (1,080 ft) +	underground shaft, weapons development		unknown yield		[1][3][5][6][7]
671	3 April 1987 01:17:10.36	ALMT (6 hrs)	Balapan, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 1318 49°55′09″N 78°46′47″E / 49.91914°N 78.77961°E	330 m (1,080 ft) +	underground shaft, weapons development		140 kt		[1][3][4][5][6]
672 - 1	3 April 1987 01:17:12.32	ALMT (6 hrs)	Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 208 49°44′48″N 78°06′58″E / 49.7467°N 78.1162°E	597 m (1,959 ft) +	underground tunnel, weapons development		1 kt		[1][3][5][6][8]
672 - 2	3 April 1987 01:17:12.3	ALMT (6 hrs)	Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 208 49°44′48″N 78°06′58″E / 49.7467°N 78.1162°E	597 m (1,959 ft) +	underground tunnel, weapons development		unknown yield		[1][3][5][6][9]
672 - 3	3 April 1987 01:17:12.3	ALMT (6 hrs)	Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 208 49°44′48″N 78°06′58″E / 49.7467°N 78.1162°E	597 m (1,959 ft) +	underground tunnel, weapons development		unknown yield		[1][3][5][6][9]
unnumbered #11	17 April 1987	ALMT (6 hrs)	Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 175-3p 49°45′04″N 78°02′56″E / 49.751°N 78.049°E	+	underground tunnel,		no yield		[1][4][5][6][9]
673 - 1	17 April 1987 01:03:07.14	ALMT (6 hrs)	Balapan, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 1384 49°52′36″N 78°40′09″E / 49.87668°N 78.66917°E	330 m (1,080 ft) +	underground shaft, weapons development		86 kt		[1][3][4][5][6]
673 - 2	17 April 1987 01:03:07.1	ALMT (6 hrs)	Balapan, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 1384 49°52′36″N 78°40′09″E / 49.87668°N 78.66917°E	330 m (1,080 ft) +	underground shaft, weapons development		unknown yield		[1][3][5][6][7]
673 - 3	17 April 1987 01:03:07.1	ALMT (6 hrs)	Balapan, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 1384 49°52′36″N 78°40′09″E / 49.87668°N 78.66917°E	330 m (1,080 ft) +	underground shaft, weapons development		unknown yield		[1][3][5][6][7]
674 Geliy 3 (Helium)	19 April 1987 04:00:00.0	SVET (5 hrs)	Perm, Russia: 404 60°36′N 57°12′E / 60.6°N 57.2°E	- 2,015 m (6,611 ft)	underground shaft, oil stimulation		3.2 kt		[1][4][5][6][9]	Oil recovery intensification. 170 km NE Bereznyaki.
675 Geliy 3 (Helium)	19 April 1987 04:05:00.0	SVET (5 hrs)	Perm, Russia: 405 60°48′N 57°30′E / 60.8°N 57.5°E	- 2,055 m (6,742 ft)	underground shaft, oil stimulation		3.2 kt		[1][4][5][6][9]	Oil recovery intensification. 170 km NE Bereznyaki.
676	6 May 1987 04:02:08.11	ALMT (6 hrs)	Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 164 49°46′27″N 77°59′55″E / 49.7742°N 77.9986°E	772 m (2,533 ft) +	underground tunnel, fundamental science		40 kt		[1][3][4][5][6]
677	6 June 1987 02:37:09.25	ALMT (6 hrs)	Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 138 49°49′58″N 78°04′13″E / 49.8327°N 78.0704°E	604 m (1,982 ft) +	underground tunnel, fundamental science		24 kt		[1][3][4][5][6]
678 - 1	20 June 1987 00:53:07.16	ALMT (6 hrs)	Balapan, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 1326 49°56′16″N 78°44′35″E / 49.93774°N 78.74298°E	330 m (1,080 ft) +	underground shaft, weapons development		107 kt		[1][3][4][5][6]
678 - 2	20 June 1987 00:53:07.2	ALMT (6 hrs)	Balapan, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 1326 49°56′16″N 78°44′35″E / 49.93774°N 78.74298°E	330 m (1,080 ft) +	underground shaft, weapons development		unknown yield		[1][5][6][7][9]
679 Neva 2	7 July 1987 00:00:00.0	YAKT (9 hrs)	Sakha, Russia: 68 61°30′N 112°51′E / 61.5°N 112.85°E	- 1,515 m (4,970 ft)	underground shaft, oil stimulation		15 kt		[1][4][5][6][9]	Oil recovery intensification.
680	17 July 1987 01:17:09.18	ALMT (6 hrs)	Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 168 49°45′59″N 78°01′43″E / 49.7664°N 78.0287°E	738 m (2,421 ft) - 267 m (876 ft)	underground tunnel, fundamental science		78 kt		[1][3][4][5][6]
681 Neva 3	24 July 1987 02:00:00.0	YAKT (9 hrs)	Sakha, Russia: 61 61°27′N 112°48′E / 61.45°N 112.8°E	- 1,520 m (4,990 ft)	underground shaft, oil stimulation		15 kt		[1][4][5][6][9]	Oil recovery intensification.
683 - 1	2 August 1987 00:58:09.27	ALMT (6 hrs)	Balapan, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 1348 49°52′52″N 78°52′27″E / 49.88113°N 78.87414°E	330 m (1,080 ft) +	underground shaft, weapons development		72 kt		[1][3][4][5][6]
683 - 2	2 August 1987 00:58:09.3	ALMT (6 hrs)	Balapan, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 1348 49°52′52″N 78°52′27″E / 49.88113°N 78.87414°E	330 m (1,080 ft) +	underground shaft, weapons development		unknown yield		[1][5][6][9][10]
683 - 3	2 August 1987 00:58:09.3	ALMT (6 hrs)	Balapan, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 1348 49°52′52″N 78°52′27″E / 49.88113°N 78.87414°E	330 m (1,080 ft) +	underground shaft, weapons development		unknown yield		[1][5][6][9][10]
682 - 1	2 August 1987 02:00:00.2	MSK (3 hrs)	NZ Area B, Matochkin Shar, Novaya Zemlya, Russia: A-37A 73°19′34″N 54°36′07″E / 73.326°N 54.602°E	100 m (330 ft) - 390 m (1,280 ft)	underground tunnel, weapons development		150 kt	Venting detected off site, 1.5 kCi (56 TBq)	[1][4][5][6][9]
682 - 2	2 August 1987 02:00:00.2	MSK (3 hrs)	NZ Area B, Matochkin Shar, Novaya Zemlya, Russia: A-37A 73°19′34″N 54°36′07″E / 73.326°N 54.602°E	100 m (330 ft) +	underground tunnel, weapons development		unknown yield		[1][5][6][9][10]
682 - 3	2 August 1987 02:00:00.2	MSK (3 hrs)	NZ Area B, Matochkin Shar, Novaya Zemlya, Russia: A-37A 73°19′34″N 54°36′07″E / 73.326°N 54.602°E	100 m (330 ft) +	underground tunnel, weapons development		unknown yield		[1][5][6][9][10]
682 - 4	2 August 1987 02:00:00.2	MSK (3 hrs)	NZ Area B, Matochkin Shar, Novaya Zemlya, Russia: A-37A 73°19′34″N 54°36′07″E / 73.326°N 54.602°E	100 m (330 ft) +	underground tunnel, fundamental science		unknown yield		[1][5][6][9][10]
682 - 5	2 August 1987 02:00:00.2	MSK (3 hrs)	NZ Area B, Matochkin Shar, Novaya Zemlya, Russia: A-37A 73°19′34″N 54°36′07″E / 73.326°N 54.602°E	100 m (330 ft) +	underground tunnel, safety experiment		unknown yield		[1][5][6][9][10]
684 Neva 4	12 August 1987 01:30:00.5	YAKT (9 hrs)	Sakha, Russia: 101 61°27′N 112°48′E / 61.45°N 112.8°E	- 834 m (2,736 ft)	underground shaft, oil stimulation		3.2 kt		[1][4][5][6][9]	Oil recovery intensification.
685 - 1	18 September 1987 02:32:10.01	ALMT (6 hrs)	Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 132p 49°48′22″N 78°05′59″E / 49.806°N 78.0997°E	719 m (2,359 ft) +	underground tunnel, weapon effect		1.1 kt		[1][3][4][5][6]
685 - 2	18 September 1987 02:32:10.0	ALMT (6 hrs)	Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 132p 49°48′22″N 78°05′59″E / 49.806°N 78.0997°E	719 m (2,359 ft) +	underground tunnel, safety experiment		unknown yield		[1][3][5][6][9]
686 Batolit 2 (Batholith)	3 October 1987 15:15:00.0	AKTT (6 hrs)	Aktobe, Kazakhstan: BT-2 47°36′N 56°12′E / 47.6°N 56.2°E	- 1,000 m (3,300 ft)	underground shaft, seismic sounding		8.5 kt		[1][4][5][6][9]	Seismic probing program.
687	16 October 1987 06:06:06.99	ALMT (6 hrs)	Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: K-85 49°43′53″N 78°05′26″E / 49.7313°N 78.0906°E	620 m (2,030 ft) - 82 m (269 ft)	underground tunnel, weapon effect		1.1 kt		[1][3][4][5][6]
688 - 1	15 November 1987 03:31:09.17	ALMT (6 hrs)	Balapan, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 1332 49°53′57″N 78°45′23″E / 49.89909°N 78.75629°E	330 m (1,080 ft) +	underground shaft, weapons development		103 kt		[1][3][4][5][6]
688 - 2	15 November 1987 03:31:09.2	ALMT (6 hrs)	Balapan, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 1332 49°53′57″N 78°45′23″E / 49.89909°N 78.75629°E	330 m (1,080 ft) +	underground shaft, weapons development		unknown yield		[1][5][6][7][9]
689 - 1	13 December 1987 03:21:07.25	ALMT (6 hrs)	Balapan, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 1355 49°57′43″N 78°47′32″E / 49.96185°N 78.79222°E	330 m (1,080 ft) +	underground shaft, weapons development		137 kt		[1][3][4][5][6]
689 - 2	13 December 1987 03:21:07.3	ALMT (6 hrs)	Balapan, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 1355 49°57′43″N 78°47′32″E / 49.96185°N 78.79222°E	330 m (1,080 ft) +	underground shaft, weapons development		unknown yield		[1][5][6][7][9]
690	20 December 1987 02:55:09.14	ALMT (6 hrs)	Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 164p 49°46′27″N 77°59′55″E / 49.7742°N 77.9986°E	772 m (2,533 ft) +	underground tunnel, fundamental science		5 kt		[1][3][4][5][6]
691 - 1	27 December 1987 03:05:07.22	ALMT (6 hrs)	Balapan, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 1388 49°52′47″N 78°43′25″E / 49.87979°N 78.72368°E	330 m (1,080 ft) +	underground shaft, weapons development		117 kt		[1][3][4][5][6]
691 - 2	27 December 1987 03:05:07.2	ALMT (6 hrs)	Balapan, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 1388 49°52′47″N 78°43′25″E / 49.87979°N 78.72368°E	330 m (1,080 ft) +	underground shaft, weapons development		unknown yield		[1][5][6][7][9]

1. A bomb test may be a salvo test, defined as two or more explosions "where a period of time between successive individual explosions does not exceed 5 seconds and where the burial points of all explosive devices can be connected by segments of straight lines, each of them connecting two burial points and does not exceed 40 kilometers in length". Mikhailov, V. N., Editor in Chief. "Catalog of World Wide Nuclear Testing". Begell-Atom, LLC.
2. The US, France and Great Britain have code-named their test events, while the USSR and China did not, and therefore have only test numbers (with some exceptions – Soviet peaceful explosions were named). Word translations into English in parentheses unless the name is a proper noun. A dash followed by a number indicates a member of a salvo event. The US also sometimes named the individual explosions in such a salvo test, which results in "name1 – 1(with name2)". If test is canceled or aborted, then the row data like date and location discloses the intended plans, where known.
3. To convert the UT time into standard local, add the number of hours in parentheses to the UT time; for local daylight saving time, add one additional hour. If the result is earlier than 00:00, add 24 hours and subtract 1 from the day; if it is 24:00 or later, subtract 24 hours and add 1 to the day. All historical timezone data are derived from here:
4. Rough place name and a latitude/longitude reference; for rocket-carried tests, the launch location is specified before the detonation location, if known. Some locations are extremely accurate; others (like airdrops and space blasts) may be quite inaccurate. "~" indicates a likely pro-forma rough location, shared with other tests in that same area.
5. Elevation is the ground level at the point directly below the explosion relative to sea level; height is the additional distance added or subtracted by tower, balloon, shaft, tunnel, air drop or other contrivance. For rocket bursts the ground level is "N/A". In some cases it is not clear if the height is absolute or relative to ground, for example, Plumbbob/John. No number or units indicates the value is unknown, while "0" means zero. Sorting on this column is by elevation and height added together.
6. Atmospheric, airdrop, balloon, gun, cruise missile, rocket, surface, tower, and barge are all disallowed by the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Sealed shaft and tunnel are underground, and remained useful under the PTBT. Intentional cratering tests are borderline; they occurred under the treaty, were sometimes protested, and generally overlooked if the test was declared to be a peaceful use.
7. Include weapons development, weapon effects, safety test, transport safety test, war, science, joint verification and industrial/peaceful, which may be further broken down.
8. Designations for test items where known, "?" indicates some uncertainty about the preceding value, nicknames for particular devices in quotes. This category of information is often not officially disclosed.
9. Estimated energy yield in tons, kilotons, and megatons. A ton of TNT equivalent is defined as 4.184 gigajoules (1 gigacalorie).
10. Radioactive emission to the atmosphere aside from prompt neutrons, where known. The measured species is only iodine-131 if mentioned, otherwise it is all species. No entry means unknown, probably none if underground and "all" if not; otherwise notation for whether measured on the site only or off the site, where known, and the measured amount of radioactivity released.

References

1. Yang, Xiaoping; North, Robert; Romney, Carl (August 2000). CMR Nuclear Explosion Database (Revision 3) (Technical report). SMDC Monitoring Research.
2. "Timezone Historical Database". iana.com. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
3. Khalturin, Vitaly I.; Rautian, Tatyana G.; Richards, Paul G. (2000). "Chemical explosions during 1961-1989 on the Semipalatinsk Test Site, Kazakhstan" (PDF). Pure and Applied Geophysics 158: 143–171. doi:10.1007/pl00001153. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
4. Cochran, Thomas B.; Arkin, William M.; Norris, Robert S.; Sands, Jeffrey I. Nuclear Weapons Databook Vol. IV: Soviet Nuclear Weapons. New York, NY: Harper and Row.
5. Podvig, Pavel, ed. (2001). Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
6. USSR Nuclear Weapons Tests and Peaceful Nuclear Explosions 1949 through 1990. Sarov, Russia: RFNC-VNIIEF. 1996. The official Russian list of Soviet tests.
7. Thurber, Clifford; Trabant, Chad; Haslinger, Florian; Hartog, Renate (2001). Nuclear explosion locations at the Balapan, Kazakhstan, nuclear test site: the effects of high-precision arrival times and three-dimensional structure. Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors (Technical report) 123. pp. 283–301. doi:10.1016/s0031-9201(00)00215-6. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
8. Kim, Won-Young; Richards, Paul G.; Andrushkin, Vitaly; Ovtchinnikov, Vladimir (April 1, 2001). Borovoye digital seismogram archive for underground nuclear tests during 1966-1996 (PDF) (Technical report). LDEO. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
9. Nuclear explosions in the USSR: The North Test Site reference material, version 4 (PDF) (Technical report). IAEA Dept. of Nuclear Safety and Security. December 1, 2004. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
10. Andrushkin, Vitaly V.; Leith, William (September 1, 2001). The containment of Soviet underground nuclear explosions (PDF) (Open File Report 01-312). USGS. Retrieved December 13, 2013.