China's first full-yield thermonuclear test made it the fourth nation to develop hydrogen bombs, achieved in a record 32 months from its first nuclear test.
Key Facts
- Codename
- 639
- Yield
- 3.3 megatons of TNT
- Test sequence
- Sixth Chinese nuclear test
- Time from first nuclear test
- 32 months after Project 596
- Prior thermonuclear test yield
- 122 kt (December 1966)
- Nations with thermonuclear weapons (by 1967)
- US, USSR, UK, China
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
China had been pursuing the 'Two Bombs, One Satellite' program, which included development of a thermonuclear weapon. A smaller two-stage thermonuclear device had already been tested in December 1966 at 122 kilotons, establishing the foundation for a full-scale hydrogen bomb test.
On 17 June 1967, China detonated its sixth nuclear device, codenamed 639, a full-scale two-staged thermonuclear bomb yielding 3.3 megatons of TNT. This completed the thermonuclear bomb component of the 'Two Bombs, One Satellite' program and represented China's first successful hydrogen bomb at full yield.
China became the fourth nation in history to develop thermonuclear weapons, after the United States, the Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom. The progression from China's first nuclear test to a full thermonuclear device in just 32 months remains the fastest such development by any country.
Political Outcome
China successfully completed its thermonuclear weapons program, becoming the fourth nation to possess hydrogen bombs.
China held basic nuclear capability but lacked thermonuclear weapons
China joined the US, USSR, and UK as a thermonuclear-armed state