Model of China's first air-dropped atomic bomb (A2923)
An atomic bomb utilizes the nuclear fission chain reaction of heavy atoms such as uranium-235 or plutonium-239 to instantly release enormous energy. It can be delivered by bombers, missiles, and other delivery vehicles, forming various combat forms such as nuclear bombs and nuclear missiles. This exhibit is a 1:1 scale model, based on the A2923 atomic bomb successfully air-dropped by a bomber on May 14, 1965. As China's first air-droppable atomic bomb, the A2923 achieved a crucial combination of nuclear deterrence and air delivery capabilities, truly giving wings to China's powerful nuclear weapons. Previously, China's first atomic bomb was successfully tested on October 16, 1964, in western China using a tower-detonation method, marking its first nuclear test. The successful air-drop of the A2923 solved the problem of atomic bomb delivery, signifying that China's nuclear weapons possessed operational capability.
Model of China's first hydrogen bomb (H639-23)
A hydrogen bomb utilizes the explosive energy of a nuclear fission device to trigger a self-sustaining fusion reaction of light nuclei such as deuterium and tritium, releasing enormous energy instantaneously. This exhibit is a 1:1 scale model, based on China's first hydrogen bomb (H639-23). From atomic bomb to hydrogen bomb, China took only 2 years and 8 months, becoming the fourth country in the world to master hydrogen bomb technology. On June 17, 1967, China announced the successful detonation of its first hydrogen bomb, further breaking the nuclear monopoly and nuclear blackmail of superpowers and building a solid strategic security barrier for the new China. The H639-23 was China's first hydrogen bomb model, detonated via air drop, a result of collaborative efforts between the nuclear industry and air delivery technology.
