Nuclear (or atomic) weapons are the presence of the entire nuclear arsenal, its means of transportation, as well as control hardware. Such weapons are classified as weapons of mass destruction - weapons mass destruction. The explosive action of the so-called “rusty death” weapon is based on the principle of using some of the qualities possessed by nuclear energy released as a result of a nuclear or thermonuclear reaction.
Types of nuclear weapons
All nuclear weapons available on the globe can be divided into two types:
- Atomic weapons are single-phase type explosive mechanisms. During the fission of heavy nuclei of plutonium or uranium 235, energy is released;
- Thermonuclear weapon is an explosive mechanism with a two-phase type. During the impact of the first phase, the release of energy occurs due to the fission of heavy nuclei. During the operation of the second phase, a phase with thermonuclear fusion is connected to fission reactions. In the process of proportional composition of reactions, the types of these weapons are determined.
From the history of the emergence of nuclear weapons
In 1889, the Curie couple committed scientific world grand opening. They discovered a hitherto unknown substance in a piece of uranium that released a colossal amount of energy.
After this discovery, events developed as follows. E. Rutherford studied the basic properties of atoms. E. Walton and D. Cockroft were the first in the world to carry out the splitting of the atomic nucleus. And already in 1934, scientist Leo Szilard registered a patent for the creation of an atomic bomb.
The purpose for which it was created atomic weapons, is very trivial - this world domination, with the intimidation and destruction of their enemies. So, when the Second was already underway World War, scientists in Germany, the Soviet Union and the United States were studying scientific research and nuclear weapons development. These three largest and most powerful states, actively participating in hostilities, attempted to achieve victory at any cost. Moreover, if at that time they had managed to use these weapons as key factor in victory, then it could be used more than once in other military conflicts.
Nuclear powers of the world for 2018
The states that currently possess nuclear weapons are secretly called the Nuclear Club.
The following are considered legitimate within the international legal framework:
- United States of America (USA);
- Russia (which received nuclear weapons from the USSR after its collapse);
- France;
- Great Britain;
- China.
The following are considered illegitimate:
- India;
- North Korea;
- Pakistan.
There is another state - Israel. Officially, it does not have its own nuclear weapons. However, the world community is of the opinion that Israel should take its place in the Nuclear Club.
However, it is possible that there may be other participants on this list. Many world states had nuclear programs, but some of them gave up the idea later, and some are still working on them to this day. In some states, such weapons are supplied by other countries, for example, the United States. The exact number of weapons and how many nuclear powers own these weapons in the world is not known. However, approximately twenty and a half thousand nuclear warheads are scattered throughout the globe.
In 1968, they signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Later, in 1986, the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty was signed. However, not all states decided to sign and ratify (legalize) these documents. Thus, the threat to the world is still real. Moreover, no matter how strange it may sound, at present the presence of nuclear weapons is a guarantee of peace, a deterrent that can protect against aggression, which is why many states are so eager to acquire them.
United States Arsenal
Today, the United States has an arsenal of 1,654 warheads. The United States is armed with bombs, warheads, and shells. All this is used in military aviation, the submarine fleet, and also in artillery.
At the end of World War II, the United States produced over sixty-six thousand bombs with warheads, but already in 1997 the production of new types of nuclear weapons was completely stopped. By 2010, the United States arsenal consisted of more than five thousand nuclear weapons. Since 2013, their number has decreased to 1,654 units according to the project, which involved a decrease nuclear potential.
As the unofficial world leader, the United States has the status of a nuclear power and, according to the 1968 treaty, as part of five states, it legitimately possesses nuclear weapons.
Russia (former USSR) is the second nuclear power
Russia currently has 1,480 warheads and 367 nuclear carriers. This ammunition is intended for use by missile forces, naval strategic forces And strategic aviation. For last decade Russia's military nuclear stockpile decreased significantly, by 12% per year. Due to the signing of an agreement on mutual disarmament, by 2012 it was supposed to decrease by 2/3.
Today, the Russian Federation, as the successor to the USSR, is one of the main members of the 1968 agreements on nuclear weapons and possesses them legally. In the current global political and economic situation, Russia is being opposed to the United States and European states. However, with such a serious arsenal, you can defend your independent positions on geopolitical issues.
French nuclear potential
France currently has approximately 300 strategic warheads, as well as approximately 60 air-launched tactical multiprocessors. All this can be used by submarines and aircraft. For a long time, France had to strive to be independent in matters of its own weapons. She was developing her own supercomputer and conducting nuclear tests until 1998. France was no longer involved in nuclear weapons.
British nuclear capability
The UK has 225 nuclear warheads. Of these, over 160 are in combat readiness and are located on submarines. No one has accurate information about the weapons of the British army. They do not disclose the exact size of their nuclear arsenal. The UK has no desire to increase its nuclear stockpile, nor to reduce it. It is guided by a policy of deterring allied and neutral states from using these weapons.
Chinese nuclear potential
Estimated American specialists The Chinese have approximately 240 warheads. Although according to official data, the Chinese military has approximately 40 intercontinental missiles, which are controlled by artillery and submariners. Besides, Chinese army owns approximately 1000 missiles short range.
Chinese authorities do not disclose precise information about their arsenal. They state that their nuclear weapons are expected to be maintained at the lowest level that is safe. Moreover, the Chinese authorities say that they will not be the first to use nuclear weapons, and in relation to non-nuclear states they will not use them at all. Such statements are only welcomed by the international community.
Indian nuclear potential
According to some estimates, India does not officially have nuclear weapons. India currently has approximately 30 nuclear warheads in its arsenal, as well as enough materials to make 90 more.
In addition, the Indian Army has short-range missiles, ballistic missiles medium range, extended-range missiles. Being an illegal possessor of atomic weapons, the Indian authorities do not officially declare their nuclear policy, this causes negative reactions in the world community.
Pakistani nuclear potential
It is known from unofficial sources that the Pakistani army has almost 200 nuclear warheads. Accurate information there is no information about the types of their weapons. The world community reacted to nuclear tests as harshly as possible. Pakistan has been subject to economic sanctions by almost all major world states. The exception was Saudi Arabia, which supplied the state with approximately fifty thousand barrels of oil per day.
North Korea is a new generation nuclear power
North Korea is a state that officially possesses nuclear weapons, and in this regard, in 2012, it amended its Constitution. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea possesses single-stage medium-range missiles, mobile complex"Musudan."
Reaction international community on the creation and testing of nuclear weapons was extremely negative. The lengthy six-party negotiations are still ongoing, and the state is subject to an economic embargo. However, the North Korean authorities are in no hurry to abandon the creation of their nuclear shield.
Should we give up nuclear weapons?
Nuclear weapons are one of the most terrible types of destruction of the population and economic potential of a hostile state. This is a weapon that destroys everything in its path. Aware of the seriousness of the presence of such weapons, the governments of many states (especially the “Nuclear Club”) are taking a wide variety of measures to reduce the number of these weapons, as well as guarantees for their non-use.
Today, nuclear weapons are thousands of times more powerful than the two infamous atomic bombs that destroyed the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. Since that bombing, the nuclear arms race various countries moved into a different phase, and under the pretext of nuclear deterrence never stopped.
Iran
- Status: Charged with unofficial possession.
- First test: never.
- Final test: never.
- Arsenal size: 2,400 kilograms of low-enriched uranium.
Top U.S. military officials unanimously say Iran can produce at least one nuclear weapon every year and needs a maximum of five years to develop a modern, functional atomic bomb.
Currently, the West regularly accuses Tehran of developing nuclear weapons, which is just as regularly denied by the Iranian leadership. According to the official position of the latter, the state’s nuclear program is exclusively for peaceful purposes and is being developed for the energy needs of enterprises and medical reactors.
After international verification in the sixties, Iran had to abandon its nuclear program (1979). However, according to secret Pentagon documents, it was resumed in the mid-nineties. For this reason, UN sanctions were imposed on the Asian state, the introduction of which should stop the development of Iran's nuclear program, which threatens peace in the region; nevertheless, Iran is a nuclear power.
Israel
- Status: not official.
- First test: possibly 1979.
- Last test: possibly 1979.
- Arsenal size: up to 400 units.
- Test Ban Treaty (CTBT): Signed.
Israel is considered a country that not only possesses full-fledged nuclear weapons, but is also capable of delivering them to various points through intercontinental ballistic missiles, aviation or navy. The state began its research in the nuclear field soon after its founding. The first reactor was built in 1950, and the first nuclear weapon in the sixties.
Currently, Israel does not seek to maintain its reputation as a nuclear power, however, many European countries, including France and the UK, are actively promoting Israel in this industry. You should know that information has been leaked that the Israelis have created mini nuclear bombs that are small enough to be installed in a suitcase. They were also reported to possess an unknown number of bomb neutrons.
- Status: official.
- First test: 2006.
- Last test: 2009.
- Arsenal size: less than 10 units.
In addition to possessing a significant arsenal of modern chemical weapons, North Korea is a full-fledged nuclear power. Currently, the state of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has a pair of operating nuclear reactors.
To date, North Korea has two successful nuclear tests, which were confirmed by international experts based on survey and monitoring results. seismic activity in the test areas.
- Status: official.
- First test: May 28, 1998.
- Last test: May 30, 1998.
- Arsenal size: from 70 to 90 units.
- Test Ban Treaty (CTBT): not signed.
Pakistan resumed its previously interrupted nuclear program in response to India's "Buddha Smile" trials. The official statement from the authorities contains the following words: “If India creates an atomic bomb, we will eat grass and leaves for a thousand years, or even starve, but we will get similar weapons. Christians, Jews and now Hindus have the bomb. Why don't Muslims allow themselves to do this? ". This phrase belongs to the Prime Minister of Pakistan Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto after the tests in India.
Let us recall that Pakistan’s nuclear program was born back in 1956, but was frozen by order of President Ayub Khan. Nuclear engineers tried to prove that the nuclear program was vital, but the country's president said that if real threat Pakistan will be able to acquire ready-made nuclear weapons.
The Pakistan Air Force has two units operating the Nanchang A-5C (No. 16 and No. 26 Squadrons), which are excellent for delivering nuclear warheads. Pakistan ranks seventh in our ranking of nuclear powers in the world.
India
- Status: official.
- First test: 1974.
- Last test: 1998.
- Arsenal size: less than 40 to 95 units.
- Test Ban Treaty (CTBT): not signed.
India has an impressive number of nuclear weapons and is also capable of delivering them to their destination using aircraft And surface ships. In addition, its nuclear missile submarines are in the final stages of development.
India's first nuclear test was original name“Smiling Buddha”, as if this nuclear explosion had exclusively peaceful purposes. The world community reacted to such actions after the 1998 tests. Economic sanctions against India were imposed by the United States, Japan and their Western allies.
- Status: official.
- First test: 1964.
- Last test: 1996.
- Arsenal size: about 240 units.
- Test Ban Treaty (CTBT): Signed.
Almost immediately after testing the first atomic bomb, China tested its hydrogen bomb. These events occurred in 1964 and 1967, respectively. Currently Chinese People's Republic has 180 active nuclear warheads and is considered one of the most powerful world powers.
China is the only state with a nuclear arsenal that has given security guarantees to all countries that do not have such technology. The official part of the document reads: “China undertakes not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or nuclear-weapon-free zones, regardless of time and under any circumstances.”
- Status: official.
- First test: 1960.
- Last test: 1995.
- Arsenal size: at least 300 units.
France is a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and is known to possess weapons mass destruction. Developments in this direction in the Fifth Republic began after the end of World War II, but it was only possible to create an atomic bomb in 1958. Tests in 1960 made it possible to verify the functionality of the weapon.
To date, France has carried out more than two hundred nuclear tests, and its potential puts the country in fourth place in world ranking of nuclear powers.
- Status: official.
- First test: 1952.
- Last test: 1991.
- Arsenal size: more than 225 units.
- Test Ban Treaty (CTBT): Ratified.
The United Kingdom Great Britain ratified the “Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons” back in 1968. The United States and the United Kingdom have worked closely and mutually beneficially on nuclear security issues since the 1958 Mutual Defense Treaty.
In addition, these two countries (USA and UK) also actively exchange various classified information received by state intelligence services.
Russian Federation
- Status: official.
- First test: 1949.
- Last test: 1990.
- Arsenal size: 2,825 units.
- Test Ban Treaty (CTBT): Ratified.
The Soviet Union was the second country to detonate a nuclear bomb (1949). From then until 1990, Russia carried out at least 715 nuclear tests involving testing of 970 different devices. Russia is one of the most powerful nuclear powers in the world. The first nuclear explosion, with a yield of 22 kilotons, received given name"Joe-1."
The Tsar Bomba is by far the heaviest atomic weapon of all time. It was tested in 1967, detonating at a whopping 57,000 kilotons. This charge was originally designed at 100,000 kilotons, but was reduced to 57,000 kilotons due to the high likelihood of excessive radioactive fallout.
USA
- Status: official.
- First test: 1945.
- Last test: 1992.
- Arsenal size: 5,113 units.
- Test Ban Treaty (CTBT): Signed.
In total, the United States has conducted more than 1,050 nuclear tests and occupies a leading place in our top ten nuclear world powers. At the same time, the state has missiles with a nuclear warhead delivery range of up to 13,000 kilometers. The first test of the Trinity atomic bomb was carried out in 1945. This was the first explosion of this kind in world history, which demonstrated to humanity new type threats.
One of the greatest luminaries of the scientific world, Albert Einstein, approached President Franklin Roosevelt with a proposal to create an atomic bomb. So the creator unwittingly became the destroyer.
Today, according to the nuclear program North America More than twenty secret facilities operate. It is curious that during tests in the United States, there were many incidents with nuclear weapons, which, fortunately, did not lead to irreparable consequences. Examples include incidents near Atlantic City, New Jersey (1957), Thule Air Force Base, Greenland (1968), Savannah, Georgia (1958), at sea near Palomares, Spain (1966), off the coast of Okinawa, Japan (1965), etc.
Confrontation between the two most powerful nuclear powers in the world, Russia and the USA: video
North Korea successfully tested an intercontinental missile, but it is not the only country threatening the world with nuclear weapons
The US military believes that the latest missile launched by the DPRK belongs to the intercontinental class. Experts say that it is capable of reaching Alaska, which means it poses a direct threat to the United States.
"A Gift for the Yankees"
North Korea launched the Hwangsong-14 missile on the morning of Tuesday, July 4. On this day, America celebrates Independence Day. The rocket flew 933 km in 39 minutes - not far, but this is because it was launched very high. Highest point trajectory was located at a distance of 2,802 km above sea level.
The Hwangsong-14 rocket before launch. Photo: Reuters/KCNA
She fell into the sea between North Korea and Japan.
But if Pyongyang had a goal to attack any country, the missile would be capable of covering a distance of 7000-8000 km, which is enough to reach not only Japan, but also Alaska.
North Korea says it is capable of equipping its missile with a nuclear warhead. Nuclear weapons experts doubt whether Pyongyang has the this moment technology that would allow the production of fairly compact warheads.
However, the tests of Hwangsong-14 occurred earlier and were more successful than expected, he noted in a commentary for Reuters American expert from missile weapons John Schilling.
"Even if it's a missile with a range of 7,000 km, a missile with a range of 10,000 km that could hit New York is not a distant prospect," the head of the nuclear weapons nonproliferation program told The New York Times. East Asia Institute international studies Middlebury Geoffrey Lewis.
Approximate range of the Hwangsong-14 missile. Infographic: CNN
The launch demonstrated that no sanctions apply to the DPRK. On the contrary, threats only encourage the country's leader Kim Jong-un to continue to rattle his weapons and demonstrate the power of his arsenal.
After the tests, he was quoted by North Korea's State News Agency as saying that the US would not like "a package of gifts for their Independence Day." Kim Jong-un ordered scientists and military personnel to “send large and small gift packages to the Yankees more often.”
China and Russia issued a joint statement calling on the DPRK to stop its missile and nuclear programs, and the United States and South Korea to refrain from conducting large-scale military exercises.
However, Washington did not heed the calls of Moscow and Beijing. On Wednesday morning, they carried out demonstration launches of Hyunmu II missiles, which are capable of hitting targets at a distance of 800 km.
Tensions are rising and the world is talking about nuclear war. However, North Korea is not the only country capable of starting it. Today, seven more countries officially have a nuclear arsenal. We can safely add Israel to them, although it has never officially admitted that it has nuclear weapons.
Russia is the leader in terms of quantity
The United States and Russia together own 93% of the world's nuclear arsenal.
Distribution of the world's nuclear arsenal. Infographic: Arms Control Association, Hans M. Kristensen, Robert S. Norris, U.S. Department of State
According to official and unofficial estimates, the Russian Federation has a total of 7,000 nuclear weapons. Such data is provided by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and American organization Arms Control Association.
According to data exchanged between the Russian Federation and the United States as part of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, as of April 2017, Russia had 1,765 strategic warheads.
They are deployed on 523 long-range missiles, submarines and strategic bombers. But this is only about deployed, that is, ready-to-use nuclear weapons.
The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) estimates that Russia has approximately 2,700 non-deployed strategic, as well as deployed and non-deployed tactical warheads. In addition, 2,510 warheads are awaiting dismantlement.
Russia, as the site claims in a number of publications National Interest, is modernizing its nuclear weapons. And in some respects it was ahead of its main enemy - the United States.
It is at them that the power of the Russian nuclear potential is mainly directed. And Russian propagandists never tire of reminding us of this. The most striking in this matter was, of course, Dmitry Kiselev with his “nuclear ash”.
However, there are also opposing estimates, according to which lion's share missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads are hopelessly outdated.
USA at a crossroads
In total, the Americans currently have 6,800 nuclear weapons. Of these deployed, according to the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty as of April 2017, 1,411 are strategic warheads. They are deployed on 673 long-range missiles, submarines and strategic bombers.
FAS assumes that in addition the US has 2,300 non-deployed strategic warheads and 500 deployed and non-deployed tactical warheads. And another 2,800 warheads await dismantling.
With its arsenal, the United States threatens many adversaries, not only Russia.
For example, the same North Korea and Iran. However, according to many experts, it is outdated and needs modernization.
Interestingly, in 2010, Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev signed the above-mentioned agreement on reducing strategic weapons, also known as "Fresh Start". But the same Obama stimulated the deployment of missile defense systems in the United States and Europe, his administration launched the process of developing and deploying new ground-based launchers for long-range missiles.
The Trump administration has plans to continue the process of modernizing weapons, including nuclear,
Nuclear Europe
Among the European countries, the only ones that have nuclear arsenals are France and Great Britain. The first is armed with 300 nuclear warheads. Most of of which is equipped to launch from submarines. France has four of them. A small number - for launch from the air, from strategic bombers.
The British have 120 strategic warheads. Of these, 40 are deployed at sea on four submarines. This is, in fact, the only kind nuclear weapons of the country - it has neither ground nor air force, armed with nuclear warheads.
In addition, the UK has 215 warheads stored at bases but not deployed.
Secret China
Since Beijing has never made public information about its nuclear arsenal, it can only be estimated. In June 2016, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists suggested that China has a total of 260 nuclear warheads. Also available information indicates that it increases their number.
China also has all three main methods of delivering nuclear weapons - land-based installations, nuclear submarines and strategic bombers.
One of China's newest intercontinental ballistic missiles, Dongfeng-41 (DF41), was located near the border with Russia in January 2017. But in addition to difficult relations with Moscow, Beijing also has tense relations with neighboring India.
There is also an unconfirmed theory that China is helping North Korea develop its nuclear program.
Sworn neighbors
India and Pakistan, unlike the previous five countries, are developing their nuclear program outside the framework of the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. At the same time, both countries have a long-standing enmity, regularly threaten each other with the use of force, and armed incidents regularly occur on the Indo-Pakistani border.
But in addition, they also have other conflicting relationships. For India it is China, and for Pakistan it is Israel.
Both countries do not hide the fact that they have nuclear programs, but their details are not publicly disclosed.
India is believed to have between 100 and 120 nuclear warheads in its inventory. The country is actively developing its arsenal. Some of the latest achievements were successful tests intercontinental missiles "Agni-5" and "Agni-6", which are capable of delivering a warhead to a distance of 5000-6000 km.
At the end of 2016, India commissioned its first nuclear-powered submarine, the Arihant. It also plans to purchase from France 36 Rafale combat aircraft capable of carrying nuclear weapons by 2019. The country currently has several older aircraft for this purpose - the French Mirage, the Anglo-French SEPECAT Jaguar and the Russian Su-30.
Pakistan has between 110 and 130 nuclear warheads in its inventory. The country began to develop its nuclear program after India conducted its first nuclear weapons test in 1974. She is also in the process of expanding her arsenal.
Currently nuclear missiles Pakistan - short and medium range. There are rumors that he is developing the Taimur intercontinental missile with a range of 7,000 km. The country also intends to build its own nuclear submarine. And Pakistan's Mirage and F16 aircraft are rumored to have been modified to carry nuclear weapons.
Israel's deliberate ambiguity
SIPRI, FAS and other organizations that monitor the development of nuclear weapons in the world claim that Israel has 80 nuclear warheads in its arsenal. In addition, it has stockpiles of fissile material to manufacture an additional 200 warheads.
Israel, like India and Pakistan, has not signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, thereby retaining the right to develop them. But unlike India and Pakistan, it has never announced its nuclear program and pursues a so-called policy of deliberate ambiguity on this issue.
In practice, this means that Israel never confirms or denies the assumption that it has nuclear weapons.
It is believed that Israel developed nuclear warheads in a secret underground plant located in the middle of the desert. It is also assumed that he has all three main means suitable for delivery: ground launchers, submarines and combat aircraft.
Israel is understandable. It is surrounded on all sides by states hostile to it, which do not hide their desire to “throw Israel into the sea.” However, the policy of ambiguity is often criticized by those who consider it a manifestation of double standards.
Iran, which also tried to develop a nuclear program, was severely punished for this. Israel did not experience any sanctions.
Who didn't have time
Terms are a delicate thing. The “nuclear club” is usually understood to mean only five states: the USA, Russia (as the legal successor of the USSR), Great Britain, France, and China. That's all! And Israel, which traditionally neither denies nor confirms the presence of nuclear arsenals, and India and Pakistan, which demonstratively conducted nuclear tests and officially announced the presence nuclear charges, from the point of view of international law, cannot obtain the legal status of nuclear powers. The fact is that to join the club you do not need the consent of its current members, but a time machine. All countries that managed to conduct nuclear tests before January 1, 1967 automatically became nuclear powers. The chronology is as follows: the Americans - in 1945, we - four years later, the British and the French - in 1952 and 1960, respectively. IN " last carriage" Dropped by China - 1964.
Let us note that this state of affairs has always caused and still causes a feeling of indignation among some part of the nuclear-free nations. Nevertheless, 185 countries around the world accepted these rules of the game and signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. This means that the door to the elite nuclear establishment has closed forever.
The situation is paradoxical: any country that does not recognize the mentioned Treaty formally has all the rights to create its own nuclear charge. And the members of the Treaty are also free to withdraw from it at any time - they just need to warn the others about this 90 days in advance.
Of course, the potential owner of the bomb will have to incur serious material costs, endure all kinds of international sanctions and, perhaps, even survive a military attack (at one time, the Iraqi nuclear program was literally buried by Israeli F-16s, destroying an Iraqi research center).
Nevertheless, particularly stubborn countries can still become owners of the coveted bomb. Approximately 40 states of the world today, figuratively speaking, are on the threshold: that is, they have the capabilities to produce national nuclear weapons. But only four dared to cross this threshold. In addition to the aforementioned Israel, India and Pakistan, North Korea considers itself a nuclear power. True, no intelligence agency in the world has reliable data that Pyongyang conducted at least one atomic bomb test. In this connection, some authoritative experts call the nuclear ambitions of the North Koreans a bluff. There are reasons for this. Thus, North Korea declared itself at the same time a great space power, declaring that it had launched a real satellite. But not a single tracking station recorded it in orbit. Which is quite strange, especially considering that, according to Pyongyang, their satellite was broadcasting revolutionary songs from near-Earth space.
Nuclear arsenals
There are fewer than 30 thousand warheads in nuclear arsenals today.
If we still assume that North Korea is not bluffing, then of this amount its hypothetical contribution is the most modest. A nuclear reactor was built 100 km north of the capital of North Korea with the help of the Chinese. It was suppressed twice under US pressure, but it was still estimated that during its operation it could have accumulated from 9 to 24 kg of weapons-grade plutonium. Experts believe that the production of one bomb, comparable in power to the charge that destroyed Hiroshima, requires from 1 to 3 kg of plutonium-239. Thus, the maximum that can be available North Korean army, - 10 charges of relatively low power.
But if there are few bombs in the Juche homeland, then there are more than enough carriers. They are even in the development stage intercontinental missiles capable of reaching the United States.
Experts attribute to Pakistan the presence of approximately 50 nuclear warheads. Old ones can be used as media ballistic missiles such as "Scud" and more advanced "Ghauri". In addition, Pakistani engineers independently equipped the existing F-16s with bomb racks for nuclear bombs.
India has approximately 50 to 100 nuclear bombs. Wide choice of carriers: nationally developed ballistic and cruise missiles, fighter-bombers.
Israel has a more substantial arsenal: approximately 200 charges. It is believed that Israel is equipped with nuclear-capable missiles on F-16 and F-15 aircraft, as well as Jericho-1 and Jericho-2 missiles with a range of up to 1,800 km. In addition, this country has the most advanced air and missile defense system in the Middle East.
The UK has about 200 warheads. All of them are located on four nuclear submarines armed with Trident II missiles. Previously, there were nuclear bombs in the arsenal of Tornado aircraft, but the British abandoned tactical nuclear weapons.
The French army and navy have 350 nuclear warheads: sea-launched missile warheads and aerial bombs that can be carried by Mirage 2000N tactical fighter-bombers and Super Etandar carrier-based attack aircraft.
Chinese generals have up to 300 strategic and up to 150 tactical charges at their disposal.
The United States today has over 7 thousand warheads on strategic carriers: land- and sea-based ballistic missiles, and on bombers, and up to 4 thousand tactical bombs. Total 11-12 thousand nuclear warheads.
Russia, according to Western experts, has approximately 18 thousand nuclear warheads, 2/3 of which are tactical. According to data provided to RG by the director of the Institute of Strategic Stability, Viktor Mikhailov, in 2000, strategic nuclear forces Russia had 5906 warheads. Another 4,000 nuclear warheads are non-strategic and consist of tactical bombs, warheads cruise missiles and torpedoes. According to experts from one of the most authoritative institutes in the world - the Swedish SIPRI, two years ago our strategic nuclear forces had 4852 warheads, of which 2916 were on 680 ICBMs, 1072 carried ballistic missiles from submarines. Also, 864 warheads were installed on air-to-ground cruise missiles. It should be borne in mind that there is a steady trend towards their further reduction. True, the accumulated world reserves of weapons-grade plutonium allow short term increase arsenals to 85 thousand charges.
In general, the total number of nuclear weapons available in the world today is only known approximately. But it is known with bomb accuracy that the arms race reached its apogee in 1986. At that time there were 69,478 thousand nuclear warheads on the planet.
Alas, we must admit that although there are fewer bombs, their carriers have become more advanced: more reliable, more accurate and almost invulnerable.
In addition, scientists are working on a fourth-generation bomb: a purely thermonuclear weapon in which the fusion reaction must be initiated by some alternative energy source. The fact is that current hydrogen bombs use the classic nuclear explosion, which produces the main radioactive fallout. If the “nuclear fuse” can be replaced with something, then the generals will receive a bomb that will be as powerful as the current thermonuclear ones, but within 1-2 days after its use, the radiation in the affected area will decrease to an acceptable level. Simply put, the territory is suitable for capture and use. Imagine what a temptation this is for the attacking side...
Bomb Refusers
Statements about the need to have nuclear weapons in service are heard from time to time even in countries whose nuclear-free status is seemingly unshakable. In Japan, senior officials regularly advocate discussing the issue of nuclear weapons, after which they resign in scandal. From time to time, calls for the creation of the first “Arab atomic bomb” in Egypt are revived. There is also a scandal surrounding the secret program of nuclear research and experiments in South Korea, which has always served as an example of restraint compared to its northern neighbor.
Brazil, which we associate exclusively with Don Pedro and wild monkeys, is determined to launch in 2010... its own nuclear submarine. It is appropriate to remember that back in the 80s, the Brazilian military developed two designs of atomic charges with a yield of 20 and 30 kilotons, although the bombs were never assembled...
At the same time, several countries voluntarily gave up nuclear weapons.
In 1992, South Africa announced that it had eight nuclear warheads and invited IAEA inspectors to oversee their disposal.
Kazakhstan and Belarus voluntarily parted with weapons of mass destruction. After the collapse of the USSR, Ukraine automatically became a powerful nuclear missile power. The Ukrainians had at their disposal 130 SS-19 intercontinental ballistic missiles, 46 SS-24 missiles and 44 heavy strategic bombers with cruise missiles. Note that, unlike other republics in the post-Soviet space, which also had nuclear arsenals, Ukraine had the ability to build ballistic missiles (for example, all the famous SS-18 Satan were produced in Dnepropetrovsk) and had a uranium deposit. And theoretically, she could well qualify for membership in the “nuclear club.”
Nevertheless, the Ukrainian ballistic missiles were destroyed under the control of American observers, and Kyiv transferred all 1,272 nuclear warheads to Russia. From 1996 to 1999, Ukraine also eliminated 29 Tu-160 and Tu-95 bombers and 487 Kh-55 air-launched cruise missiles.
The Ukrainians kept one and only Tu-160 for themselves: for the Air Force Museum. It seems like they didn’t keep the nuclear bombs as a souvenir.
Evgeniy Avrorin, scientific adviser Russian Federal Nuclear Center - All-Russian Research Institute of Technical Physics (Snezhinsk), full member of the Russian Academy of Sciences:
In general, the production of nuclear weapons is quite complex and subtle technology, which is used both in the production of fissile materials and directly in the creation of nuclear weapons. But when we carried out an analysis at our center regarding which states could create nuclear weapons, we came to the following conclusion: today absolutely any industrialized state can do this. Only required political decision. All information is quite accessible, nothing is unknown. The only question is technology and investing certain financial resources.
RG | Evgeniy Nikolaevich, it is widely believed that in order to enrich uranium, which is necessary for nuclear weapons, it is necessary to build a special plant with cascades of hundreds of thousands of centrifuges. At the same time, the cost of creating a production cycle nuclear fuel worth more than a billion dollars. Is technology really that expensive?
Evgeniy Avrorin | It depends on what we're talking about. Much less nuclear materials are needed to create weapons than to create advanced energy. Enrichment technology is, so to speak, fractional. Now it is no longer a secret that the most promising and advanced technology is the so-called “turntables,” which were best developed in the Soviet Union. These are very small devices, and each of them individually is very inexpensive. Yes, they are very low-performance. And in order to obtain materials for the development of large-scale energy, a lot of them are needed, which is where billions of dollars come from. At the same time, to obtain several kilograms of uranium necessary for the production of nuclear weapons, many such devices are not needed. I repeat, only mass production is expensive.
RG| The IAEA claims that about 40 countries are on the verge of developing nuclear weapons. Will the growth of threshold countries continue?
Evgeniy Avrorin | What does a country gain by acquiring nuclear weapons? Acquires more weight, greater authority, feels more secure. These are positive factors. There is only one negative factor - the country is experiencing discontent from the international community. But, unfortunately, the example of India and Pakistan has shown that positive factors prevail. No sanctions were applied against these countries.
The negative factors of possessing nuclear weapons prevailed in countries such as South Africa and Brazil: the first eliminated them, the second was on the verge of creating them, but refused to create them. Even little Switzerland had a program to create nuclear weapons, but it also curtailed it in time. The most important thing that needs to be offered to the so-called “threshold countries” is guarantees of their security in exchange for abandoning bombs. And we need to improve the control system. We need constant international monitoring, and not inspections that carry out one-time checks. Today this system is full of holes...
43 countries of the world, including 28 developing ones, have reserves of highly enriched uranium.
In the late 60s of the last century, Libya asked the USSR to build a reactor, and in the early 70s it tried to buy a nuclear bomb from China. The peaceful reactor was built, but the deal with the Chinese fell through.
Especially for the Yak-38 carrier-based vertical takeoff and landing attack aircraft, whose combat load was extremely limited, a lightweight and compact nuclear bomb RN-28. The “ammunition load” of such bombs on the heavy aircraft-carrying cruisers “Kyiv” was 18 pieces.
The most powerful hydrogen bomb in the world, “Kuzkina Mother” (“product 602”), weighed 26.5 tons and did not fit into the bomb bay of any of the bombs that existed at that time heavy bombers. It was suspended under the fuselage of a Tu-95V specially converted for this purpose and dropped on October 30, 1961 in the area of the Matochkin Shar Strait on Novaya Zemlya. “Product 602” was not accepted for service - it was intended solely for psychological pressure on the Americans.
In 1954, during the Totsky exercises, a real nuclear bomb was dropped on the “strong point of the US Army infantry battalion”, after which a real nuclear bomb was dropped through the center nuclear explosion The troops went on the attack. The bomb was called "Tatyana", and it was dropped from a Tu-4A - an exact copy of the American strategic bomber B-29.
The future first Israeli astronaut, Ilan Ramon, also took part in the famous Israeli air raid on the Iraqi nuclear research center in Osirak. During the bombing, at least one non-Iraqi citizen, a French technician, was killed. Ilan Ramon himself did not bomb the reactor, but only covered the planes that struck with an F-15 fighter. Ramon died in the 2003 US shuttle Columbia accident.
Since 1945, approximately 128 thousand nuclear charges have been produced in the world. Of these, the USA produced a little more than 70 thousand, the USSR and Russia - approximately 55 thousand.
Today, more than 70 years have passed since atomic bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the scientific and industrial potential of many states makes it possible to create heavy-duty ammunition, any educated person should know there are nuclear weapons. Considering the secrecy of this topic, the reluctance of some governments and regimes to declare the current state of affairs in this area is not an easy task.
The Fab Five
The USA was the first. A country that traded with both allies and enemies, and received a net profit from the war greater than all the gigantic losses of Hitler's Germany, was able to invest huge amounts of money in the Manhattan Project. The birthplace of Batman, Captain America in its characteristic democratic manner, without hesitation, in 1945 the United States tested an atomic bomb on the peaceful cities of Japan. In 1952, the United States was the first to use thermonuclear weapons, many times more destructive than the first atomic weapons.
In the list called “Which countries have nuclear weapons,” the death of innocent residents and radioactive ash was the first line written.
I had to become the second Soviet Union. Having a “democratic” savage waving an atomic club as a neighbor on the planet was simply dangerous, without having similar weapons for protection and the possibility of a retaliatory strike. Exhausted Great Patriotic War the country required colossal efforts of scientists, intelligence officers, engineers, and workers in order to inform the Soviet people already in 1949 that they had created atomic bomb. In 1953, thermonuclear weapons were tested.
Fortunately, I wasn’t the first Nazi Germany, who worked on the creation of a military-defense complex based on a chain reaction of fission of uranium nuclei. The help of German scientists and engineers, the use of the technologies they developed, exported by the US Army, greatly simplified the creation of superweapons by the overseas empire of “good”.
Which countries have nuclear weapons? England, China, and France tried to answer this question, following the leaders of the rapidly developing race spurred by the Cold War between the USA and the USSR. Chronologically it looked like this:
Explicit and secret
Which countries have nuclear weapons besides the “old” nuclear powers? Those who openly declared the creation and testing of both atomic and later thermonuclear weapons at one time were:
First of all, this is Israel. No one doubts that this country has nuclear weapons. She did not carry out his above-ground or underground explosions. There are only suspicions about joint tests in the South Atlantic together with South Africa, which was also considered the owner before the fall of the apartheid regime nuclear stockpiles. Currently, South Africa completely denies their existence.
Long years global community and, above all, Israel was suspected of developing and creating nuclear technologies for military use by Iraq and Iran. The valiant defenders of democracy who invaded Iraq did not find any nuclear weapons there, nor chemical or bacteriological ones in addition, which they immediately bashfully kept silent about. Iran, under the influence of international sanctions, recently opened all its facilities related to nuclear energy, for IAEA inspectors who confirmed the absence of developments in the creation of weapons-grade plutonium.
Now Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, is suspected of secretly seeking to acquire superweapons.
This concludes the list of nuclear club states, consisting of overt and secret members.
At the moment, all interested parties know quite precisely which countries have nuclear weapons, because this is a matter of global security. About ongoing in many countries from South Korea, Brazil to Saudi Arabia, which have sufficient scientific and production potential, work on creating their own nuclear weapons, information appears in the media from time to time, but there is no official, documentary evidence of this.
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