Today, when more than 70 years have passed since the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the scientific and industrial potential of many states makes it possible to create super-powerful ammunition, any educated person must know there are nuclear weapons. Given the secrecy of this topic, the reluctance of some governments and regimes to declare the real state of affairs in this area is not an easy task.
The magnificent five
The first was the United States. The country, which traded with both allies and enemies, received a net profit from the war, more than all the gigantic losses of Hitler's Germany, had the opportunity to invest huge amounts of money in the "Manhattan Project". Homeland of Batman, Captain America in its usual democratic manner, without hesitation, in 1945, the United States tested an atomic bomb on peaceful cities in Japan. In 1952, the United States was the first to use thermonuclear weapons, many times greater than destructive force than the first atomic munitions.
The first line was added to the list titled "Which countries have nuclear weapons" by the death of innocent people and radioactive ash.
The second had to be the Soviet Union. To have a neighbor on the planet, a "democratic" savage brandishing an atomic club, was simply dangerous, without having similar weapons for protection and the possibility of a retaliatory strike. Exhausted Great Patriotic War It took the country colossal efforts of scientists, intelligence officers, engineers, workers to inform the Soviet people already in 1949 that they had created an atomic bomb. In 1953, thermonuclear weapons were tested.
Fortunately, she was not the first Nazi Germany, who worked on the creation of a military-defensive complex based on a chain reaction of fission of uranium nuclei. The help of German scientists, engineers, the use of the technologies they have developed, exported by the US Army, greatly simplified the creation of superweapons by the overseas empire of "good".
Which countries have nuclear weapons - to this question, following the leaders of the rapidly developing race, spurred on by cold war between the USA and the USSR, England, China, France tried to answer. Chronologically it looked like this:
Explicit and Covert
Which countries have nuclear weapons besides the "old" nuclear powers? Those who openly announced the creation and testing of both atomic and later thermonuclear weapons were:
First of all, this is Israel. No one doubts that this country has nuclear weapons. She did not conduct 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 of nuclear reserves before the fall of the apartheid regime. At present, South Africa completely denies their existence.
Long years global community and, above all, Israel was suspected of developing and creating atomic technologies for military use by Iraq and Iran. The valiant defenders of democracy who invaded Iraq did not find there either nuclear weapons or chemical weapons with bacteriological in addition, which they immediately shyly kept silent about. Iran, under the influence of international sanctions, recently opened all of its facilities related to nuclear power, for IAEA inspectors who confirmed the absence of developments in the creation of weapons-grade plutonium.
Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, is now suspected of secretly seeking a superweapon.
This is where the list of states of the nuclear club, consisting of explicit and secret members, ends.
Which countries have nuclear weapons, at the moment, all interested parties know quite accurately, because this is a matter of global security. About conducted in many countries from South Korea, Brazil to Saudi Arabia with sufficient scientific and production potential, work on the creation of their own nuclear weapons from time to time appears in the media, but there is no official, documentary evidence of this.
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There are ten major powers in the list of nuclear countries for 2018. Data on how much nuclear warheads, for a certain country are located in Stockholm, at the International Peace Research Institute. IN " Nuclear club»Includes 9 states that, according to official data, have weapons of mass destruction. Our magazine Big Rating has prepared a rating for you - nuclear countries for 2018.
Iran
Nuclear warheads - no information available.
Date of first trial: No information available.
Date of last test: No information available.
Today everyone knows which states have nuclear potential. And according to official reports, Iran has nothing to do with nuclear weapons. But this country has never stopped experimenting to develop nuclear potential and there are persistent rumors that this power has its own nuclear warheads. The Iranian authorities claim that they can easily create nuclear weapons for themselves, but so far they have decided not to do this, since they use uranium only for scientific research... The IAEA controls Iran's work on the nuclear, this agreement was concluded in 2015, but the situation may soon change. October 2017 - US President Donald Trump claims the United States is no longer interested in this treaty. No one can predict how these words will change the general political situation.
DPRK
Nuclear warheads - 10-60.
Date of first test: 2006.
Date of last test: 2017.
The DPRK was included in the list of states that have nuclear weapons in 2018, this very scared the whole western world... North Korea began its first work on the atom in the middle of the last century, when the United States began to threaten Pyongyang with a nuclear attack. And then the frightened government began to seek support from Soviet Union and China. The developments in the nuclear field started back in 1970 and were suspended in the nineties, with an improvement in the political climate. And only just again political situation cracked, the development of nuclear weapons resumed. Starting in 2004, the DPRK began preparations for the first nuclear test. The War Department claimed that the test will pass having only a harmless goal - mastering outer space... The intrigue lurks around the number of warheads North Korea has in its arsenal. Some sources claim that there are about twenty of them, others claim that exact figure- sixty.
Israel
Nuclear warheads - 80.
Date of first test: 1979
Date of last test: 1979.
Israel, in its best traditions, has never claimed that it has nuclear weapons, but it has never denied the opposite. Israel "added fuel to the fire" by not signing the "Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons." In addition, Israel, without a twinge of conscience, is watching the development of nuclear potential in all of its neighbors. And if he sees the point in this, then he will bomb the nuclear centers of other powers. So he resolved the conflict with Iraq in 1981. If he believes the unconfirmed data, then the "promised land" had the opportunity to create nuclear weapons back in 1979. In the same year, flashes of light were seen in the South Atlantic that were very similar to a nuclear explosion. There is a version that either Israel, or South Africa, or these two countries are responsible for these explosions.
India
Nuclear warheads - 120-130.
Date of first test: 1974
For the first time, India tested a nuclear weapon as early as 1974, but it agreed with the status of a nuclear country only at the end of the last century. After one day in May 1998, India detonated as many as three shells, literally three days later it refused to engage in nuclear weapons forever.
Pakistan
Nuclear warheads - 130-140.
Date of first test: 1998.
Date of last test: 1998
Pakistan, which is India's neighbor and is often at odds with it, is also not lagging behind in the development of its nuclear potential. After India conducted its first nuclear test in 1974, Pakistan began to actively develop its nuclear potential. According to the then government, they decided to work on the atom immediately after India, even if they only need to feed on water. And they did make it atomic weapons, albeit with a delay of two decades. After India once again conducted a nuclear test in 1998, Pakistan, determined to keep up, detonated a pair of nuclear warheads at Chagay (military range).
Great Britain
Nuclear warheads - 215.
Date of first test: 1952
Date of last test: 1991.
Britain remains the only nuclear country that has not conducted a nuclear test on its own soil. Britain conducted every nuclear test in Australia or in the waters The Pacific, but in 1991 they suddenly stopped their experiments. David Cameron in 2015 "added fuel to the fire", saying that the British government, if something happens, could drop several nuclear warheads. But who he threatened is still a mystery.
China
Nuclear warheads - 270.
Date of first test: 1964
Date of last test: 1996.
China remains the only country that has pledged not to bomb (or promise to bombard) non-nuclear powers. In 2011, the Chinese government made public its decision that the minimum level of nuclear weapons would be observed. But since that time, the developers in military sphere invented as many as four types of ballistic missiles that are capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. Therefore, the minimum level of weapons remains an open question.
France
Nuclear warheads - 300.
Date of first test: 1960.
Date of last test: 1995.
The French have carried out more than two hundred explosions in all their time of conducting nuclear tests, starting with tests in Algeria, which was then a colony of France, and ending with two atolls of French Polynesia. This country has never entered into negotiations with other powers on a peaceful settlement of the nuclear issue. France did not maintain a moratorium on nuclear tests in the 50s of the last century, did not become a member of the treaty banning military experiments with nuclear weapons in the 60s. Only in the late nineties did she become a party to the "Non-Proliferation Treaty"
USA
Nuclear warheads - 6800.
Date of the first test: 1945.
Date of last test: 1992
The state with the most terrifying army on the planet is also a pioneer in nuclear tests... USA was the first to implement nuclear explosion, and was also the first to use nuclear warheads in a war with another state. Since then, the United States has produced more than 66,500 atomic weapons, with over a hundred different variations. The core of the United States' nuclear weapons is a ballistic missile, with the most different modifications... The American government refused to participate in the negotiations on the unconditional renunciation of nuclear weapons, which started in May this year (by the way, like the Russian Federation). The military doctrine of the United States confirms that the Americans will retain the right to a certain amount of weapons that will guarantee their own safety, as well as the safety of friendly countries. In addition, America has promised not to bomb non-nuclear countries, if, of course, they fulfill the condition of the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Russia
Nuclear warheads - 7000.
Date of first test: 1949
Date of last test: 1990.
Russia received nuclear weapons from the USSR - all available nuclear warheads were collected from all military points of the former Soviet Union. According to official sources, the government of the Russian Federation, nuclear weapons will be used only in response to such military actions against their country. Or if the very existence of Russia is threatened by military operations without the use of nuclear warheads, it can still use them against the enemy, but this is already the most extreme case.
Is military action possible between the DPRK and the United States?
The end of the last century was marked by the fear of people before hostilities between Pakistan and India, and now everyone is afraid of the possible nuclear conflict between the DPRK and the USA. The first time the United States began to threaten North Korea in 1953, but as soon as the DPRK had its own atomic bomb, the conflict moved to a completely different level. Pyongyang and Washington respond very aggressively to each other and become topical issue- Will there be a nuclear battle between the United States and North Korea? This is quite the case if President Trump believes that the Koreans are very dangerous because they can make an intercontinental missile that can sink all of America.
Nuclear warheads have been near the DPRK border since 1957, by order of the US government. Korean politicians say that almost the entire territory of America is already within the reach of North Korean nuclear warheads.
What position will Russia take in the conflict between North Korea and the United States?
The pact concluded between Russia and North Korea does not imply that Russia will take any side in the war. In general terms, this means that if hostilities begin, Russia can be neutral, naturally it will only have to condemn the action of the attacking side. In the worst possible scenario, Vladivostok could be covered with radioactive fallout from the destroyed facilities of North Korea.
North Korea has successfully tested an intercontinental missile, but it is not the only country that threatens the world with nuclear weapons
The American military believes that the next missile launched by the DPRK belongs to the class of intercontinental. Experts say that it is capable of reaching Alaska, which means that it poses a direct threat to the United States.
"Gift for the Yankees"
North Korea launched the Hwansong-14 rocket on the morning of Tuesday, July 4. Independence Day is celebrated in America on this day. The rocket flew 933 km in 39 minutes - not far, but that's because it was launched very high. Highest point the trajectory was at a distance of 2 802 km above sea level.
Rocket "Hwanson-14" before launch. Photo: Reuters / KCNA
She fell into the sea between North Korea and Japan.
But if Pyongyang had the goal of attacking any country, the missile would be able to cover 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 experts question whether Pyongyang has a this moment technology that would allow the production of reasonably compact warheads.
However, the tests of "Hwansong-14" happened earlier and were more successful than expected, the American expert from missile weapons John Schilling.
“Even if it’s a 7,000 km missile, a 10,000 km missile that could hit New York is not a long way off,” the head of the nuclear nonproliferation program told The New York Times. East Asia The Institute international studies Middlebury Jeffrey Lewis.
The approximate range of the Hwanson-14 missile. Infographics: CNN
The launch demonstrated that no sanctions are in effect on the DPRK. On the contrary, threats only stimulate the country's leader, Kim Jong-un, to continue clashing weapons and demonstrating the power of his arsenal.
After testing, he said, according to the North Korean State News Agency, that the United States would not like "a package of gifts for their Independence Day." Kim Jong-un ordered scientists and the military to "send Yankees large and small" gift packages "more often.
China and Russia issued a joint statement in which they called on the DPRK to stop its missile and nuclear program, 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 conducted demonstration launches of Hyunmu II missiles, which are capable of hitting targets at a distance of 800 km.
The tension is growing, and the world is again talking about nuclear war. However, North Korea is not the only country capable of starting one. Today, seven more countries officially have a nuclear arsenal. Israel can be safely added to them, although it has never officially recognized that it possesses nuclear weapons.
Russia is the leader in quantity
The United States and Russia together own 93% of the world's nuclear arsenal.
The distribution of the world's nuclear arsenal. Infographics: 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 are provided by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and American organization Arms Control Association.
According to the data exchanged between the Russian Federation and the United States under the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, Russia had 1,765 strategic warheads as of April 2017.
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 Russia has approximately 2,700 non-deployed strategic warheads as well as deployed and non-deployed tactical warheads. In addition, 2,510 warheads are awaiting dismantling.
Russia, as the site claims in a number of publications National Interest, is modernizing its nuclear weapons. And in some positions it outstripped its main enemy - the United States.
It is on them that the power of the Russian nuclear potential is mainly directed. And Russian propagandists never tire of reminding about this. The most striking in this matter was, of course, Dmitry Kiselev with his "nuclear ash".
However, there are also opposite estimates, according to which lion's share missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads are hopelessly outdated.
USA at a crossroads
In total, Americans currently have 6,800 nuclear weapons. Of these, 1411 strategic warheads were deployed according to the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty for April 2017. They are deployed on 673 long-range missiles, submarines and strategic bombers.
The 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 are awaiting dismantling.
The United States threatens many opponents with its arsenal, not just 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 aforementioned agreement to reduce strategic weapons, also known as "New 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 countries of Europe, the only ones with a nuclear arsenal are France and the United Kingdom. The first is armed with 300 nuclear warheads. Most of of them equipped for launching from submarines. France has four of them. A small number - for launching 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 does not have either ground or air force armed with nuclear warheads.
In addition, there are 215 warheads in the UK that are stored at bases but not deployed.
Classified China
Since Beijing has never released information about its nuclear arsenal, it can only be judged approximately. In June 2016, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists suggested that in total, China has 260 nuclear warheads. Also available information indicates that he is increasing their number.
China also has all three main ways 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 apart from complicated relationship with Moscow, Beijing also has tense relations with neighboring India.
There is also an unconfirmed theory that it is China that is helping North Korea develop its nuclear program.
Sworn Neighbors
India and Pakistan, unlike the previous five countries, are developing their nuclear programs outside the framework of the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. At the same time, both countries have long-standing feuds, 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 a nuclear program, but their details have not been publicly disclosed.
India is believed to have between 100 and 120 nuclear warheads. The country is actively developing its arsenal. One of the latest achievements was the successful testing of the Agni-5 and Agni-6 intercontinental missiles, which are capable of delivering a warhead to a distance of 5000-6000 km.
At the end of 2016, India adopted its first nuclear-powered submarine, Arihant. It also plans to buy 36 Rafale combat aircraft capable of carrying nuclear weapons from France 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. The country began to develop its nuclear program after India conducted its first nuclear test in 1974. She is also in the process of expanding her arsenal.
Currently, Pakistan's nuclear missiles are short and medium range. There are rumors that he is developing the Taimur intercontinental missile with a range of 7000 km. The country also intends to build its own nuclear submarine. And the Mirage and F16 planes in Pakistan 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 is armed with 80 nuclear warheads. In addition, it has reserves of fissile material for the manufacture of another 200 warheads.
Israel, like India and Pakistan, has not signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, thus retaining the right to develop it. But unlike India and Pakistan, he has never announced his nuclear program and is pursuing a so-called policy of deliberate ambiguity on this issue.
In practice, this means that Israel never confirms, nor does it refute, the assumption that it possesses nuclear weapons.
Israel is believed to have developed the nuclear warheads at a secret underground plant in the middle of the desert. It is also assumed to have all three primary means of delivery: ground launchers, submarines, and combat aircraft.
Israel can be understood. 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 see it as a manifestation of double standards.
Iran, which also tried to develop a nuclear program, was severely punished for this. Israel has not experienced any sanctions.
The nuclear picture of the world is not limited to the two-umvirate of the Russian Federation and the United States (see: NVO 03.09.2010 "Nuclear tandem as a guarantee of equilibrium"). As the strategic nuclear forces of the two leading powers are reduced, the strategic potentials of the remaining nuclear states - permanent members of the UN Security Council and countries entering the NPT - become relatively more noticeable.
Meanwhile, in addition to a number of unilateral commitments, submitted data and declarations, they still do not have legally binding and verifiable restrictions on their nuclear facilities and their development programs.
The Nuclear Five is complemented by four states that have a nuclear but are not parties to the NPT. It is with them, as well as with the "threshold" regimes (primarily with Iran) that the danger of further nuclear proliferation, the combat use of nuclear weapons in regional conflicts and the falling of nuclear materials or technologies into the hands of terrorists is now associated.
FRANCE - "TRIOMPHANE" AND "MIRAGE"
This country ranks third in the world in strategic nuclear weapons with its 108 delivery vehicles and about 300 warheads. France tested nuclear weapons in 1960 and is armed with thermonuclear warheads with a capacity of 100-300 kt.
The core of the French forces at present is 3 Triomfan-class SSBNs with 48 M45 missiles and 240 warheads and one submarine of the previous Inflexible project. One submarine is constantly under repair, and one is on sea patrol. Interestingly, in order to save money, France maintains a set of SLBMs only for operationally deployed missile submarines (i.e., in this case, for three). Additionally, the French Strike Force includes 60 Mirage 2000N aircraft and 24 Super Etandar carrier-based fighter-bomber, capable of delivering a total of approximately 60 air-to-ground missiles to targets. France has no other nuclear weapons systems.
The modernization program involves the commissioning of the 4th Triomfan-class submarine (instead of combat strength the last submarine of the "Inflexible" type) and the deployment on all missile submarines of new SLBMs of the M51.1 type of increased range, as well as the adoption of a new aviation system- a fighter of the "Raphael" type. The aviation component of the French strategic nuclear forces belongs to operational-tactical assets according to the Russian-American classification, but is part of the strategic "Strike Forces" of France. In 2009, Paris announced its intention to halve the aviation component, which will reduce the quantitative level of strategic nuclear forces to about 100 carriers and 250 warheads.
Having a relatively small nuclear potential, France openly focuses on a very offensive, even "cocky" type of nuclear strategy, which includes the concept of the first use of nuclear weapons, massive and limited strikes both on traditional opponents and on "rogue" countries, and in recent times and across China (for this a new extended-range SLBM is being created).
At the same time, the level of combat readiness of the French "Strike Forces" has been reduced, although the details of this are unknown. France ceased production of uranium in 1992 and plutonium in 1994, dismantled installations for the production of fissile materials for military purposes (inviting representatives of other states to visit them) and closed the nuclear test site in Polynesia. It also announced an upcoming unilateral cut by one third of its nuclear assets.
EASTERN NUCLEAR TIGER
Chinese People's Republic conducted the first test of nuclear weapons in 1964. China is currently the only one of the five great powers, permanent members of the UN Security Council and the recognized five nuclear powers of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), which does not provide any official information about its military forces, including nuclear weapons.
The official justification for this secrecy is that the Chinese nuclear forces are few in number and technically incomparable with the nuclear weapons of other five powers, and therefore, to maintain its nuclear deterrent potential, China needs to maintain uncertainty about its strategic nuclear forces.
At the same time, China is the only one of the great powers that at the official level has undertaken a commitment not to use nuclear weapons first, and without any reservations. This commitment is accompanied by some vague unofficial clarifications (probably sanctioned by the authorities) that in times of peace, Chinese nuclear warheads are kept separate from missiles. It is also indicated that in the case nuclear strike the task is to deliver the warheads to the carriers within two weeks and strike back at the aggressor.
It is generally believed that a nuclear power that has made a commitment not to use nuclear weapons first is based on the concept and means of retaliatory strike. However, according to generally accepted estimates, while the Chinese strategic nuclear forces, as well as missile attack warning systems (EWS), the infrastructure of command and control points and communications are too vulnerable to ensure the possibility of a retaliatory strike after a hypothetical disarming nuclear strike by the United States or Russia.
Therefore, the official doctrine of the PRC is interpreted as a predominantly political and propaganda tool (like the Soviet commitment not to use nuclear weapons first in 1982), which does not reflect the real operational planning of strategic nuclear forces, in reality aimed at a preemptive strike in the event of a direct threat of a nuclear attack. Due to the complete closedness of official data, all assessments of the PRC's nuclear weapons are based on information from foreign government and private sources. Thus, according to some of them, China has about 130 strategic ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads. They include 37 old stationary ICBMs of the Dongfang-4 / 5A type and 17 old stationary medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBMs) of the Dongfang-3A type. Also deployed about 20 new soil-mobile ICBMs of the "Dongfang-31A" type (the Chinese analogue of the Russian Topol missile) and 60 new soil-mobile MRBMs "Dongfang-21". (According to other sources, China has 12 Dongfang-31 / 31A and 71 MRBMs Dongfang-21 / 21A.) All of these missiles have a single-warhead warhead.
A new ICBM of the Dongfang-41 type is also being developed with a multiple warhead (6-10 warheads) for ground-mobile and railway-mobile launchers (similar to the decommissioned Russian ICBM RS-22). China has periodically put out to sea an experimental nuclear submarine of the Xia type with 12 launchers of SLBMs of the Julang-1 type and is building a second submarine of the Jin type with the longer-range Julang-2 missiles. The aviation component is represented by 20 obsolete medium bombers of the "Hong-6" type, copied from the Soviet Tu-16 aircraft produced in the 50s.
Although Beijing denies the presence of operational-tactical nuclear weapons, it is estimated that about 100 such weapons are deployed in China.
In total, China's nuclear arsenal is estimated at about 180-240 warheads, making it the 4th or 3rd nuclear power after the United States and the Russian Federation (and possibly France), depending on the accuracy of the available unofficial estimates. Chinese nuclear warheads are classified mainly in the thermonuclear class with a power range of 200 kt - 3.3 Mt.
There is no doubt that the economic and technical potential of the PRC makes it possible to carry out a rapid build-up of nuclear missile weapons across the entire range of their classes. It is noteworthy that, apparently, in the context of some cunning political line in contrast to extremely "modest" strategic declarations at the military parade on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the formation of the PRC on October 1, 2009, China clearly sought to impress the whole world with a rapidly growing military power including strategic nuclear weapons.
BET ON TRIDENTS
The UK is the most open about its nuclear potential. Its nuclear weapons were first tested in 1952, and at present British thermonuclear warheads have a yield of about 100 kt and, possibly, sub-kiloton class.
Strategic forces the countries are made up of four Vanguard-class submarines carrying 48 Trident-2 SLBMs purchased from the United States and 144 British nuclear warheads. A set of SLBMs, like that of France, is designed for three submarines, since one is constantly being repaired. An additional 10 spare missiles and 40 warheads are in storage. There are unofficial estimates that some SLBMs are equipped with a single low-yield warhead and are targeting rogue states. Britain has no other nuclear forces.
After heated debate in the middle of this decade, it was decided to start designing a new type of SSBN and planning the purchase of modified Trident-2 missiles in the United States, as well as to develop a new type of nuclear warheads for the period after 2024, when the Vangard submarines will end their service life ... It is likely that progress in the nuclear disarmament of the United States and Russia (new and subsequent START treaties) will entail a revision of these plans.
Providing options for limited nuclear strikes against "rogue" countries, London (in contrast to Paris) does not emphasize reliance on nuclear weapons and adheres to the strategy of "minimal nuclear deterrence". It was officially announced that the nuclear forces are in a state of reduced combat readiness and their use will take a long time (weeks) after the transfer of the order from the top leadership. However, no technical explanations were given in this regard. The United Kingdom has declared its full stocks of fissile materials and has placed fissile materials no longer required for defense purposes under IAEA international safeguards. It provided all enrichment and reprocessing facilities for IAEA international inspections and began work on national historical reporting of fissile material produced.
Pakistani nuclear rocket medium-range "Ghauri"
JERUSALEM'S NUCLEAR SHIELD
Israel differs from other nuclear states in that it not only does not provide official data on its nuclear potential, but also does not confirm its existence. Nevertheless, no one in the world, either in government or in private expert circles, casts doubt on the presence of nuclear weapons in Israel, and Tel Aviv does not deliberately dispute this assessment. By analogy with the American line regarding their nuclear weapons on ships and submarines based in Japan, Israel is pursuing a nuclear deterrent strategy on the principle of "neither confirm nor deny."
The officially unrecognized nuclear potential of Israel, according to the country's leadership, has a quite tangible deterrent effect on the surrounding Islamic countries and, at the same time, does not aggravate the inconvenient position of the United States in providing military assistance and political support for Israel's security. Open recognition of the fact of possession of nuclear weapons, as the Israeli leaders apparently believe, could provoke those around Arab countries to withdraw from the NPT and create their own nuclear weapons.
Apparently, Israel created nuclear weapons in the late 1960s. Israeli nuclear warheads are designed on the basis of weapons-grade plutonium, and although they have never undergone full-scale tests, no one doubts their combat effectiveness due to the high scientific and technical level of Israeli nuclear scientists and those who assisted them abroad.
By expert assessments, currently the Israeli nuclear arsenal has 60 to 200 warheads of various types. Of these, about 50 are nuclear warheads for 50 medium-range Jericho-2 ballistic missiles (1500–1800 km). They cover almost all the countries of the Middle East, including Iran, the Caucasus zone and southern regions of Russia. In 2008, Israel tested the Jericho-2 missile with a range of 4800–6500 km, which corresponds to the intercontinental class system. The rest of the Israeli nuclear warheads, apparently, are aerial bombs and can be delivered by strike aircraft, primarily more than 200 American-made F-16 aircraft. In addition, Israel recently purchased three Dolphin-class diesel-electric submarines from Germany and ordered two more. Probably, the torpedo tubes of these boats were adapted to launch tactical SLCMs of the "Harpoon" type (range up to 600 km), acquired from the United States and capable of striking ground targets, including those with nuclear warheads.
Although Israel, for obvious reasons, does not explain its nuclear doctrine in any way, it is obvious that it provides for the first use of nuclear weapons (preemptive or preemptive strike). After all, according to the logic of things, it is designed to prevent the situation, expressed by the formula of the Russian Military doctrine, "When the very existence of the state is threatened." Until now, over 60 years, Israel has won victories in all wars in the Middle East using only conventional armed forces and weapons. However, each time it was more difficult and cost Israel more and more losses. Apparently, Tel Aviv believes that such an effective use of the Israeli army cannot last forever - given the vulnerable geostrategic position of the state, the huge superiority of the surrounding Islamic countries in terms of population, the size of the armed forces, with their volume purchases modern weapons and official declarations about the need to “wipe Israel from political map the world ".
However, recent trends may cast doubt on the Israeli strategy. national security... In the event of further proliferation of nuclear weapons, primarily through its acquisition by Iran and other Islamic countries, Israel's nuclear deterrence will be neutralized by the nuclear potential of other states in the region. Then a catastrophic defeat for Israel in one of the future wars with the use of conventional weapons or an even greater catastrophe as a result of a regional nuclear war is possible. At the same time, there is no doubt that Israel's "anonymous" nuclear potential is a serious problem for strengthening the nuclear nonproliferation regime in the Near and Middle East.
NUCLEAR INDOSTAN
India, along with Pakistan and Israel, belongs to the category of states possessing nuclear weapons that do not have the legal status of a nuclear power under Article IX of the NPT. Delhi does not provide official data on its nuclear forces and programs. Most experts estimate the Indian potential at about 60-70 nuclear warheads based on weapons-grade plutonium with a yield of 15-200 kt. They can be deployed on an appropriate number of monoblock tactical missiles (Prithvi-1 with a range of 150 km), operational-tactical missiles (Agni-1/2 - from 700 to 1000 km) and medium-range ballistic missiles undergoing tests (Agni -3 "- 3000 km). India is also testing short-range sea-launched ballistic missiles such as Dhanush and K-15. Medium bombers of the Mirage-1000 Vazhra and Jaguar IS Shamsher type can probably serve as carriers of nuclear bombs, as well as the MiG-27 and Su-30MKI fighter-bombers purchased from Russia, the latter being equipped for air refueling from aircraft IL-78 also Russian production.
Having conducted the first test of a nuclear explosive device in 1974 (declared a test for peaceful purposes), India openly tested nuclear weapons in 1998 and declared its nuclear forces a deterrent to the PRC. However, like China, India has made a commitment not to use nuclear weapons first, making an exception for a nuclear retaliatory strike in the event of an attack on it using other types of weapons of mass destruction. Judging by the available information, India, like the PRC, practices separate storage of missile carriers and nuclear warheads.
Pakistan conducted the first nuclear test in 1998 almost simultaneously with India and with the official purpose of containing the latter. However, the very fact of an almost simultaneous test indicates that the development of nuclear weapons was carried out in Pakistan for a long preceding period, possibly starting with the Indian "peaceful" nuclear experiment in 1974. In the absence of any official information, the Pakistani nuclear arsenal is estimated at about 60-odd warheads based on enriched uranium with yields ranging from the sub-kiloton scale to 50 kt.
Pakistan uses two types of operational-tactical ballistic missiles with a range of 400-450 km (such as "Haft-3 Gkhaznavi" and "Haft-4 Shahin-1"), as well as MRBMs with a range of up to 2000 km (such as "Haft-5 Ghauri "). New ballistic rocket systems medium-range (such as "Haft-6 Shahin-2" and "Ghauri-2") are being tested, as well as cruise missiles ground-based(type "Haft-7 Babur"), similar in technology to the Chinese GLCM "Dongfang-10". All missiles are deployed on ground-mobile launchers and have a monoblock warhead. Cruise missiles of the "Haft-7 Babur" type are also tested in aircraft and sea-based versions - in the latter case, apparently, to equip diesel-electric submarines of the "Agosta" type.
Potential aircraft delivery vehicles include American-made F-16 A / B fighter-bombers, as well as French Mirage-V fighters and Chinese A-5s.
Operational-tactical missiles have been deployed to the lines within reach of Indian territory (as well as Indian ones - near Pakistani territory). Medium-range systems cover almost the entire territory of India, Central Asia and Russia Western Siberia.
Pakistan's official nuclear strategy openly relies on the concept of a first (preemptive) nuclear strike - with reference to India's superiority in forces general purpose(as in Russia in the context of the superiority of the United States, NATO and, in the long term, the PRC). Nevertheless, according to available information, Pakistani nuclear warheads are stored separately from carriers, like Indian ones, which implies the dependence of Pakistani nuclear deterrence on timely warning of a possible war with India.
Separate storage in the case of Pakistan has great value- due to the unstable internal political situation of the country, the great influence of Islamic fundamentalism there (including in the officer corps), its involvement in the terrorist war in Afghanistan. The experience of the deliberate diversion of nuclear materials and technologies through the network of the “father of Pakistani atomic bomb» nobel laureate Abdul Qadir Khan to the global black market.
THE MOST PROBLEM NUCLEAR POWER
Korean folk Democratic Republic in terms of her nuclear status is a rather curious legal incident.
From point of view international law the five great powers are made up of nuclear powers legally recognized under the NPT - “states possessing nuclear weapons” (Article IX). The other three de facto nuclear states (India, Pakistan and Israel) are recognized as such in politically but do not count nuclear powers in the legal sense of this concept, since they have never been members of the NPT and cannot join it as nuclear powers in accordance with the mentioned article.
North Korea has become another category - a state with an unrecognized nuclear status. The fact is that the DPRK used for military purposes the fruits of peaceful nuclear cooperation with other countries within the framework of the NPT, committed clear violations of its articles on IAEA safeguards and eventually withdrew from the NPT in 2003 with gross violations of its Article X, which defines the permitted withdrawal procedure from the Treaty. Therefore, recognizing the DPRK's nuclear status would be tantamount to encouraging flagrant violations of international law and would set a dangerous example for other possible violating countries.
Nevertheless, the DPRK tested nuclear explosive devices based on plutonium in 2006 and 2009 and, according to expert estimates, has about 5-6 such warheads. It is assumed, however, that these warheads are not compact enough to be placed on missile or aircraft carriers. With the improvement of these warheads, North Korea could theoretically deploy them on several hundred short-range ballistic missiles of the Hwansong type and several dozen IRBMs of the Nodong type. Tests of ICBMs of the "Tapodong" type in 2007-2009 were unsuccessful.
If equipped with nuclear warheads, the Hwansong missiles could cover the whole of South Korea, the adjacent regions of the PRC and Russian Primorye. In addition, Nodong medium-range missiles could reach Japan, central China, and Russian Siberia. BUT intercontinental missiles"Tapodong" in case of successful completion of their development would gain access to Alaska, Hawaiian Islands and the western coast of the main territory of the United States, practically all regions of Asia, the European zone of Russia and even Central and Western Europe.
Total amount Today there are more than 20 thousand nuclear warheads in the world, according to data from the Stockholm Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). More than half of this amount - 11 thousand - is contained in the arsenal of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.A report published today on the SIPRI website reveals that the world's eight nuclear powers have a total of 20,530 nuclear warheads. Of these, 5027 are in the deployed state. The leading position here is occupied by Russia: at the disposal of Rocket Troops strategic purpose(Strategic Missile Forces) 2,427 missiles with nuclear warheads. The United States is slightly behind in this regard, with 2,150 deployed nuclear warheads. Almost 300 similar missiles are in France, and almost half that in Great Britain.
However, 5,000 deployed warheads are just the tip of the world's nuclear iceberg. The number of nuclear warheads mothballed in military warehouses exceeds this figure three times. The strategic nuclear reserves of the big nuclear five - Russia, the United States, France, Britain and China - as well as India, Pakistan and Israel that have joined them, amount to 15,500 warheads.
Russia remains the undisputed leader here, capable of equipping 8,570 missiles with nuclear warheads. The United States is not far behind, with 6,350 warheads in storage. On the account of Great Britain and France, respectively, 65 and 10 nuclear shells. China's entire nuclear arsenal of 200 warheads is kept undeployed. The military nuclear potential of Delhi and Karachi is estimated at rough figures: 80-100 warheads for India and 90-100 for Pakistan. Israel, according to experts, has 80 nuclear warheads.
While the major nuclear powers are making efforts to globalize nuclear disarmament, analysts note the growth of the military nuclear potential of the third world countries. Thus, within the framework of the treaty between the Russian Federation and the United States on the reduction of strategic and offensive arms (START-3), Russia has reduced its arsenal by a thousand nuclear warheads. The United States trimmed its offensive stocks proportionately by 900 units. But India and Pakistan, judging by the calculations of experts, have increased their combat power by about 20 nuclear warheads each.
Note that, according to the US Department of State, which published its report on the American strategic capacity a few days ago, the United States and warheads than Russia. The report states that Americans have 882 deployed ballistic missiles, while Russia has only 521. At the same time, the United States has 1,800 nuclear warheads, the Russian Federation has 1,537.
The published information was the result of the exchange of data between the nuclear powers under the START-3 agreement. Exchange of information, when the United States handed over its database to its Russian counterparts, without specifying, however, specific numbers.
Meanwhile, the implementation of START III remains under threat due to the disagreements between Russia and the United States over the American missile defense system in Europe. In mid-May, the Russian Foreign Ministry threatened to withdraw from the treaty if the Americans continued to place their weapons in European countries... Earlier, Andrei Tretyak, Chief of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, said that the deployment of the American system missile defense(ABM) near Russian borders to our nuclear deterrent forces (SNF). The research organizations of the Ministry of Defense came to such conclusions during the analysis of plans for the modernization of the US missile defense system.
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