World Nuclear Arsenal status as on 2012

[LeGenD]

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Status of World Nuclear Forces 2012*



*All numbers are estimates and further described in the Nuclear Notebook in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, and the nuclear appendix in the SIPRI Yearbook. Additional reports are published on the FAS Strategic Security Blog. Unlike those publications, this table is updated continuously as new information becomes available. Current update: March 6, 2012.

Details here: Federation of American Scientists :: Status of World Nuclear Forces

Their are some interesting observations here.

- Nuclear arsenal of Israel is lesser in quantity then those of Pakistan and India. But Israel is prepared to increase the quantity of its nuclear weapons to 200, if the need arises.

- China, Israel, Pakistan, India, and North Korea have not actually 'deployed' their nuclear arsenal on 24/7 basis. This indicates 'no first use policy' for these countries? Their can be additional reasons though.

[Hafizzz]

On the list above ,Pakistan beats India !

Cool. That will keep Indian aggression at bay

[Bharthi]

India have tested 45 kt,Officials says they have 200 kt bomb.
What pakistan got?

[rockstar]

On the list above ,Pakistan beats India !

Cool. That will keep Indian aggression at bay

ha ha ha ha ha

[DDLJ]

On the list above ,Pakistan beats India !

Cool. That will keep Indian aggression at bay

ever wondered that why India with 10 larger economy than Pakistan never went for 10 times larger nuke reserve of 1100 warheads. Make 500 of them and waste money in maintaining it but at the end of the day, atom bomb is just a show piece.

[LeGenD]

Another interesting observation is that USA have 200 non-strategic nuclear weapons. I wonder about the purpose of these weapons.

[hawx]

current Pakistani aresnal takes away switly 2.5 billion $ as maintenance,hence they cant divert funds elsewhere,but i must say nukes are essential for pakistan survival without the nukes India or USA might not hesitate to attack them.

If any of you guys have read the hunger games books series the only reason why district 13 was independent because they have nukes.

If you guys have not read it yet,go and start reading it right now ,i assure you guys all the three books are amazing.

[Archie]

ever wondered that why India with 10 larger economy than Pakistan never went for 10 times larger nuke reserve of 1100 warheads. Make 500 of them and waste money in maintaining it but at the end of the day, atom bomb is just a show piece.

Actually the average yield of Indian Warheads is Higher than that of Pakistan
This is the stockpile as on July 2009 , based on yield

15-25KT - 30 UNITS
50-80KT - 20 UNITS
100KT - 10 UNITS
150KT - 12 UNITS
200KT - ?
TOTAL -72+ UNITS

India No longer inducts sub 100KT Warheads since SFC feels that they have enough small warheads for their need
Avg induction rate is 6-7 UNITS A YR

[hawx]

can anybody shed light on how many warheads India can build if the push comes to shove ????

[PERSIAN GOD KING]

the tsar bomb was te largest bomb ever tested.
what was the blast radius of it? was it 3 milies?

[Archie]

can anybody shed light on how many warheads India can build if the push comes to shove ????

Actually we have Total Fissile Material reserves for 189 Nuclear Warheads of 100 KT yield as of 2010 , and India no longer produce Weapons Grade Plutonium , this was as part of Nuclear deal signed between India-USA

I read somewhere , that India can assemble 105+ Warheads in 6 Months , apart from 80+ Deployed , should a push comes to shove

[Audio]

Another interesting observation is that USA have 200 non-strategic nuclear weapons. I wonder about the purpose these weapons.

Most likely battlefield tactical nukes, shorter range, lower yield-meant to destroy entire Soviet divisions and concentrations, fuel&supply hubs etc...look up the term Fulda gap in Germany-the most likely place they would have been used in the event of NATO-Warsaw Pact confrontation.
Torpedoes also possibly.

In the coming years when nano engineering might produce radioactive free (minimized) fusion there is a chance more of these weapons will be built and actually used.

One example, in this case a French Pluton missile-Tactical deterent in the Cold war.

[LeGenD]

the tsar bomb was te largest bomb ever tested.
what was the blast radius of it? was it 3 milies?

Here;



Tsar Bomba level nuclear explosion is capable of shutting down electronic infrastructure of a large country by itself.

Castle Bravo test was conducted by USA.

[King Solomon]

Status of World Nuclear Forces 2012*

I think the Russian report is not accurate. According to domestic sources, Russia has more tactical nuclear weapons (non-strategic weapons) than US, much higher than the strategic nuclear weapons it has. However, the number is not disclosed.

[LeGenD]

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I think the Russian report is not accurate. According to domestic sources, Russia has more tactical nuclear weapons (non-strategic weapons) than US, much higher than the strategic nuclear weapons it has. However, the number is not disclosed.

I think that changes are taking place due to implementation of START treaties.

And here is explanation:

Of Russia's total inventory of an estimated 3,000-5,000 nonstrategic warheads (down from 15,000-21,700 in 1991), only 2,000 are thought to be assigned to military forces, with the rest awaiting dismantlement. All are declared to be in central storage.