Tracking Nuclear Weapons

COUNTRIES WITH DECLARED NUCLEAR-WEAPONS CAPABILITY
May 25, 1998


1. U.S.

HISTORY Set off first nuclear blast in 1945. Has conducted 1,030 tests, more than the rest of the world combined ARSENAL 12,070 warheads MISSILE RANGE 8,100 mi. (13,000 km), able to reach anywhere in the world

2. BRITAIN

HISTORY First test in 1952; has performed 45 in all ARSENAL 380 warheads RANGE 7,500 mi. (12,000 km)

3. FRANCE

HISTORY Testing since 1961; 210 tests in all. Conducted six controversial tests in the Pacific Ocean as recently as 1995 and 1996 ARSENAL 500 warheads RANGE 3,300 mi. (5,300 km)

4. RUSSIA

HISTORY Second to conduct tests; 715 in all. Once a major player in arms race, its warhead count is now shrinking ARSENAL 22,500 warheads RANGE 6,800 mi. (11,000 km)

5. CHINA

HISTORY Started testing in 1964; 45 tests in all. Known to be helping Pakistan with its nuclear efforts ARSENAL 450 warheads RANGE 6,800 mi. (11,000 km)

6. INDIA

HISTORY Set off five nuclear tests last week, surprising the world. Its first nuclear test was in 1974 ARSENAL about 65 warheads RANGE 1,550 mi. (2,500 km)

COUNTRIES WITH UNDECLARED NUCLEAR-WEAPONS CAPABILITY

7. ISRAEL

STATUS Known to have a bomb in the basement. Pledges not to introduce nukes to the Middle East ARSENAL 64-112 warheads MISSILE RANGE 930 mi. (1,500 km)

8. PAKISTAN

STATUS Began secret weapons program in 1972 to reach parity with India, but restricted by U.S. sanctions since 1990. Just tested a new medium-range missile ARSENAL 15-25 warheads RANGE 930 mi. (1,500 km)

COUNTRIES SUSPECTED OF HAVING SECRET NUCLEAR-WEAPONS PROGRAMS

9. IRAN

STATUS U.S. believes Iran, a member in good standing of the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty (NPT), is developing weapons sing its nuclear power program MISSILE RANGE 300 mi. (500 km)

10. IRAQ

STATUS Subject to rigorous inspection since its defeat in the 1991 Gulf War. U.N. inspections seem to have halted progress in weapons development RANGE 90 mi. (150 km)

11. NORTH KOREA

STATUS Threatening to suspend a 1994 agreement that froze nuclear activity. Perhaps enough material to build two warheads RANGE 600-930 mi. (1,000-1,500 km)

12. LIBYA

STATUS U.S. still thinks Gaddafi is interested in acquiring nuclear weapons, but a U.N. embargo has hampered his progress RANGE 190 mi. (300 km)

COUNTRIES THAT GAVE UP THEIR NUCLEAR-WEAPONS PROGRAMS

13. ALGERIA

STATUS Discovered in 1991 to be building a reactor able to produce weapons-grade material. Placed reactor under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards and now party to the NPT

14. ARGENTINA, BRAZIL

STATUS Both countries pursued weapons programs in the 1980s, but new democratic governments stopped work by 1990. Both have signed a treaty for a nuclear-weapons-free zone in Latin America

15. BELARUS, KAZAKHSTAN, UKRAINE

STATUS When the Soviet Union broke up in 1991, these former states possessed numerous nuclear weapons. All have rid themselves of the warheads and have acceded to the NPT

16. SOUTH AFRICA

STATUS The only country to develop nuclear weapons and then give them up of its own volition. De Klerk dismantled the arsenal in 1991 and joined the NPT

Sources: Arms Control Association; Center for Defense Information; Center for Nonproliferation Studies; National Resources Defense Council; SIPRI Yearbook 1997

Compare Iran with what it was in 98 and what it is now

Today is Iran, Tomorrow could be Pakistan

[Hammad]

Originally posted by A.Rahman@Jan 18 2006, 09:21 AM
Compare Iran with what it was in 98 and what it is now

Today is Iran, Tomorrow could be Pakistan

Quoted post

UM... but that is really a maybe.

Though indeed i dont trust the American friendship with Pakistan, i really doubt U.S would go and fight a war with Pakistan for no reason, as Pakistan has powerful army. Maybe not powerful than American military but indeed powerful to resist and freak up the occupation if planned.

The strategy that i see in the near future for bringing Pakistan down, can be from India most likely. You can see the build up of India already, you can't call it a defensive force, but like always Pakistan will do everything it can to counter it, and keep the minimum level of deterence.

[Zeeshan S.]

Damn the numbers are increasing, but i doubt that it will be easy for countries as of now to start developing nuclear weapons.