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Chart of the day: nuclear weapons - who has what?

The number of nuclear warheads in Russia, the US and the rest.

By George Eaton Published 20 February 2012 18:43

While the "international community" is focused on ensuring Iran doesn't get its hands on a nuclear weapon, today's chart of the day looks at just how well-armed some of its members are.

Under the terms of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, there are officially only five "nuclear-weapon states" (China, France, Russia, the UK and the US) but four states that were not party to the treaty - India, Israel, Pakistan and North Korea - have since acquired nuclear weapons.

South Africa became the first country to voluntarily give up its nuclear weapons in 1989, followed by the former Soviet republics of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine, whose warheads were transferred to Russia in 1995-96.

Brazil, Argentina, Taiwan and South Korea all gave up secret nuclear weapons programmes.

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Tags: Chart of the day

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17 comments

Fri, 2012-02-24 20:50 — Tom (not verified)

It's probably worth pointing out that there is no evidence that North Korea has nuclear weapons. It has detonated a nuclear device—twice, once in 2006 and once in 2009, the latter being more successful—but whether it has the capability to create a warhead, then mount this on a missile is unknown. Probably also worth pointing out that the total for Russia will be far less, as many of its missiles are not in service.

Tue, 2012-02-21 15:31 — Thomas Devine

Don't look to closely at the Pentagon's "First Strike" chatter, the real point of that was congressional pork. The real faith is placed in the simple fact that they can't take out even a majority of our subs so they can't be safe from retribution. A "Payback is Hell!" way of seeing it issue.

As for Israel, if anyone tries for a second and really final solution, they'll have to pay a serious price.

I wonder how many Israeli nikes are aimed at Mecca and Medina?

Tue, 2012-02-21 15:56 — Hugh Markey (not verified)

A very senior Air Marshall in the RAF claimed that the accuracy and power of Soviet missiles in the late seventies had forced the US to place most of its missiles on subs.
The Russian government has had to save money by greatly reducing the size of conventional weaponry and troops. To offset this reduction in its non-nuclear capability, the Russians have had no option other than to use nuclear weapons first in all circumstances.
Medina and Mecca are definitely not on Israel's target list. The Israelis will do everything to minimize radio-activity in the Mid-East. They have to survive there - not forgetting the West's thirst for oil.
Protect Yourself at ALL Times

Wed, 2012-02-22 10:11 — jankaas (not verified)

@Red

"Isn't technology wonderful; it’s the great equalizer?"

so following on from your logic, all nations must have nukes asap to guarantee lasting world peace.

that is your argument, or have i got this wrong?

Tue, 2012-02-21 16:51 — jankaas (not verified)

a visual history of exploded nuclear devices, well worth a watch imho

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giqhdDHV5wo

Tue, 2012-02-21 17:52 — Lord Jimbo (not verified)

@ auntyskitcchen

would have to agree, that would seem like an absurdly low figure which undermines the entire graph.

Sat, 2012-02-25 01:33 — Claus-Erik Hamle (not verified)

The MX warhead was put on Minuteman-3 because like the D5 on Trident-2 it is designed to minimize nuclear winter effects if used against missile silos. The US Missile Shield in Europe will be operational by 2020 according to Der Spiegel 49/2011. The Pentagon has been aiming to achieve a disarming first strike capability for about 50 years. Bob Aldridge got the 3rd FOR-USA ML King Award for pointing this out. Then by 2020-and Launch On Warning !!!

Sat, 2012-02-25 01:53 — Claus-Erik Hamle (not verified)

First it was called Navstar. It was made to give Minuteman-3 and Trident-2 a CEP (Circular Error Probability--the radius in which half the warheads are expected to hit) of less than 30 meters. Now it´s called GPS. Chief missile engineer Bob Aldridge resigned and wrote The Counterforce Syndrome, First Strike! The Pentagon´s Strategy For Nuclear War and Nuclear Empire (ch. 9 on anti-submarine warfare). I´ll recommend the coffee-village Risaralda highest up in Caldas.Pure coffee-aguadiente-platano !

Mon, 2012-02-20 20:13 — Daniel (not verified)

The French have more than us? That's can't be right!

Mon, 2012-02-20 21:26 — Claus-Erik Hamle (not verified)

The Pentagon aims to achieve a disarming first strike capability according to Trident missile engineer Bob Aldridge-www.plrc.org. Bob Aldridge wrote on the missiles in Bulgaria, Romania and Poland: "Whether they are on ships or land, they are still a necessary component for an unanswerable first strike." The US Navy can track and destroy all enemy submarines simultaneously according to Bob Aldridge. GPS (formerly Navstar) was developed to hit Russian missile silos accurately. The US Disarming First Strike Capability is fully operational by 2020 according to Der Spiegel 49/2011. This leads to Launch On Warning and suicide by mistake. It seems it happens now and then www.mcremo.com

Mon, 2012-02-20 21:32 — Claus-Erik Hamle (not verified)

Darwin 0 Religious Nutters 0
www.mcremo.com
The bloody crazy Pentagon aims to achieve a Disarming First Strike Capability. MAD is not enough for the Pentagon. They go for NUTS Nuclear Use Target Selection. Very depressing that we´ll probably die due to insanity in the Pentagon.

Mon, 2012-02-20 21:41 — Claus-Erik Hamle (not verified)

The great Trident missile engineer Bob Aldridge-www.plrc.org-resigned and wrote The Counterforce Syndrome, First Strike! The Pentagon´s Strategy For Nuclear War and Nuclear Empire (ch. 9 on anti-submarine warfare) and recently America in Peril. Dr Bob Bowman, Chief DOD "Star Wars" Program: Missile defense is the missing link to first strike. According to Professor Paul Rogers the warheads on Minuteman-3 and Trident-2 are designed to minimize nuclear winter effects if used against missile silos. For that reason Brigadier Harbottle stated famously: "They are bloody fools in the Pentagon!"