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Capabilities of the world's nuclear powers
10 Feb 2005 17:34:32 GMT
Source: Reuters
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LONDON, Feb 10 (Reuters) - North Korea announced for the first time on Thursday that it has nuclear weapons and was pulling out of six-party talks on its atomic programme. The world has five "official" nuclear powers -- the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France. Following is a summary of the estimated capabilities of declared and undeclared nuclear powers. DECLARED: - UNITED STATES: The United States maintains a sizeable arsenal of nuclear weapons, including approximately 10,600 intact warheads, 7,650 of which are considered active or operational. Approximately 1,600 are deployed on land-based missile systems (Minuteman and Peacekeeper ICBMs), 1,660 on bombers (B-52 and B-2), and 2,880 on submarines (Ohio-class subs). 1,120 are tactical nuclear weapons (TNWs). The United States is the only country to station land-based nuclear weapons outside its borders. - RUSSIA: Russia has roughly 7,000 deployed strategic nuclear warheads but the arsenal jumps to some 20,000 when stored and tactical warheads are added in. - FRANCE: France maintains approximately 350 nuclear warheads on 60 Mirage 2000N bombers, four nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBN), and on carrier-based aircraft. - BRITAIN: The UK's current stockpile is thought to consist of approximately 200 strategic and "sub-strategic" warheads on Vanguard-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBN). - CHINA: China is estimated to have about 400 strategic and tactical nuclear weapons, and stocks of fissile material sufficient to produce a much larger arsenal. China acceded to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1992 as a nuclear weapon state. - - - - - - - - - - - - NORTH KOREA: North Korea's declaration that it possesses nuclear weapons does not necessarily mean it has a tested nuclear weapons system that can be deployed, defence analysts said. North Korea has test fired short- and medium-range ballistic missiles, but its missile programme has been marred by accidents and the accuracy of the weapons has been questioned. - INDIA: India has formally declared itself a nuclear weapon state. New Delhi's stock of weapons-grade plutonium is estimated to be between 240-395 kg, which depending on the sophistication of the warhead design, could be used to manufacture 40-90 simple fission weapons. - PAKISTAN: Pakistan says its "minimum nuclear deterrent" includes ballistic missiles that can hit deep inside India. Analysts put the Pakistani arsenal at between 10 bombs at the time of its May 1998 nuclear tests and up to 48 now. Pakistan is not a signatory to NPT. UNDECLARED: - ISRAEL: Israel is generally regarded as having nuclear weapons in its arsenal. Analysts estimate Israel has approximately 100-200 nuclear explosive devices. Officially, Israel has declared that it will not be the first to introduce nuclear weapons in the Middle East. It has not signed the NPT. - IRAN: Iran is widely suspected by military experts of pursuing a nuclear weapons programme but is not considered to have capability. Iran has denied U.S. charges it is pursuing a nuclear bomb and says its programmes are only for peaceful power generation needed to keep up with its growing population. Sources: Reuters/www.nti.org (Nuclear Threat Initiative)
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