This story is from July 18, 2024
Top Nuclear Power Countries: Did you know that China is building its nuclear stockpile faster than any other country in the world including the US and Russia? According to the latest SIPRI data, China now has triple the number of warheads that India has! Also, interestingly, India’s nuclear weapons stockpile has crossed Pakistan’s for the first time in 25 years! At the start of 2024, 9 countries together possessed approximately 12 121 nuclear weapons. So which are the countries with nuclear weapons? Here’s a list based on SIPRI data: (AI image for representative purpose)
Russia nuclear stockpile. According to SIPRI data, The Russian Federation, as of January 2024, possessed a military arsenal of around 4,380 nuclear warheads. Approximately 2,822 of these warheads were classified as strategic, with roughly 1,710 deployed on land- and sea-based ballistic missiles and at bomber bases. (AI image for representative purpose)
US nuclear stockpile: As of January 2024, the United States had a military inventory of about 3,708 nuclear warheads, says SIPRI. Out of these, approximately 1,770 - consisting of about 1,670 strategic and roughly 100 non-strategic (tactical) warheads - were deployed on ballistic missiles and at bomber bases. (AI image for representative purpose)
China nuclear stockpile: According to SIPRI China is believed to possess a total of approximately 500 nuclear warheads in its arsenal in January 2024. The country is currently undergoing a substantial modernization and expansion of its nuclear capabilities. Over the next ten years, China's nuclear stockpile is anticipated to continue expanding, and some projections indicate that China could potentially field at least as many intercontinental ballistic missiles as either Russia or the USA during this period, SIPRI said. Nevertheless, the overall size of China's nuclear warhead inventory is expected to remain smaller than that of either of those nations. (AI image for representative purpose)
France nuclear stockpile: As of January 2024, France had a nuclear weapon stockpile of about 290 warheads. These warheads are designated for delivery by 48 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) and roughly 50 air-launched cruise missiles (ALCMs) designed for deployment on land-based and carrier-based aircraft, said SIPRI. (AI image for representative purpose)
UK nuclear stockpile: The United Kingdom, as of January 2024, maintained a nuclear arsenal of roughly 225 warheads, according to SIPRI's assessment. It is believed that around 120 of these warheads are deployed and ready for use, deliverable by Trident II D5 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs). Approximately 40 of these warheads are constantly deployed on a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) that remains on patrol. In the upcoming years, the UK is anticipated to expand its nuclear warhead inventory. (AI image for representative purpose)
India nuclear stockpile: India's nuclear weapons stockpile is estimated to have grown to about 172 warheads as of January 2024. These warheads are allocated to a developing nuclear triad consisting of aircraft, land-based missiles, and nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs). SIPRI notes that India's recent actions, such as encasing missiles in canisters and conducting sea-based deterrence patrols, indicate that the nation might be moving towards the practice of mating some of its warheads with their launchers during peacetime. (AI image for representative purpose)
India's early nuclear systems had limited ranges, making their primary role until the early 2010s to deter Pakistan. However, with the development of longer-range missiles capable of reaching all of China, India has increasingly focused on deterring China in recent years, says SIPRI in its latest report. (AI image for representative purpose)
Pakistan nuclear stockpile: Pakistan's nuclear arsenal remained stable at an estimated 170 warheads in January 2024, according to SIPRI. These warheads were distributed among Pakistan's emerging triad, which includes aircraft, ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles, and sea-launched cruise missiles. Indicators suggest that Pakistan's nuclear arsenal and fissile material stockpile will likely continue to grow over the next ten years, said SIPRI. (AI image for representative purpose)
Israel nuclear stockpile: As of January 2024, Israel's nuclear warhead stockpile was estimated to be around 90. Israel persists in its long-standing policy of nuclear ambiguity, refusing to officially acknowledge or deny its possession of nuclear weapons, said SIPRI. (AI image for representative purpose)