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Which countries have nuclear weapons. Nuclear Powers of the World. India and Pakistan: one step away from nuclear conflict

05/13/2015 at 18:08 · Johnny · 105 490

Top 10 nuclear powers in the world

Today, nuclear weapons are thousands of times more powerful than the two infamous atomic bombs that destroyed the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. From the moment of this bombing, the nuclear arms race of various countries entered a different phase, and never stopped under the pretext of nuclear deterrence.

10. Iran

  • Status: Charged with unofficial possession.
  • First test: never.
  • Final test: never.
  • Arsenal size: 2,400 kilograms of low-enriched uranium.

Top U.S. military officials unanimously say that Iran can produce at least one nuclear weapon a year, and it takes a maximum of five years to develop a modern, functional atomic bomb.

At present, the West regularly accuses Tehran of developing nuclear weapons, which is just as regularly denied by the leadership of Iran. According to the official position of the latter, the state's nuclear program is exclusively for peaceful purposes and is being developed for the energy needs of enterprises and medical reactors.

After international verification in the sixties, Iran had to abandon its nuclear program (1979). However, according to secret Pentagon documents, it was resumed in the mid-nineties. For this reason, UN sanctions were imposed on the Asian state, the introduction of which should stop the development of Iran's nuclear program, which threatens peace in the region, nevertheless, Iran is a nuclear power.

9. Israel

  • Status: not official.
  • First test: possibly 1979.
  • Last test: possibly 1979.
  • Arsenal size: up to 400 units.
  • Test Ban Treaty (CTBT): signed.

Israel is considered a country that not only possesses full-fledged nuclear weapons, but is also capable of delivering them to various points by means of intercontinental ballistic missiles, aircraft or navy. The state began its nuclear research shortly after its founding. The first reactor was built in 1950, and the first nuclear weapon in the sixties.

Currently, Israel does not seek to maintain the reputation of a nuclear power, however, many European countries, including France and the UK, are actively assisting Israel in this industry. You should be aware that information has leaked out that the Israelis have built mini-nuclear bombs that are small enough to fit in a suitcase. In addition, they were reported to possess an unknown amount of neutron bombs.

8.

  • Status: official.
  • First test: 2006.
  • Last test: 2009.
  • Armory size: less than 10 units.

In addition to possessing a significant arsenal of advanced chemical weapons, North Korea is a full-fledged nuclear power. Currently, the state of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has a couple of operating nuclear reactors.

To date, North Korea has two successful nuclear tests, which were confirmed by international experts based on the results of a survey and monitoring of seismic activity in the test areas.

7.

  • Status: official.
  • First test: May 28, 1998.
  • Last test: May 30, 1998.
  • Armory size: 70 to 90 units.
  • Test Ban Treaty (CTBT): not signed.

Pakistan has resumed its previously aborted nuclear program in response to India's "Buddha Smile" tests. The official statement of the authorities contains the following words: “If India creates an atomic bomb, we will eat grass and leaves for a thousand years, or even starve, but we will get a similar weapon. Christians, Jews, and now Hindus have the bomb. Why don't Muslims allow themselves to do this? “. This phrase belongs to Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto after testing in India.

Recall that Pakistan's nuclear program was born in 1956, but was frozen by order of President Ayub Khan. Nuclear engineers tried to prove that the nuclear program is vital, but the country's president said that if a real threat arises, Pakistan will be able to acquire ready-made nuclear weapons.

The Pakistan Air Force has two units operating the Nanchang A-5C (No. 16 and No. 26 Squadrons), which are excellent for delivering nuclear warheads. Pakistan ranks seventh in our ranking of the world's nuclear powers.

6. India

  • Status: official.
  • First test: 1974.
  • Last test: 1998.
  • Armory size: less than 40 to 95 units.
  • Test Ban Treaty (CTBT): not signed.

India possesses an impressive number of nuclear weapons, and is also capable of delivering them to their intended destination using aircraft and surface ships. In addition, its nuclear missile submarines are in the final stages of development.

The first nuclear test conducted by India had the original name "Smiling Buddha", as if this nuclear explosion had an exclusively peaceful purpose. The reaction of the world community to such actions followed after the 1998 tests. Economic sanctions against India were imposed by the United States, Japan and their Western allies.

5.

  • Status: official.
  • First test: 1964.
  • Last test: 1996.
  • Armory size: about 240 units.
  • Test Ban Treaty (CTBT): signed.

Almost immediately after testing the first atomic bomb, China tested its own hydrogen bomb. These events took place in 1964 and 1967, respectively. Currently, the People's Republic of China has 180 active nuclear warheads and is considered one of the most powerful world powers.

China is the only state with a nuclear arsenal that has given security guarantees to all countries that do not possess such technologies. The official part of the document reads: “China undertakes not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or nuclear-weapon-free zones, regardless of time and under no circumstances.”

4.

  • Status: official.
  • First test: 1960.
  • Last test: 1995.
  • Arsenal size: at least 300 units.

France is a member of the "NPT" and is known to possess weapons of mass destruction. Developments in this direction in the Fifth Republic began after the end of the Second World War, but it was not possible to create an atomic bomb until 1958. Tests in 1960 made it possible to verify the operability of the weapon.

To date, France has carried out more than two hundred nuclear tests, and its potential puts the country in fourth place in world ranking of nuclear powers.

3.

  • Status: official.
  • First test: 1952.
  • Last test: 1991.
  • Armory size: more than 225 units.
  • Test Ban Treaty (CTBT): ratified.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain ratified the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty back in 1968. The United States and the United Kingdom have cooperated closely and mutually on nuclear security issues since the signing of the 1958 Mutual Defense Treaty.

In addition, these two countries (the United States and Great Britain) also actively exchange various secret information received by the special services of the states.

2. Russian Federation

  • Status: official.
  • First test: 1949.
  • Last test: 1990.
  • Armory size: 2,825 units.
  • Test Ban Treaty (CTBT): ratified.

The Soviet Union was the second country to detonate a nuclear bomb (1949). From that moment until 1990, Russia carried out at least 715 nuclear tests involving the testing of 970 different devices. Russia is one of the strongest nuclear powers in the world. The first nuclear explosion, with a yield of 22 kilotons, received its own name "Joe-1".

The Tsar Bomb is by far the heaviest nuclear weapon of all time. It passed the test in 1967, detonating a whopping 57,000 kilotons. This charge was originally designed at 100,000 kilotons, but was reduced to 57,000 kilotons due to the high potential for excessive fallout.

1. United States of America

  • Status: official.
  • First test: 1945.
  • Last test: 1992.
  • Armory size: 5,113 units.
  • Test Ban Treaty (CTBT): signed.

In total, the US has conducted more than 1,050 nuclear tests and ranks at the top of our top ten. nuclear world powers. At the same time, the state possesses missiles with a nuclear warhead delivery range of up to 13,000 kilometers. The first test of the atomic bomb "Trinity" was carried out in 1945. It was the first explosion of its kind in world history, which demonstrated a new type of threat to humanity.

One of the greatest luminaries of the scientific world, Albert Einstein, approached President Franklin Roosevelt with a proposal to build an atomic bomb. So the creator unwittingly became the destroyer.

Today, more than twenty secret facilities operate under the nuclear program of North America. It is curious that during the tests in the United States, many incidents with nuclear weapons were noted, which, fortunately, did not lead to irreparable consequences. Examples are near Atlantic City, New Jersey (1957), at Thule Air Force Base, Greenland (1968), in Savannah, Georgia (1958), at sea near Palomares, Spain (1966), off the coast of Okinawa, Japan (1965), etc.

The confrontation between the two most powerful nuclear powers in the world, Russia and the United States: video

The list of nuclear powers in the world for 2020 includes ten major states. Information on which countries have nuclear potential and in what units it is quantified is based on data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute and Business Insider.

Nine countries that are officially owners of WMD form the so-called "Nuclear Club".


No data.
First test: No data.
Last test: No data.

To date, it is officially known which countries have nuclear weapons. And Iran is not one of them. However, he did not curtail work on the nuclear program, and there are persistent rumors that this country has its own nuclear weapons. The Iranian authorities say they can build it for themselves, but for ideological reasons they are limited only to the use of uranium for peaceful purposes.

So far, Iran's use of the atom has been under the control of the IAEA as a result of the 2015 agreement, but the status quo may soon change.

On January 6, 2020, Iran abandoned the latest restrictions on a nuclear deal to build a nuclear weapon for a possible strike against the US.


Number of nuclear warheads: 10-60
First test: 2006
Last test: 2018

In the list of countries with nuclear weapons in 2020, to the great horror of the Western world, the DPRK has entered. Flirting with the atom in North Korea began in the middle of the last century, when, frightened by the US plans to bomb Pyongyang, Kim Il Sung turned to the USSR and China for help. The development of nuclear weapons began in the 1970s, froze as the political situation improved in the 1990s, and naturally continued when it worsened. Already since 2004, nuclear tests have been taking place in the “mighty prosperous power”. Of course, as the Korean military assures, for purely harmless purposes - for the purpose of space exploration.

Adding to the tension is the fact that the exact number of North Korean nuclear warheads is unknown. According to some data, their number does not exceed 20, according to others it reaches 60 units.


Number of nuclear warheads: 80
First test: 1979
Last test: 1979

Israel has never said it has nuclear weapons, but it has never claimed otherwise either. The piquancy of the situation is given by the fact that Israel refused to sign the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Along with this, the "Promised Land" vigilantly monitors the peaceful and not so peaceful atom of its neighbors and, if necessary, does not hesitate to bomb the nuclear centers of other countries - as was the case with Iraq in 1981. Israel has been rumored to have had the potential to build a nuclear bomb since 1979, when flashes of light suspiciously similar to nuclear explosions were recorded in the South Atlantic. It is assumed that either Israel, or South Africa, or both of these states together are responsible for this test.


Number of nuclear warheads: 120-130
First test: 1974
Last test: 1998

Despite the successfully detonated nuclear charge back in 1974, India officially recognized itself as a nuclear power only at the end of the last century. True, having blown up three nuclear devices in May 1998, two days after that, India announced its refusal to further tests.


Number of nuclear warheads: 130-140
First test: 1998
Last test: 1998

It is no wonder that India and Pakistan, which have a common border and are in a state of permanent hostility, seek to overtake and overtake their neighbor - including the nuclear area. After the 1974 Indian bombing, it was only a matter of time before Islamabad developed its own. As the then Prime Minister of Pakistan stated: "If India develops its own nuclear weapons, we will make ours, even if we have to eat grass." And they did it, however, with a twenty-year delay.

After India conducted tests in 1998, Pakistan promptly conducted its own by detonating several nuclear bombs at the Chagai test site.


Number of nuclear warheads: 215
First test: 1952
Last test: 1991

Great Britain is the only country of the nuclear five that has not conducted tests on its territory. The British preferred to do all nuclear explosions in Australia and the Pacific Ocean, but since 1991 it was decided to stop them. True, in 2015, David Cameron lit up, admitting that England, if necessary, is ready to drop a couple of bombs. But he didn't say who exactly.


Number of nuclear warheads: 270
First test: 1964
Last test: 1996

China is the only country that has committed itself not to launch (or threaten to launch) nuclear strikes against non-nuclear states. And in early 2011, China announced that it would maintain its weapons only at a minimum sufficient level. However, China's defense industry has since invented four types of new ballistic missiles that are capable of carrying nuclear warheads. So the question of the exact quantitative expression of this "minimum level" remains open.


Number of nuclear warheads: 300
First test: 1960
Last test: 1995

In total, France conducted more than two hundred nuclear weapons tests, ranging from an explosion in the then French colony of Algiers to two atolls in French Polynesia.

Interestingly, France has consistently refused to take part in the peace initiatives of other nuclear countries. It did not join the moratorium on nuclear testing in the late 1950s, did not sign the nuclear test ban treaty in the 1960s, and joined the Nonproliferation Treaty only in the early 1990s.


Number of nuclear warheads: 6800
First test: 1945
Last test: 1992

The possessing country is also the first power to carry out a nuclear explosion, and the first and only to date to use a nuclear weapon in a combat situation. Since then, the United States has produced 66,500 nuclear weapons of more than 100 different modifications. The main array of US nuclear weapons are submarine-launched ballistic missiles. Interestingly, the United States (like Russia) refused to participate in the negotiations that began in the spring of 2017 on the complete renunciation of nuclear weapons.

US military doctrine says that America reserves enough weapons to guarantee both its own security and the security of its allies. In addition, the United States promised not to strike at non-nuclear states if they comply with the terms of the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

1. Russia


Number of nuclear warheads: 7000
First test: 1949
Last test: 1990

Part of the nuclear weapons was inherited by Russia after the demise of the USSR - the existing nuclear warheads were removed from the military bases of the former Soviet republics. According to the Russian military, they may decide to use nuclear weapons in response to similar actions. Or in the case of strikes with conventional weapons, as a result of which the very existence of Russia will be in jeopardy.

Will there be a nuclear war between North Korea and the United States

If at the end of the last century the aggravated relations between India and Pakistan served as the main source of fears of a nuclear war, then the main horror story of this century is the nuclear confrontation between North Korea and the United States. Threatening North Korea with nuclear strikes has been a good tradition of the United States since 1953, but with the advent of the DPRK's own atomic bombs, the situation has reached a new level. Relations between Pyongyang and Washington are tense to the limit. Will there be a nuclear war between North Korea and the United States? Perhaps it will be if Trump decides that the North Koreans need to be stopped before they have time to create intercontinental missiles that are guaranteed to reach the west coast of the world stronghold of democracy.

The United States has been holding nuclear weapons near the borders of the DPRK since 1957. And a Korean diplomat says the entire continental US is now within range of North Korea's nuclear weapons.

What will happen to Russia if a war breaks out between North Korea and the United States? There is no military clause in the agreement signed between Russia and North Korea. This means that when the war starts, Russia can remain neutral - of course, strongly condemning the actions of the aggressor. In the worst scenario for our country, Vladivostok can be covered with radioactive fallout from the destroyed facilities of the DPRK.

It is hard to argue with the fact that a further nuclear arms race is pointless. nuclear powers have accumulated such a potential that is enough for several planets the size of the Earth. In the first positions, as before, without a doubt, are the United States of America and Russia. North Korea has also mastered nuclear technology and is now only trying to modernize it. We must not forget about such countries as Brazil and Iran, which have long been part of the nuclear "club". We can say that the world has prepared for the Third World War, but it may be the last. The villainous Adolf Hitler would be horrified if he knew about the possibility of modern weapons. And how do you feel when you are in the position of a man sitting on a barrel of gunpowder? Which countries have the most powerful nuclear potential? Let's try to name them, although all this is rather arbitrary, because one can only speculate about the true state of affairs. Let's take a look at five most powerful nuclear powers in the world for 2019.

No. 5. France

The country began conducting its first nuclear tests in 1960. France has never "rattled" its nuclear weapons, but without a doubt it can be said that today it is one of the most powerful nuclear powers. Some experts believe that we are talking about 290 nuclear bombs.

No. 4. UK

The country began the first development of nuclear weapons in 1952. This project was called "Hurricane". The UK now has about 250 warheads in its arsenal. The British consider the fact that they have nuclear weapons as a response to the policy pursued by the Soviet leadership, aimed at building up their nuclear potential.

No. 3. China

It is believed that China is a more powerful nuclear power than it tries to make out. The official data provided by the Chinese authorities seem too low. Moreover, China is trying to compete with the United States and all their actions are aimed at increasing the number of nuclear weapons. The first test dates back to 1964. Now the country rightfully ranks third in this area.

No. 2. United States of America

Maybe this will surprise many, but the United States is not in the first place, although they have and of course. At least, this is stated by officials, and it is not possible to verify their words, since nuclear secrets are the most hidden information. It is stated that the country has 7,500 nuclear warheads, but no one has any idea about their capacity. In addition, America has the most powerful army in the world.

No. 1. Russia

And here is the first place the most powerful nuclear power. The Soviet country conducted the first tests of nuclear weapons back in 1949. The USSR throughout its existence tirelessly increased its potential and in the end outstripped everyone in the number of nuclear bombs. In addition, the most powerful nuclear explosion was carried out in the country. The justification is considered to be an attempt to intimidate other nuclear countries and thereby curb the arms race. Now there are about 8,500 warheads in the country.

In recent months, the DPRK and the US have been actively exchanging threats to destroy each other. Since both countries have nuclear arsenals, the world is watching the situation closely. On the Day of Struggle for the Complete Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, we decided to remind you who has them and in what quantities. To date, eight countries that form the so-called Nuclear Club are officially aware of the presence of such weapons.

Who definitely has a nuclear weapon

The first and only state to use nuclear weapons against another country is USA. In August 1945, during World War II, the United States dropped nuclear bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. More than 200,000 people were killed in the attack.


Year of the first test: 1945

Nuclear launchers: submarines, ballistic missiles and bombers

Number of warheads: 6,800, including 1,800 deployed (ready to use)

Russia has the largest nuclear stock. After the collapse of the Union, Russia became the only heir to the nuclear arsenal.

Year of the first test: 1949

Carriers of nuclear charges: submarines, missile systems, heavy bombers, in the future - nuclear trains

Number of warheads: 7,000, including 1,950 deployed (ready to use)

United Kingdom- the only country that has not conducted a single test on its territory. There are 4 submarines with nuclear warheads in the country, other types of troops were disbanded by 1998.

Year of the first test: 1952

Carriers of nuclear charges: submarines

Number of warheads: 215, including 120 deployed (ready to use)


France conducted ground tests of a nuclear charge in Algiers, where she built a test site for this.

Year of first test: 1960

Carriers of nuclear charges: submarines and fighter-bombers

Number of warheads: 300, including 280 deployed (ready to use)

China tests weapons only on its territory. China pledged to be the first to not use nuclear weapons. The PRC was suspected of transferring nuclear weapons technology to Pakistan.

Year of first test: 1964

Nuclear launchers: ballistic launch vehicles, submarines and strategic bombers

Number of warheads: 270 (in reserve)

India announced that it had nuclear weapons in 1998. In the Indian Air Force, French and Russian tactical fighters can be carriers of nuclear weapons.

Year of first test: 1974

Nuclear charge carriers: short, medium and extended range missiles

Number of warheads: 120-130 (in reserve)

Pakistan tested his weapons in response to Indian actions. World sanctions have become a reaction to the emergence of nuclear weapons in the country. Recently, former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said that Pakistan considered launching a nuclear attack on India in 2002. Bombs can be delivered by fighter-bombers.

Year of first test: 1998

Number of warheads: 130-140 (in reserve)


North Korea announced the development of nuclear weapons in 2005, and in 2006 conducted the first test. In 2012, the country declared itself a nuclear power and amended the constitution accordingly. Recently, the DPRK has been conducting a lot of tests - the country launches intercontinental ballistic missiles and threatens the United States with a nuclear strike on the American island of Guam, which is located 4,000 km from the DPRK.


Year of first test: 2006

Nuclear charge carriers: nuclear bombs and missiles

Number of warheads: 10-20 (in reserve)


These 8 countries openly declare the presence of weapons, as well as ongoing tests. The so-called "old" nuclear powers (USA, Russia, Great Britain, France and China) signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, while the "young" nuclear powers India and Pakistan refused to sign the document. North Korea first ratified the agreement, and then withdrew the signature.

Who can develop nuclear weapons now

The main suspect is Israel. Experts believe that Israel has been in possession of its own nuclear weapons since the late 1960s and early 1970s. Opinions were also expressed that the country was conducting joint tests with South Africa. According to the Stockholm Peace Research Institute, Israel has about 80 nuclear warheads in 2017. The country can use fighter-bombers and submarines to deliver nuclear weapons.

suspicions that Iraq develops weapons of mass destruction, was one of the reasons for the invasion of the country by American and British troops (recall the famous speech of US Secretary of State Colin Powell at the UN in 2003, in which he stated that Iraq was working on programs to create biological and chemical weapons and possessed two of three necessary components for the production of nuclear weapons. - Approx. TUT.BY). Later, the United States and Great Britain admitted that there were not enough grounds for the invasion in 2003.


10 years under international sanctions was Iran due to the resumption under President Ahmadinejad of the uranium enrichment program in the country. In 2015, Iran and six international mediators concluded the so-called "nuclear deal" - the sanctions were lifted, and Iran pledged to limit its nuclear activities only to the "peaceful atom", placing it under international control. With the coming to power of Donald Trump in the United States, sanctions were again imposed on Iran. Tehran, meanwhile, began testing ballistic missiles.

Myanmar in recent years, also suspected of trying to create nuclear weapons, it was reported that North Korea exported technology to the country. According to experts, Myanmar lacks the technical and financial capacity to develop weapons.

Over the years, many states have been suspected of striving or being able to create nuclear weapons - Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, Libya, Mexico, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Taiwan, Sweden. But the transition from a peaceful atom to a non-peaceful atom was either not proven, or the countries curtailed their programs.

Which countries allowed to store nuclear bombs, and who refused

US warheads are stored in some European countries. According to the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) in 2016, 150-200 US nuclear bombs are stored in underground storage facilities in Europe and Turkey. Countries have aircraft capable of delivering charges to their intended targets.

Bombs are stored at air bases in Germany(Büchel, more than 20 pieces), Italy(Aviano and Gedi, 70-110 pieces), Belgium(Kleine Brogel, 10-20 pieces), Netherlands(Volkel, 10-20 pieces) and Turkey(Incirlik, 50-90 pieces).

In 2015, it was reported that the Americans would deploy the latest B61-12 atomic bombs at a base in Germany, and American instructors would train Polish and Baltic Air Force pilots to work with these nuclear weapons.

Recently, the United States announced that they were negotiating the deployment of their nuclear weapons in South Korea, where they were stored until 1991.

Four countries voluntarily renounced nuclear weapons on their territory, including Belarus.

After the collapse of the USSR, Ukraine and Kazakhstan were in third and fourth places in the world in terms of the number of nuclear arsenals in the world. The countries agreed to the withdrawal of weapons to Russia under international security guarantees. Kazakhstan handed over strategic bombers to Russia, and sold uranium to the USA. In 2008, President Nursultan Nazarbayev was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his contribution to the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons.


Ukraine in recent years, there has been talk of restoring the country's nuclear status. In 2016, the Verkhovna Rada proposed to cancel the law "On Ukraine's accession to the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons." Earlier, Secretary of the National Security Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov said that Kyiv is ready to use the available resources to create effective weapons.

AT Belarus the withdrawal of nuclear weapons was completed in November 1996. Subsequently, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has repeatedly called this decision the most serious mistake. In his opinion, "if there were nuclear weapons left in the country, now they would talk to us differently."

South Africa is the only country that has independently manufactured nuclear weapons, and after the fall of the apartheid regime, voluntarily abandoned them.

Nuclear club countries list

Russia

  • Russia received most of its nuclear weapons after the collapse of the USSR, when mass disarmament and the export of nuclear warheads to Russia were carried out at the military bases of the former Soviet republics.
  • Officially, the country has a nuclear resource of 7,000 warheads and ranks first in the world in armament, of which 1,950 are in a deployed state.
  • The former Soviet Union conducted its first test in 1949 with a ground launch of an RDS-1 rocket from the Semipalatinsk test site in Kazakhstan.
  • The Russian position on nuclear weapons is to use them in response to a similar attack. Or in the case of attacks with conventional weapons, if it would threaten the existence of the country.

USA

  • The case of two missiles dropped on two cities in Japan in 1945 is the first and only example of a combat atomic attack. So the United States became the first country to carry out an atomic explosion. Today it is also the country with the strongest army in the world. Official estimates report the presence of 6800 active units, of which 1800 are deployed in a combat state.
  • The last US nuclear test was conducted in 1992. The US takes the position that it has enough weapons to protect itself and protect allied states from attack.

France

  • After the Second World War, the country did not pursue the goal of developing its own weapons of mass destruction. However, after the Vietnam War and the loss of its colonies in Indochina, the government of the country revised its views, and since 1960 it has been conducting nuclear tests, first in Algeria, and then on two uninhabited coral islands in French Polynesia.
  • In total, the country conducted 210 tests, the most powerful of which were the Canopus of 1968 and the Unicorn of 1970. There is information about the presence of 300 nuclear warheads, 280 of which are located on deployed carriers.
  • The scale of the world armed confrontation clearly demonstrated that the longer the French government ignores peaceful initiatives to deter weapons, the better for France. France joined the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty proposed by the UN in 1996 only in 1998.

China

  • China. The first test of an atomic weapon, codenamed "596", China conducted in 1964, opening the way to the top five residents of the Nuclear Club.
  • Modern China has 270 warheads in storage. Since 2011, the country has adopted a policy of minimal armament, which will be activated only in case of danger. And the developments of Chinese military scientists are not far behind the arms leaders, Russia and the United States, and since 2011 they have presented the world with four new modifications of ballistic weapons with the ability to load them with nuclear warheads.
  • There is a joke that China is based on the number of its compatriots, who make up the largest diaspora in the world, when they talk about the “minimum required” number of combat units.

United Kingdom

  • Great Britain, as a true lady, although it is one of the leading Five nuclear powers, has not practiced such obscenity as atomic tests on its own territory. All tests were carried out away from the British lands, in Australia and in the Pacific Ocean.

  • She began her nuclear career in 1952 with the activation of a nuclear bomb with a yield of more than 25 kilotons of TNT on board the Plym frigate, which anchored near the Pacific islands of Montebello. In 1991, the tests were terminated. Officially, the country has 215 charges, of which 180 are located on deployed carriers.
  • The UK is actively opposed to the use of nuclear ballistic missiles, although there was a precedent in 2015 when Prime Minister David Cameron encouraged the international community with the message that the country, if desired, could demonstrate the launch of a couple of charges. In which direction the nuclear hello will fly, the minister did not specify.

Young nuclear powers

Pakistan

  • Pakistan. Does not allow the common border with India and Pakistan to sign the "Non-Proliferation Treaty". In 1965, the country's foreign minister declared that Pakistan would be ready to start developing its own nuclear weapons if neighboring India began to sin in this way. His determination was so serious that for this he promised to put the whole country on bread and water, for the sake of protection from the armed provocations of India.
  • The development of explosive devices has been a long process, with variable funding and capacity building since 1972. The country conducted its first tests in 1998 at the Chagai test site. There are about 120-130 nuclear charges in storage in the country.
  • The emergence of a new player in the nuclear market forced many partner countries to impose a ban on the import of Pakistani goods into their territory, which could greatly undermine the country's economy. Luckily for Pakistan, it had a number of unofficial sponsors of nuclear testing. The largest revenue was oil from Saudi Arabia, which was imported into the country daily at 50,000 barrels.

India

  • The homeland of the most cheerful films to participate in the nuclear race was pushed by the neighborhood with China and Pakistan. And if China has long been paying no attention to the positions of superpowers and India, and does not particularly oppress it, then a tough confrontation with its neighbor Pakistan, constantly turning into a state of armed conflict, spurs the country to constantly work on its potential and refuse to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty ".
  • Nuclear power from the very beginning did not allow India to bully in the open, so the first test, codenamed "Smiling Buddha" in 1974, was carried out secretly, underground. All developments were classified so much that even the researchers notified their own Minister of Defense about the tests at the last moment.
  • Officially, India admitted that yes, we sin, we have charges, only in the late 1990s. According to modern data, there are 110-120 units in storage in the country.

North Korea

  • North Korea. The favorite move of the United States - as an argument in the negotiations "show strength" - back in the mid-1950s, the government of the DPRK did not like it very much. At that time, the United States actively intervened in the Korean War, allowing the atomic bombing of Pyongyang. The DPRK learned its lesson and set a course for the militarization of the country.
  • Together with the army, which today is the fifth largest in the world, Pyongyang is conducting nuclear research, which until 2017 was of particular interest to the world, since it was carried out under the auspices of space exploration, and relatively peacefully. Sometimes the neighboring lands of South Korea shook from medium-sized earthquakes of an incomprehensible nature, that's all the trouble.
  • In early 2017, the “fake” news in the media that the United States was sending its aircraft carriers on meaningless promenades to the Korean coast left a residue, and the DPRK conducted six nuclear tests without much concealment. Today the country has 10 nuclear units in storage.
  • How many other countries are conducting research on the development of nuclear weapons is unknown. To be continued.

Suspicions of possession of nuclear weapons

Several countries are known to be suspected of possessing nuclear weapons:

  • Israel, like an old and wise roar, he is in no hurry to lay out cards on the table, but he does not directly deny the existence of nuclear weapons. The "Non-Proliferation Treaty" is also not signed, it invigorates worse than the morning snow. And all that the world has is just rumors about nuclear tests that "Promised" allegedly conducted since 1979 together with South Africa in the South Atlantic and the presence of 80 nuclear charges in storage.
  • Iraq, according to unverified data, has been holding an unknown number of nuclear weapons for an unknown number of years. “Just because it can,” they said in the United States and at the beginning of the 2000s, along with the UK, brought troops into the country. They later offered their heartfelt apologies for being "mistaken". We didn't expect anything else, gentlemen.
  • fell under the same suspicions Iran, because of the tests of the "peaceful atom" for the needs of energy. This was the reason for 10 years to impose sanctions on the country. In 2015, Iran undertook to report on research on uranium enrichment, and the country was exempted from sanctions.

Four countries removed all suspicions from themselves by officially refusing to participate "in these races of yours." Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine transferred all their capacities to Russia with the collapse of the USSR, although the President of Belarus A. Lukashenko sometimes take it, and even sigh with notes of nostalgia, that “If there were any weapons left, they would talk to us differently.” And South Africa, although once involved in the development of nuclear power, openly withdrew from the race and lives in peace.

Partly because of the contradictions of internal political forces opposed to nuclear policy, partly because of the lack of necessity. One way or another, some have transferred all their capacities to the energy sector for the cultivation of "peaceful atom", and some have abandoned their nuclear potential altogether (like Taiwan, after the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine).

List of nuclear powers in the world for 2018

The powers that have such weapons in their arsenal are included in the so-called "Nuclear Club". Intimidation and world domination are the reasons for the research and manufacture of atomic weapons.

USA

  • First nuclear bomb test - 1945
  • Last - 1992

Takes 1st place in the number of warheads among nuclear powers. In 1945, for the first time in the world, the first Trinity bomb was detonated. In addition to a large number of warheads, the US has missiles with a range of 13,000 km that can deliver nuclear weapons to that distance.

Russia

  • First tested a nuclear bomb in 1949 at the Semipalatinsk test site
  • The last one was in 1990.

Russia is the rightful successor of the USSR and a power that has nuclear weapons. And for the first time the country carried out an explosion of a nuclear bomb in 1949 and by 1990 there were about 715 tests in total. The Tsar bomb is the most powerful thermonuclear bomb in the world. Its capacity is 58.6 megatons of TNT. Its development was carried out in the USSR in 1954-1961. under the leadership of I.V. Kurchatov. Tested on October 30, 1961 at the Dry Nose test site.

In 2014, President V.V. Putin changed the military doctrine of the Russian Federation, as a result of which the country reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in response to the use of nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction against it or its allies, as well as any other, if it is threatened the very existence of the state.

For 2017, Russia in its arsenal has launchers for missile systems of intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear combat missiles (Topol-M, YARS). The Navy of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation has ballistic missile submarines. The Air Force has long-range strategic bombers. The Russian Federation is rightfully considered one of the leaders among the powers possessing nuclear weapons, and one of the technologically advanced.

United Kingdom

USA's best friend.

  • She first tested the atomic bomb in 1952.
  • Last test: 1991

Officially joined the nuclear club. The US and UK have been longtime partners and have been cooperating on the nuclear issue since 1958, when a mutual defense treaty was signed between the countries. The country does not seek to reduce nuclear weapons, but does not increase their production in view of the policy of deterring neighboring states and aggressors. The number of warheads in stock is not disclosed.

France

  • In 1960, she conducted the first test.
  • The last time was in 1995.

The first explosion was carried out on the territory of Algeria. A thermonuclear explosion was tested in 1968 on the Mururoa atoll in the South Pacific and since that time more than 200 weapons of mass destruction tests have been carried out. The state aspired to its independence and officially began to possess deadly - striking weapons.

China

  • First test - 1964
  • Last - 1996

The state has officially declared that it will not be the first to use nuclear weapons, and also guarantees not to use it against countries that do not have lethal weapons.

India

  • First nuclear bomb test - 1974
  • Last - 1998

It officially recognized that it had nuclear weapons only in 1998 after successful underground explosions at the Pokharan test site.

Pakistan

  • First tested weapons - May 28, 1998
  • Last time - May 30, 1998

In response to nuclear weapons explosions in India, a series of underground tests were conducted in 1998.

North Korea

  • 2006 - first explosion
  • 2016 is the last one.

In 2005, the leadership of the DPRK announced the creation of a dangerous bomb and in 2006 conducted its first underground test. The second time the explosion was carried out in 2009. And in 2012, it officially declared itself a nuclear power. In recent years, the situation on the Korean peninsula has escalated, and the DPRK periodically threatens the United States with a nuclear bomb if it continues to interfere in the conflict with South Korea.

Israel

  • allegedly tested a nuclear warhead in 1979.

The country is not officially the owner of nuclear weapons. The State does not deny or confirm the presence of nuclear weapons. But there is evidence that Israel has such warheads.

Iran

The world community accuses this power of creating nuclear weapons, but the state declares that it does not possess such weapons and is not going to produce them. Research was carried out only for peaceful purposes, and that scientists have mastered the entire cycle of uranium enrichment and only for peaceful purposes.

South Africa

The state possessed nuclear weapons in the form of missiles, but voluntarily destroyed them. There is information that Israel assisted in the creation of the bombs.

History of occurrence

The beginning of the creation of a deadly bomb was laid in 1898, when the spouses Pierre and Maria Suladovskaya-Curie discovered that some substance in uranium releases a huge amount of energy. Subsequently, Ernest Rutherford studied the atomic nucleus, and his colleagues Ernest Walton and John Cockcroft in 1932 first split the atomic nucleus. And in 1934 Leo Szilard patented the nuclear bomb.

Types of nuclear weapons

  • Atomic bomb - the release of energy occurs due to nuclear fission
  • Hydrogen (thermonuclear) - the energy of the explosion occurs first as a result of nuclear fission, and then nuclear fusion.

At the heart of a nuclear explosion, damage occurs due to the mechanical impact of a shock wave, the thermal effect of a light wave, radioactive exposure and radioactive contamination.

As a result of the shock wave, unprotected people can be injured and contused. Mechanical damage, depending on the power, will cause destruction to buildings and houses. The light wave can cause burns on the body and retinal burns. As a result of the thermal effect of a light wave, fires occur. Radioactive contamination and radiation sickness are the result of radioactive exposure.

To begin with, let's remember that nuclear weapons can destroy all living organisms, including people, in the shortest possible time. And accordingly, it is this type of weapon that is capable of destroying our entire world within a few seconds.

The second question that arises before the creation of the list is why did these countries still create nuclear weapons, despite the fact that this is an active form of destructive material? The answer to this question is that this type of energy is useful for mankind, but if it is used for peaceful purposes. Basically, the reason for the appearance of nuclear weapons in the country is the desire to protect itself from external aggressors. Interestingly, only the Americans actually used nuclear weapons in World War II against Japan, but the effect of this is still felt in the relevant areas of the country.

Here is a list of ten countries with the most nuclear weapons in the world.

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10

Today, Iran is not a country with nuclear weapons, since there is only one Islamic country in the world that is considered nuclear - and that is Pakistan. But before that, it was believed that several types of nuclear or chemical weapons were created in Iran. The Islamic Republic of Iran signed a treaty with the United States to eliminate nuclear weapons, as more than 1,000,000 people died during the Iran-Iraq war.

After the fatwa of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran stopped the creation of nuclear and other types of weapons, and everything created earlier was destroyed by the UN Security Agency. But all the same, rumors do not cease that Iran still has undestroyed nuclear weapons, but no one knows exactly how many.

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9

The country's official name is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. We hear about North Korea all the time in the news as it seeks to build up its nuclear weapons. It was also reported that North Korea fired three ballistic missiles at the United States. This country cannot boast of a good reputation, as it is considered the most hated of all countries in the world.

It is rather difficult to determine the level of well-being of the people due to the closed nature of North Korea, but huge amounts of money are regularly spent on defense. This country created nuclear weapons for defense, tests have already been carried out and the Koreans have about 10 nuclear warheads. But for life, this country is considered one of the most dangerous.

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8

Another popular country in the world, officially called Israel, is also considered a Jewish state. On the other hand, Israel is another one of the most hated countries in the world because of its continuous war with Palestine, which is why it is not only fiercely hated in Muslim countries, but in others too.

Israel has been reported to have a large number of nuclear weapons, but they are mainly being developed with the help of America, which is considered Israel's strategic partner. The state was formed in 1947 and does not increase its territory due to the war with Palestine, so this country still has about 80 nuclear weapons.

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7

India, officially the Republic of India, is one of the most important countries in the world and is one of the largest countries, the second largest in terms of population in the world with about 1.3 billion people.

If we talk about the defense of this country, then it has surpassed many countries in the world, because last year it acquired a large number of weapons in Russia, now there are from 90 to 110 nuclear weapons - this is the third indicator for all countries in the world. Many of this country's nuclear experiments have failed, but they are ongoing due to the state of the Cold War on the border with Pakistan.

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6

France

France is an extraordinarily beautiful country that is officially called the French Republic and has about 67 million people; its capital is Paris, which is also the most beautiful, largest and most cultural center in the world. The country itself is also considered the cultural center of Europe and has a dominant position regarding defense.

If we talk about past wars, then this country took part in both the First and Second World Wars. France is known as a country of nuclear energy, there are about 300 nuclear weapons, so the defense of this beautiful country is also considered the best in the world, as a highly organized army has new technological weapons.

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5

United Kingdom

Great Britain is one of the oldest countries in the world, which is also known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. In addition, it is a wealthy country with a population of 65.1 million, it ranks fourth among the most populated countries in Europe. The capital of Great Britain - London, is an important financial center for different peoples of the world.

The defense capability of this country is considered one of the highest in the world, this country is also a nuclear power, which has about 225 nuclear or chemical weapons. The army is also known all over the world as one of the best - due to the presence of highly qualified personnel. And this is one of the best countries in terms of living conditions, even despite nuclear energy.

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4

China is the most developed country in the world because it produces almost everything that is used on our planet. It is the leader in terms of population with more than 1.38 billion inhabitants. This happy country is officially called the People's Republic of China, is also the largest electronics manufacturer, ships its products to almost all countries in the world.

China is also a nuclear power country, so there are 250 nuclear weapons here, so the defense of this country is at a very high level due to the use of new technologies in the manufacture of weapons or other equipment used in the army. China is the world's oldest state and occupies the third largest territory in the world, after Russia and Canada.

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3

Pakistan - one of the most beautiful and important countries in the world, appeared on the map in 1947, in accordance with the constitution of 1973 is called the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. It is the second largest Islamic country in the world due to its population of almost 200 million.

Thus, Pakistan is the only Islamic country in the world with nuclear weapons. Defense is a priority, so they do not save money on the purchase of weapons. Pakistan's stockpile is about 120 nuclear weapons.

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2

The United States of America is considered one of the most powerful and influential countries in the world. The country includes 52 states and a total population of 320 million. If we talk about defense capability, here is the most highly organized army, which has new and better weapons, and this country is also number one among the nuclear powers of the world, having almost 7,700 nuclear weapons.

It is the only country that used nuclear weapons against the population - in Japan in 1945 during World War II. The US has many disagreements with many countries including Russia, China and Pakistan hence is also considered the most hated country in the world.

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1

Russia

Russia is also one of the most influential countries in the world, known for the high quality of its weapons. The official name is the Russian Federation. It is the largest country in the world in terms of area, but has a population of around 146 million.

One of the most ancient countries in the world. Russia is the largest arms producer in the world. Its stockpiles of nuclear weapons are the largest among all countries in the world, amounting to about 8,500 units. Russia sells weapons to all countries of the world, so there is no doubt about their quality. This allows the country to claim the title of superpower.

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Conclusion

It was an article about the most powerful countries with nuclear weapons. Thank you for your attention!