List of world nuclear powers. Nuclear map of the world

On July 16, 1945, the history of our civilization began new era- in the state of New Mexico in the territory military base The world's first twenty-kiloton nuclear warhead, Gadget, was detonated. The military was pleased with the results of the tests, and less than two months later the first uranium bomb, Little Boy, was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The explosion practically wiped the city off the face of the earth. Three days later, a similar evil fate befell Nagasaki. Since then, the sword of Damocles of total nuclear destruction has been hanging invisibly over humanity...

Despite the undoubted humanistic achievements of our civilization, physical violence - or the threat of its use - remains one of the main tools of international politics. It is therefore not surprising that nuclear weapons - the most powerful means of killing and destruction ever created by man - have become a factor of strategic proportions.

Possession of nuclear technology gives a state a completely different weight on the world stage, even if the country's economy is in a deplorable state and citizens are starving. And you don’t have to look far for examples: small nuclear North Korea has forced the mighty United States of America to reckon with itself.

The presence of nuclear weapons opens the door for any regime to the community of the elite - to the so-called Nuclear Club. Despite numerous disagreements between its participants, they are all united in one thing: to prevent further expansion of the Nuclear Club and to prevent other countries from developing their own nuclear weapons. And to achieve this goal, any methods are used, from the most severe international sanctions to bomb attacks and sabotage at nuclear facilities. A clear example of this is the saga with Iran's nuclear program, which has been going on for several decades.

Of course, one can consider nuclear weapons an absolute “uncomplicated” evil, but one cannot deny the fact that they are also a powerful deterrent. If the USSR and the USA did not have deadly nuclear arsenals, the confrontation between them would hardly have been limited to the Cold War. Most likely, in this case, a new world massacre would have broken out already in the 50s. And it was the nuclear bomb that made it impossible. And in our time, the possession of nuclear weapons is a reliable (and probably the only) guarantee of security for any state. And the events around North Korea are the most clear example this. In the 90s, Ukraine, under guarantees from leading states, voluntarily abandoned the world's third-largest nuclear arsenal, and where is its security now? To stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons, an effective international mechanism for protecting state sovereignty is needed. But for now this is rather from the realm of unscientific fiction...

How many nuclear powers exist in the world today? How large are their arsenals, and which state can be called the world leader in this field? Are there any countries trying to gain nuclear power status?

Nuclear club: who is among the chosen ones

It should be clearly understood that the expression “nuclear club” is nothing more than a journalistic cliche; such an organization, of course, does not officially exist. There is not even a corresponding informal get-together, like the G7, where it would be possible to resolve the most pressing issues and develop common approaches.

Moreover, relations between some nuclear states are, to put it mildly, not very good. For example, Pakistan and India have already fought several times; their next armed conflict may well end in a series of mutual atomic strikes. And a few months ago, a full-scale war almost broke out between the DPRK and the United States. A lot of contradictions - fortunately, not so large - exist today between Washington and Moscow.

And sometimes it is very difficult to say whether a state is nuclear or not yet. A typical example is Israel, whose nuclear status experts have little doubt about. But, meanwhile, official Jerusalem has never admitted that it has such weapons.

Existing nuclear states on the world map. Red indicates “official” nuclear countries, orange indicates known nuclear powers, yellow indicates countries that are suspected of possessing nuclear weapons.

There are also a number of countries that different times were engaged in the creation of nuclear weapons, and it is difficult to say what results their nuclear program achieved.

So, the official nuclear powers of the world for 2018, list:

Russia;
United Kingdom;
France;
China;
India;
Pakistan;
Israel;
DPRK.

Special mention should be made of South Africa, which succeeded in creating nuclear weapons, but was forced to abandon it and close its nuclear program. Six already manufactured charges were disposed of in the early 90s.

The former Soviet republics of Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Belarus voluntarily gave up nuclear weapons in the early 1990s in exchange for security guarantees offered to them by all major nuclear powers. Moreover, at that time, Ukraine had the third nuclear arsenal in the world, and Kazakhstan – the fourth.

US nuclear weapons: history and modernity

The United States is the first country in the world to create nuclear weapons. Developments in this area began during the Second World War (“Manhattan Project”), and people were involved in them the best engineers and physicists - the Americans were very afraid that the Nazis would be the first to create a nuclear bomb. By the summer of 1945, the United States had three nuclear warheads, two of which were later dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

For several years, the United States was the only state in the world armed with nuclear weapons. Moreover, the Americans were confident that the Soviet Union did not have the resources and technology to create its own nuclear bomb in the coming years. Therefore, the news that the USSR is a nuclear power came as a real shock to the political leadership of this country.

Initially, the main type of American nuclear weapons were bombs, and the main carrier of nuclear weapons was army aviation. However, already in the 60s the situation began to change: the “Flying Fortresses” were replaced by intercontinental missiles land and sea based.

In 1952, the United States tested the world's first thermonuclear device, and in 1954, the most powerful American thermonuclear charge with a capacity of 15 Mt was detonated.

By 1960, the total nuclear weapons capacity in the United States amounted to 20 thousand megatons, and in 1967 the Pentagon had at its disposal more than 32 thousand warheads. However, American strategists quickly realized the excess of this power, and by the end of the 80s it was reduced by almost a third. At the end of the Cold War, the American nuclear arsenal amounted to less than 23 thousand charges. After its completion, the United States began large-scale disposal of obsolete nuclear weapons.

In 2010, the START III treaty was signed between the United States and Russia, according to which the parties pledged to reduce the number of nuclear weapons to 1,550 units within ten years, and total number ICBMs, SLBMs and strategic bombers– up to 700 pieces.

The United States is undoubtedly at the top of the nuclear club: this country has in service (end of 2018) 1,367 nuclear warheads and 681 deployed strategic delivery vehicles.

The Soviet Union and the Russian Federation: history and current state

After the US acquired nuclear weapons, Soviet Union had to enter the nuclear race from the position of catching up. Moreover, for a state whose economy was destroyed by the war, this competition was very exhausting.

The first nuclear device in the USSR was detonated on August 29, 1949. And in August 1953, a Soviet thermonuclear charge was successfully tested. Moreover, unlike its American counterpart, the first Soviet hydrogen bomb actually had the dimensions of ammunition and could be used practically.

In 1961, a powerful thermonuclear bomb equivalent to more than 50 megatons was exploded at the test site on Novaya Zemlya. At the end of the 50s, the first intercontinental ballistic missile R-7 was created.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia inherited all of its nuclear arsenals. Currently (at the beginning of 2018) Russia has 1,444 nuclear warheads and 527 deployed carriers.

It can be added that our country has one of the most advanced and technologically advanced nuclear triads in the world, which includes ICBMs, SLBMs and strategic bombers.

UK nuclear program and arsenals

England conducted its first nuclear tests in October 1952 on an atoll near Australia. In 1957, the first British thermonuclear weapon was detonated in Polynesia. The last test took place in 1991.

Ever since the Manhattan Project, Britain has had special relationship with the Americans in the nuclear field. Therefore, it is not surprising that in 1960 the British abandoned the idea of creating their own rocket and purchased a delivery system from the United States.

There are no official figures on the size of Britain's nuclear arsenal. However, it is believed that it amounts to approximately 220 nuclear warheads, of which 150-160 are on combat duty. Moreover, the only component of the nuclear triad that England has are submarines. London has neither land-based ICBMs nor strategic aviation.

France and its nuclear program

After General de Gaulle came to power, France set a course for creating its own nuclear forces. Already in 1960, the first nuclear tests were carried out at the test site in Algeria; after the loss of this colony, atolls had to be used for this purpose. Pacific Ocean.

To the ban treaty nuclear tests France joined only in 1998. It is believed that this country currently has approximately three hundred nuclear weapons.

Nuclear weapons of the People's Republic of China

The Chinese nuclear program began in the late 50s, and it took place with the active assistance of the Soviet Union. Thousands of Soviet specialists were sent to fraternal communist China to help build reactors, mine uranium, and conduct tests. At the end of the 50s, when relations between the USSR and China deteriorated completely, cooperation was quickly curtailed, but it was too late: the 1964 nuclear test opened the doors of the nuclear club to Beijing. In 1967, China successfully tested a thermonuclear weapon.

China tested nuclear weapons on its territory at the Lop Nor test site. The last of them took place in 1996.

Due to the extremely closed nature of the country, it is quite difficult to estimate the size of China's nuclear arsenal. Beijing is officially believed to have 250-270 warheads. In service Chinese army there are 70-75 ICBMs, another means of delivery are missiles located on submarines. Also included Chinese triad comes in and strategic aviation. The Su-30s that China purchased from Russia are capable of carrying tactical nuclear weapons.

India and Pakistan: one step away from nuclear conflict

India had good reasons to acquire its own nuclear bomb: the threat from China (already nuclear) and the long-term conflict with Pakistan, which resulted in several wars between the countries.

The West helped India get nuclear weapons. The first reactors were supplied to the country by Britain and Canada, and the Americans helped with heavy water. The Indians conducted their first nuclear test in 1974 on their own territory.

For a very long time Delhi did not want to recognize its nuclear status. This was done only in 1998 after a series of test explosions. India is currently believed to have approximately 120-130 nuclear weapons. This country has ballistic missiles long range(up to 8 thousand km), as well as SLBMs on Arihant-class submarines. Su-30 and Dassault Mirage 2000 aircraft can carry tactical nuclear weapons.

Pakistan began work on its own nuclear weapons in the early 70s. In 1982, a uranium enrichment plant was completed, and in 1995, a reactor was completed, which made it possible to produce weapons-grade plutonium. Pakistani nuclear weapons were tested in May 1998.

It is believed that Islamabad may currently have 120-130 nuclear weapons.

North Korea: Juche nuclear bomb

Most known history Associated with the development of nuclear weapons is undoubtedly the North Korean nuclear program.

The DPRK began developing its own atomic bomb back in the mid-50s, and it received the most active assistance in this matter from the Soviet Union. With the help of specialists from the USSR, a research center was opened in the country with nuclear reactor, Soviet geologists were searching for uranium in North Korea.

In mid-2005, the world was surprised to learn that the DPRK was a nuclear power, and the following year the Koreans conducted the first test of a 1-kiloton nuclear bomb. In 2018, Kim Jong-ye told the world that his country already has thermonuclear weapons in its arsenal. It is believed that Pyongyang may currently possess 10-20 nuclear warheads.

In 2012, the Koreans announced the creation of Hwasong-13 intercontinental ballistic missiles with a flight range of 7.5 thousand km. This is quite enough to strike at US territory.

Just a few days ago, American President Trump met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, at which the parties seemed to agree to close the DPRK’s nuclear program. However, for now this is more of a declaration of intent, and whether these negotiations will lead to real denuclearization Korean Peninsula, it's hard to say.

Nuclear program of the State of Israel

Israel does not officially admit that it has nuclear weapons, but the whole world knows that it still has them.

It is believed that the Israeli nuclear program began in the mid-50s, and the first nuclear weapons were produced in the late 60s and early 70s. There is no exact information about Israeli nuclear weapons tests. On September 22, 1979, the American Vela satellite detected strange flashes over the deserted part of the South Atlantic, very reminiscent of the consequences of a nuclear explosion. It is believed that this was an Israeli nuclear weapons test.

Israel is believed to currently have approximately 80 nuclear weapons. In addition, this country has a full-fledged nuclear triad for delivering nuclear weapons: the Jericho-3 ICBM with a range of 6.5 thousand km, Dolphin-class submarines capable of carrying cruise missiles with a nuclear warhead, and F-15I Ra'am fighter-bombers with the Gabriel missile launcher.

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Nuclear (or atomic) weapons refer to the entire nuclear arsenal, its means of transportation and control hardware. Nuclear weapons are classified as weapons of mass destruction.

The principle of the explosive action of rusty death weapons is based on the use of the properties of nuclear energy, which is released due to nuclear or thermonuclear reactions.

Types of nuclear weapons

All nuclear weapons existing in the world are divided into two types:

atomic: a single-phase explosive device in which energy is released during the fission of heavy plutonium or 235 uranium nuclei;
thermonuclear (hydrogen): two-phase explosive device. In the first phase of action, the release of energy occurs due to the fission of heavy nuclei; in the second phase of action, the thermonuclear fusion phase is connected to the fission reaction. The proportional composition of reactions determines the type of weapon.

History of origin

The year 1889 was marked in the world of science by the discovery of the Curie couple: in uranium they discovered a new substance that released a large amount of energy.

In subsequent years, E. Rutherford studied the basic properties of the atom, E. Walton and his colleague D. Cockroft were the first in the world to split the atomic nucleus.

Thus, in 1934, scientist Leo Szilard registered a patent for the atomic bomb, starting a wave of mass destruction throughout the world.

Reason for creation atomic weapons is simple: domination of the world, intimidation and destruction of enemies. During World War II, development and scientific research fought in Germany, the Soviet Union and the United States: the three largest and most powerful countries taking part in the war sought to achieve victory at any cost. And if during the Second World War this weapon did not become a key factor in victory, it was later used more than once in other wars.

Countries that own nuclear weapons

The group of countries that currently possess nuclear weapons are conventionally called the “Nuclear Club”. Here is the list of club members:

Legitimate in the international legal field

United States of America;
Russia (which acquired the weapons of the USSR after the collapse of the great power);
France;
United Kingdom;
China.

Illegitimate

India;
North Korea;
Pakistan.

Officially, Israel does not have nuclear weapons, but the world community is inclined to believe that Israel has weapons of its own design.

But this list is not complete. Many countries around the world have had nuclear programs, abandoned them later, or are currently working on them. Other powers, such as the United States, supply such weapons to some countries. The exact number of weapons in the world is not taken into account; there are approximately 20,500 nuclear warheads scattered around the world.

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty was signed in 1968, and the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty was signed in 1986. But not all countries have signed and ratified these documents (legally legitimized). So the threat to the world still exists.

Strange as it may sound, today nuclear weapons are a guarantee of peace, a deterrent that protects against attack, which is why many countries are so eager to acquire them.

United States of America

The bulk of the US nuclear arsenal consists of ballistic missiles located on submarines.

Today the United States has 1,654 warheads. The United States is armed with bombs, warheads, and shells for use in aviation, submarines, and artillery.

After the end of World War II, the United States produced more than 66 thousand bombs and warheads; in 1997, the production of new nuclear weapons was completely stopped.

In 2010, the United States had more than 5,000 weapons in its arsenal, but by 2013 their number had decreased to 1,654 as part of a program to reduce the country's nuclear capabilities. As the unofficial leader of the world, the United States has the status of an old-timer and, according to the 1968 treaty, is one of the 5 countries that legally possess nuclear weapons.

Russian Federation

Today, Russia has 1,480 warheads and 367 nuclear delivery vehicles at its disposal.

The country owns ammunition intended for use in missile forces, marine strategic forces and in the strategic aviation forces.

Over the past 10 years, Russia's ammunition stockpile has decreased significantly (up to 12% per year) thanks to the signing of a mutual disarmament treaty: by the end of 2012, reduce the number of weapons by two-thirds.

Today Russia is one of the oldest members of the 1968 nuclear weapons treaty (as the sole successor of the USSR), possessing them legally. However, the current political and economic situation in the world pits the country against the United States and European countries; the presence of such a dangerous arsenal makes it possible in many ways to defend an independent position in geopolitical issues.

France

Today, France is armed with about 300 strategic warheads for use on submarines, as well as about 60 tactical multiprocessors for airborne deployment. France for a long time strived for independence in the matter of its own weapons: it developed its own supercomputer and conducted nuclear tests until 1998. After this, nuclear weapons were not developed or tested in France.

United Kingdom

The UK has 225 nuclear warheads, of which more than 160 are operational and carried on submarines. Data on the armament of the British Army is practically absent due to one of the principles military policy countries: do not disclose the exact quantity and quality of the weapons presented in the arsenal. The UK is not seeking to increase its nuclear stockpile, but will not reduce it either: it has a policy of restraining allied and neutral states from using lethal weapons.

China

Estimates by US scientists indicate that China has about 240 warheads, but official figures say China has about 40 intercontinental missiles located in artillery forces and submarines, as well as about 1,000 short-range missiles.

The Chinese government has not disclosed precise details of the country's arsenal, saying the number of nuclear weapons will be kept at minimum safe levels.

In addition, China declares that it cannot be the first to use weapons, and also that in relation to nuclear countries it will not be used. To such statements world community is positive.

India

According to the international community, India possesses nuclear weapons unofficially. It has thermonuclear and nuclear warheads. Today, India has about 30 nuclear warheads and enough material to make 90 more bombs. Also, there are missiles with short range, medium-range ballistic missiles, extended-range missiles. Possessing atomic weapons illegally, India does not make official statements regarding its nuclear weapons policy, which causes a negative reaction from the world community.

Pakistan

Pakistan, according to unofficial data, has up to 200 nuclear warheads in its arsenal. There is no exact information about the type of weapon. The public reaction to nuclear weapons testing by this country was as harsh as possible: economic sanctions were imposed on Pakistan by almost all major countries in the world, except Saudi Arabia, which supplied the country with an average of 50 thousand barrels of oil daily.

North Korea

Officially, North Korea is a country with nuclear weapons: the country amended its Constitution in 2012. The country is armed with single stage rockets medium range, missile mobile complex "Musudan". The international community reacted extremely negatively to the fact of the creation and testing of weapons: long six-party negotiations continue to this day, and an economic embargo has been imposed on the country. But the DPRK is in no hurry to abandon the creation of means to ensure its own security.

Arms control

Nuclear weapons are one of the most terrible ways to destroy the population and economy of warring countries, a weapon that destroys everything in its path.

Understanding and realizing the dangers of having such means of destruction, the authorities of many countries (especially the five leaders of the “Nuclear Club”) are taking various measures to reduce the number of these weapons and guarantee their non-use.

Thus, the United States and Russia voluntarily reduced the number of nuclear weapons.

All modern warfare are fought for the right to control and use energy resources. That's where they are.

Ukraine, once the third largest country in the world in terms of its number, voluntarily gave up its weapons in exchange for a guarantee of immunity. But in 2014, Ukraine expressed a desire to withdraw from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Arms and create its own nuclear potential.

“Unfortunately, in modern world, it is impossible to guess from which side danger may await us.” Yes, no, war is a costly thing, in the modern world there is no benefit for anyone. Only Dictators can start a war, for example, the Supreme Leader of the DPRK (North Korea) Kim Jong-un

In addition to the countries of the nuclear club, US nuclear weapons are located on the territory of NATO countries (the Netherlands, Turkey, Italy, Germany, Canada, Belgium). Expert opinion is unanimous that, under certain circumstances, these countries can use it. Let’s not forget about Iran, which is accused of creating independent nuclear energy and has come very close to possessing nuclear weapons. Although, on at the moment Iran denies this. Unfortunately, in the modern world, it is impossible to guess from which side danger may await us.

Modern scientists, engineers and military personnel have managed to create unique weapon, which is much more powerful than the one used by America in 1945 during the bombing of Japanese cities. After this incident, many countries began to develop nuclear weapons and accumulate them in large quantities. IN modern conditions For some countries, the presence of nuclear weapons is a necessary element of security.
It is interesting to know which countries have the greatest nuclear potential, because they can be considered superpowers. For this reason, a top has been formed the strongest and most powerful nuclear powers in the world 2015. Both official and unofficial information were used.

10. Iran

: Unofficial
Start of testing: absent
Completion of tests: absent
Nuclear potential: 2.4 tons of uranium
: ratified

This country is constantly accused of illegal storage and nuclear weapons development. Iran has never conducted a test in its history. The government signed an agreement banning nuclear weapons tests.

There is a lot of information that Iran is capable of producing one unit per year of this weapon. At the same time, engineers must spend at least five years building a full-fledged bomb. Between Western countries and the government of Iran, in nuclear issue, conflicts occur constantly. According to representatives of the country, developments are carried out exclusively for peaceful purposes to support the energy program.

When the first international review took place in 1979, the Iranian government froze its nuclear program. After 20 years, the program was resumed again. Later, the UN imposed sanctions to halt the development of the nuclear program and maintain peace in Asia.

9.

Status of the military nuclear program: Unofficial
Start of testing
Completion of tests: probably 1979
Nuclear potential: up to 400 warheads
Test Ban Treaty (CTBT Resolution): ratified

So far, Israel has unofficial status as the owner of nuclear weapons. Presumably the first and last tests were carried out in 1979. Israel has all the methods and technologies with which nuclear bombs can be delivered anywhere in the world. In 1950, engineers built the first reactor, and ten years later the first weapon.

So far, Israel has not developed a nuclear program, although many European countries actively support him. Previously there was information that mini-bombs had been created that could be installed even in small suitcases for transportation. According to some documents, neutron bombs are also available.

8. North Korea

Status of the military nuclear program: Official
Start of testing: October 9, 2006
Completion of tests: January 6, 2016
Nuclear potential: approximately 20 warheads
Test Ban Treaty (CTBT Resolution): not ratified

This country has the official status of a nuclear power. The test was carried out in 2006, and the last tests were carried out in 2009. What is noteworthy is that this country has not signed a corresponding agreement with the world community on containment nuclear threat. The presence of a large arsenal of weapons of mass destruction allows us to speak of this country as a strong nuclear power. There are several working nuclear reactors.
North Korea has several successful tests, information about which was obtained after a thorough seismic analysis. The peculiarity of North Korea is its aggressive foreign policy and failure to recognize a number of rules and international norms, which allows it to be considered one of the strongest nuclear countries in the world. In 2016, North Korea tested a medium-range ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, which raised serious concerns among world superpowers. After this, even tougher economic sanctions were applied to the country, designed to contain North Korea's nuclear program.

7.

Status of the military nuclear program: Official
Start of testing: May 28, 1998
Completion of tests: May 30, 1998
Nuclear potential: up to 90 warheads
Test Ban Treaty (CTBT Resolution): not ratified

In the ranking of the strongest and most powerful nuclear powers in the world, Pakistan is in seventh position. The first tests were carried out in the late 90s. The government did not sign the corresponding agreement.
The country had to restart its nuclear program to respond to India's tests. It is this situation that is key in the decision of the Pakistani authorities to create nuclear weapons and thus protect themselves from possible military aggression from the outside. A considerable amount of time and money was spent on this program. Ultimately, the country justified all the costs and was able to achieve a positive effect.

Development first began in the middle of the last century, but later one of the presidents curtailed the nuclear program. It was reported that if the situation escalates, it will be possible to purchase weapons from other countries rather than create their own.

6.

Status of the military nuclear program: Official
Start of testing: 1974
Completion of tests: 1998
Nuclear potential: up to 95 warheads
Test Ban Treaty (CTBT Resolution): not ratified

India tested nuclear weapons for the first time in 1974. IN last time tests were carried out in 1998. The country has many warheads in its arsenal that can be delivered anywhere in the world. In addition, India is armed with submarine fleet, capable of carrying nuclear weapons.
After the latest tests, sanctions were imposed against India by Japan, the USA, and many other countries. Western world.

5. China

Status of the military nuclear program: Official
Start of testing: 1964
Completion of tests: 1964
Nuclear potential: up to 240 warheads
Test Ban Treaty (CTBT Resolution): ratified

The first tests were carried out in 1964. The last time a launch was carried out was in 1996. Several hundred units of deadly nuclear weapons are a guarantor of the country's security. signed by the government international treaty on nuclear weapons. In 1964, the first nuclear bomb was tested. Three years later, in 1967, tests were carried out again, but this time it was used hydrogen bomb.
It is noteworthy that China is the only nuclear state that has given guarantees to those countries that do not have nuclear weapons. There is a special document in which all guarantees are confirmed and apply to many countries of the world.

4.

Status of the military nuclear program: Official
Start of testing: 1960
Completion of tests: 1995
Nuclear potential: more than 300 warheads
Test Ban Treaty (CTBT Resolution): signed

France is definitely included in the ranking of the most powerful and powerful nuclear powers in the world. The first tests were made in 1960. The country has signed and fully ratified a treaty that prohibits any testing.

The first developments began after World War II, but the weapon was created only in 1958. Two years later, tests were carried out, which made it possible to verify the quality and reliability of the created arsenal. France has several hundred nuclear weapons.

3.

Status of the military nuclear program: Official
Start of testing: 1952
Completion of tests: 1991
Nuclear potential: at least 225 warheads
Test Ban Treaty (CTBT Resolution): signed

The first tests were carried out in the middle of the last century. And the last test was in 1991. The arsenal contains more than two hundred nuclear weapons. The UK has signed and ratified the Nuclear Weapons Treaty. New technologies and developments allowed us to enter the top three among the most powerful nuclear powers in the world 2015 year.

They maintain mutual cooperation with many countries, including the United States, regarding defense and peace. Additionally, the secret services of both countries constantly exchange a large number classified information that is used solely for security purposes.

2. Russia

Status of the military nuclear program: Official
Start of testing: 1949
Completion of tests: 1990
Nuclear potential: 2,825 warheads
Test Ban Treaty (CTBT Resolution): signed

The official launch of the first bomb took place in 1949. The last time tests were carried out was in 1990. There are slightly less than three thousand nuclear weapons in storage.
It was the Soviet Union that became the second country after the United States to launch nuclear weapons. After the first test, several hundred additional tests and checks were carried out using new developments and technologies. At the moment, Russia is in second position in the ranking, with the most powerful nuclear powers in the world. The correct budget allocation policy and the use of our own developments allowed us to occupy such a high position.

At the moment, one of the bombs is the heaviest of all existing ones. The charge was planned for one hundred thousand kilotons, but it was decided to use half as much because there was a possibility of a fallout large quantity precipitation. And it is worth considering the fact that Russia has the technology to produce hydrogen bombs.

1. USA

Status of the military nuclear program: Official
Start of testing: 1945
Completion of tests: 1992
Nuclear potential: 5,113 warheads
Test Ban Treaty (CTBT Resolution): ratified

Many people know that the first launch of a nuclear weapon was carried out in 1945, and the last test in 1992. Total quantity There are more than five thousand weapons in the arsenal.
Over the course of its existence, more than a thousand different tests have been carried out. This allows us to say that the United States is the most powerful nuclear power in the world on given time. Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) are available that can deliver a nuclear weapon to a distance of 13,000 km. It is also worth noting that the United States of America has a year of surpassing its competitors in many quantitative and qualitative characteristics.
Information about several dozen facilities that are key to the development of the nuclear program is kept in the strictest secrecy.

Today, when more than 70 years have passed since the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the scientific and industrial potential of many states makes it possible to create heavy-duty ammunition, any educated person should know there are nuclear weapons. Considering the secrecy of this topic, the reluctance of some governments and regimes to declare the current state of affairs in this area is not an easy task.

The Fab Five

The USA was the first. A country that traded with both allies and enemies, and received a net profit from the war greater than all the gigantic losses of Hitler's Germany, was able to invest huge amounts of money in the Manhattan Project. The birthplace of Batman, Captain America in its characteristic democratic manner, without hesitation, in 1945 the United States tested an atomic bomb on the peaceful cities of Japan. In 1952, the United States was the first to use thermonuclear weapons, many times more destructive than the first atomic weapons.

In the list called “Which countries have nuclear weapons,” the death of innocent residents and radioactive ash was the first line written.

The Soviet Union had to become the second. Having a “democratic” savage waving an atomic club as a neighbor on the planet was simply dangerous, without having similar weapons for protection and the possibility of a retaliatory strike. Exhausted Great Patriotic War the country required colossal efforts of scientists, intelligence officers, engineers, and workers in order to inform the Soviet people already in 1949 that they had created an atomic bomb. In 1953, thermonuclear weapons were tested.

Fortunately, Nazi Germany was not the first, working on the creation of a military-defense complex based on a chain reaction of fission of uranium nuclei. The help of German scientists and engineers, the use of the technologies they developed, exported by the US Army, greatly simplified the creation of superweapons by the overseas empire of “good”.

Which countries have nuclear weapons - this question follows the leaders of the rapidly developing race, spurred by cold war between the USA and the USSR, England, China and France tried to answer. Chronologically it looked like this:

1952 - Great Britain tested atomic weapons at an island test site near Australia, in 1957 - thermonuclear weapons in Polynesia.

1960 - France in Algeria, thermonuclear in 1968 on an atoll in the Pacific Ocean.

1964 - China at a test site near Lake Lop Nor, where a thermonuclear charge was tested in 1967.

In 1968, these five great nuclear powers, which are also permanent members of the UN Security Council, in order to maintain the military-technical and political balance of power and under the slogan of universal peace on the planet, signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Such Weapons, prohibiting the transfer of nuclear technology for military purposes to other countries .

Explicit and secret

Which countries have nuclear weapons besides the “old” ones? nuclear powers? Openly declaring the creation, testing of both atomic and later thermonuclear weapons at one time there were:

India tested an atomic weapon back in 1974, but did not admit it. Only in May 1998, after several underground explosions, including a thermonuclear one, did it declare itself a country with nuclear weapons.

Pakistan, in the same May 1998, according to its own statement, carried out its own tests in response to India's actions.

North Korea announced the creation of weapons in 2005, tested them in 2006, and declared itself a nuclear power in 2012.

This concludes the list of 8 states that admit to having nuclear weapons. The remaining states, which do not officially declare the presence of such weapons, do not hide this fact very much, demonstrating to everyone their high scientific, technological, military-technical potential.

First of all, this is Israel. No one doubts that this country has nuclear weapons. She did not carry out his above-ground or underground explosions. There are only suspicions about joint tests in the South Atlantic together with South Africa, which was also considered to have nuclear reserves before the fall of the apartheid regime. Currently, South Africa completely denies their existence.

For many years, the world community and, above all, Israel suspected Iraq and Iran of developing and creating nuclear technologies for military use. The valiant defenders of democracy who invaded Iraq did not find any nuclear weapons there, nor chemical or bacteriological ones in addition, which they immediately bashfully kept silent about. Iran, under the influence of international sanctions, recently opened all its nuclear energy facilities to IAEA inspectors, who confirmed the absence of developments in the creation of weapons-grade plutonium.

Now Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, is suspected of secretly seeking to acquire superweapons.

This concludes the list of nuclear club states, consisting of overt and secret members.

At the moment, all interested parties know quite precisely which countries have nuclear weapons, because this is a matter of global security. About ongoing in many countries from South Korea, Brazil to Saudi Arabia, which have sufficient scientific and production potential, work on creating their own nuclear weapons, information appears in the media from time to time, but there is no official, documentary evidence of this.

The list of nuclear powers in the world for 2019 includes ten main states. Information about which countries have nuclear potential and in what units it is expressed quantitatively is based on data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute and Business Insider.

Nine countries that are officially owners of weapons of mass destruction form the so-called “Nuclear Club”.

No data available.
First test: no data available.
Last test: no data available.

Today 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 that they are quite capable of building it for themselves, but for ideological reasons they are limited only to the use of uranium for peaceful purposes.

For now, Iran's use of nuclear power is under the control of the IAEA as a result of a 2015 agreement, but the status quo may soon be subject to change - in October 2017, Donald Trump said that the current situation no longer corresponds to US interests. How much this announcement will change the current political environment remains to be seen.

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

The list of countries with nuclear weapons in 2019, to the great horror of the Western world, included the DPRK. Flirting with the atom in North Korea began in the middle of the last century, when Kim Il Sung, frightened by US plans to bomb Pyongyang, turned to the USSR and China for help. The development of nuclear weapons began in the 1970s, stopped as the political situation improved in the 90s, and naturally continued as it worsened. Already since 2004, nuclear tests have taken place in the “mighty, prosperous country.” 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 nuclear warheads North Korea has 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 that it has nuclear weapons - but it has never claimed the opposite either. What adds piquancy to the situation is 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 nuclear power 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. According to rumors, Israel has every opportunity to create a nuclear bomb since 1979, when light flashes 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 successfully detonating a 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, just 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, having a common border and being in a state of permanent unfriendliness, strive to overtake and surpass their neighbor - including in the nuclear field. After the Indian bombing of 1974, it was only a matter of time before Islamabad developed its own. As the then Prime Minister of Pakistan said: “If India builds its own nuclear weapons, we will make ours, even if we have to eat grass.” And they did it, albeit twenty years late.

After India conducted tests in 1998, Pakistan promptly carried out its own, 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 in the nuclear five that has not conducted tests on its territory. The British preferred to carry out all nuclear explosions in Australia and the Pacific Ocean, but since 1991 it was decided to stop them. True, in 2015, David Cameron gave in to the fire, admitting that England was ready to drop a bomb or two if necessary. 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 not to launch (or threaten to launch) nuclear strikes on non-nuclear-weapon states. And at the beginning of 2011, China announced that it would maintain its weapons only at a minimum level. sufficient level. However, since then, China's defense industry has invented four types of new ballistic missiles that can carry 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 - from an explosion in the then French colony of Algeria 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 50s of the last century, did not sign the treaty banning military nuclear tests in the 60s, and joined the Non-Proliferation Treaty only in the early 90s.

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

The country that has also been the first power to implement nuclear explosion, and the first and only one to date to use nuclear weapons in a combat situation. Since then, the United States has produced 66.5 thousand atomic weapons of more than 100 different modifications. The bulk of US nuclear weapons are submarine-launched ballistic missiles. Interestingly, the United States (like Russia) refused to participate in the negotiations on the complete renunciation of nuclear weapons that began in the spring of 2017.

US military doctrine states that America retains enough weapons to guarantee both its own security and the security of its allies. In addition, the United States promised not to strike 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

Russia inherited some of its nuclear weapons after the collapse of the USSR - 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 event of strikes with conventional weapons, as a result of which the very existence of Russia will be threatened.

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

If at the end of the last century the main source of fears of a nuclear war was the strained relations between India and Pakistan, then the main horror story of this century is the nuclear confrontation between the DPRK and the United States. Threaten North Korea nuclear strikes- a good US tradition since 1953, but with the advent of the DPRK’s own atomic bombs the situation has reached 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? It is possible and 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 kept 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 the DPRK. This means that when war begins, Russia can remain neutral - of course, strongly condemning the actions of the aggressor. In the worst case scenario for our country, Vladivostok could be covered with radioactive fallout from the destroyed DPRK facilities.