Powers that have nuclear weapons. All nuclear weapons in the world counted

The list of nuclear powers in the world for 2019 includes nine states. The first country to test such weapons was the United States in 1945. Just a few years later, the USSR joined the “Nuclear Club,” of which Russia later became its heir.

The presence of warheads in Great Britain, France, China, India, Pakistan and the DPRK has been officially confirmed. As for Israel, its authorities neither confirmed nor denied that they have nuclear weapons on their territory.

Countries such as Ukraine and the Republic of Belarus abandoned their share of weapons in favor of Russia after the collapse of the USSR. In the 90s of the last century, South Africa voluntarily destroyed its ammunition, trying to whiten its reputation after a long policy of “apartheid”.

There is information that Iran is actively developing warheads, but so far this Asian country uses nuclear energy exclusively for peaceful purposes. Thus, today there are nine countries in the “Nuclear Club” that use their weapons as a powerful tool of pressure on world community.

North Korea

The US threatened the DPRK nuclear strike back in 1953, the communist authorities of Korea turned to China and the USSR for help and already in the 70s began the first developments.

Officially, the Koreans first used their weapons in 2004. Today, according to various sources, the number of warheads in the DPRK ranges from 20 to 60.

Israel

Officials of this country prefer to remain silent about any mention of the presence of warheads on Israeli territory.

The program for creating deadly bombs was launched here back in the 60s. There is information that Israel, together with South Africa, was involved in the 1979 tests, which received the name “Vela Incident” in history. The number of charges is estimated from 80 to 400 units.

India

The Indians tested their weapons back in 1974, but agreed to the title of a nuclear country only in May 1998 after the explosions in Pokharan.

Today the Indian arsenal is 120-130 units.

Pakistan

Pakistan, which once gained independence from India in a struggle and endlessly disputes with this country over the border provinces of Jammu and Kashmir, reacted instantly to the Indian tests of 1998 in Pokharan.

Just a couple of weeks after the incident, Pakistani authorities ordered the explosion of several charges at the Chagai test site. In 2019, the number of Pakistani warheads is comparable to Indian ones and amounts to 130-140.

United Kingdom

The British preferred to carry out test explosions not on their territory, but in remote corners Pacific Ocean and Australia.

Their weapons were actively tested from 1952 to 1991. At the turn of the century there was a lull, but several years ago Prime Minister John Cameron recalled that England not only possesses warheads, but is also quite capable of using them.

The total number of British charges is slightly above the 200 mark.

China

The nuclear map of the world includes the Celestial Empire. With an arsenal of 270 warheads, the Chinese say they will never bomb non-nuclear countries and are prepared to keep their capabilities to a minimum level.

At the same time, China is actively developing new missiles capable of carrying a nuclear charge.

France

Since 1960, the French have conducted several hundred tests on the territory of Algeria and French Polynesia under their control.

The authorities of the Fifth Republic for a long time resisted signing any documents related to the limitation of nuclear weapons, but still agreed in the 90s. to replenish the list of participants in the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

France's nuclear potential is approximately 300 missiles.

USA

The Americans, with approximately 6,800 weapons, are the only country to test the deadly weapon in combat conditions.

This happened in August 1945 and cost the lives of hundreds of thousands of residents of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Today, most of the American charges are located on submarines, dispersed across strategically important points of the world's oceans.

Russian Federation

Russia is recognized as the heir to the mighty nuclear arsenal of the USSR. As of 2019, the number of Russian warheads exceeded 7,000.

IMPORTANT! The Russian authorities guarantee that they will use their ammunition only in response to an armed attack from the outside that threatens the existence of the country.

In the 21st century conflicts between members of the “Nuclear Club”, for example, the DPRK and the USA or Pakistan and India, have intensified. The international community should do its best to promote the signing of a treaty banning the use of warheads, but so far these initiatives are encountering active opposition from “nuclear” states.

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 satisfied with the results of the tests, and less than two months later the first uranium bomb, Little Boy, was dropped on

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 instruments of international politics. Therefore it is not surprising that nuclear weapons- the most powerful means of murder and destruction ever created by man - has become a factor of strategic proportions.

Nuclear weapons are the most powerful means of destruction invented by man.

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 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 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 exactly

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 events around North Korea- 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

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. “Official” are indicated in red. nuclear countries, orange - known nuclear powers, yellow - 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 90s in exchange for security guarantees that were 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

(“Manhattan Project”), they were attracted to 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.

USA is the world's first nuclear power

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 time of termination

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.

Soviet Union And Russian Federation: history and current state

After the appearance of nuclear weapons in the United States, the 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.

First nuclear device in the USSR it was blown up on August 29, 1949. And in August 1953, a Soviet thermonuclear charge was successfully tested. Moreover, unlike its American counterpart, the first Soviet

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.

The Americans did not maintain a monopoly on nuclear weapons for long. In 1949, the USSR tested its first nuclear bomb

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 headed towards creating its own nuclear forces. Already in 1960, the first nuclear tests were carried out at a test site in Algeria; after the loss of this colony, atolls in the Pacific Ocean had to be used for this purpose.

France joined the nuclear test ban treaty 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: nuclear test 1964 opened the doors of the nuclear club to Beijing. In 1967, China successfully tested a thermonuclear weapon.

China conducted its first nuclear weapons test in 1964

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 is 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.

The next conflict between India and Pakistan could turn into a large-scale nuclear war

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.

It is believed that North Korea has between 10 and 20 nuclear weapons in its arsenal.

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 it is difficult to say whether these negotiations will lead to real denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

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.

“We do not have nuclear weapons, but if necessary, we will use them,” - fifth Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir

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.

Recent world events have generated interest in the world's nuclear powers. How many countries have nuclear weapons in 2018 - 2019? Everyone knows that the USA and Russia have the most powerful weapons in the world, and about their confrontation. In 1945, America first used atomic bomb, dropping it in Japan on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The global community was horrified by the power and consequences. Countries, represented by their leaders, consider such weapons to be a guarantee of security and sovereignty. Such a country will be considered and feared.

List of nuclear powers in the world for 2019

The powers that have such weapons in their arsenal are members of the so-called “Nuclear Club”. Intimidation and world domination- these are the reasons why research and production are carried out atomic weapons.

USA

• First nuclear bomb test - 1945
• Latest - 1992

It ranks 1st in the number of warheads among nuclear powers. In 1945, for the first time in the world, it was produced nuclear explosion the first bomb "Trinity". Besides large quantity warheads, the United States has missiles with a range of 13,000 km that can deliver nuclear weapons to this 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 to the USSR and a power with nuclear weapons. And for the first time the country exploded a nuclear bomb in 1949, and by 1990 there were approximately 715 tests in total. Tsar Bomba is the name given to 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 Sukhoi Nos training ground.

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 against it or its allies mass destruction, as well as any other, if the very existence of the state is threatened.

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

United Kingdom

USA's best friend.

• First tested an atomic bomb in 1952.
• Last test: 1991

Officially joined the nuclear club. The US and UK are long-time partners and cooperate on nuclear issue since 1958, when a mutual defense treaty was signed between the countries. The country does not seek to reduce nuclear weapons, but also does not increase their production in view of the policy of containing 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 took place in Algeria. A thermonuclear explosion was tested in 1968 at Mururoa Atoll in the South Pacific and since then there have been more than 200 tests of weapons of mass destruction. The power strove for its independence and began to officially possess lethal weapons.

China

• First test - 1964
• Latest - 1996

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

India

• First nuclear bomb test - 1974
• The last one was 1998.

It officially recognized the presence of nuclear weapons only in 1998 after successful underground explosions at the Pokharan test site.

Pakistan

• Tested the weapon for the first time - May 28, 1998.
• Last time - May 30, 1998

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

North Korea

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

In 2005, the leadership of the DPRK announced the creation dangerous bomb and in 2006 conducted its underground test for the first time. The second 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 worsened and North Korea 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 does not officially have nuclear weapons. The state neither denies nor confirms 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 does not intend 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 provided assistance in creating bombs

History of origin

The creation of a deadly bomb began in 1898, when the spouses Pierre and Marie 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 split the atomic nucleus for the first time in 1932. And in 1934, Leo Szilard patented a nuclear bomb.

Total quantity nuclear warheads in the world today is over 20 thousand, according to data from the Stockholm Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). More than half of this amount - 11 thousand - is contained in the arsenal of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

A report published today on the SIPRI website reveals that the world's eight nuclear powers have a total of 20,530 nuclear warheads. Of these, 5,027 are deployed. Russia occupies a leading position here too: at its disposal Missile Forces strategic purpose(Strategic Missile Forces) 2427 missiles with nuclear warheads. The United States is slightly inferior in this regard - it has 2,150 deployed nuclear warheads. France has almost 300 similar missiles, and Great Britain has almost half as many.

However, 5 thousand deployed warheads are just the tip of the global nuclear iceberg. The number of military nuclear warheads mothballed in military warehouses exceeds this figure three times. The strategic nuclear stockpiles of the big five - Russia, the USA, France, Great Britain and China - as well as India, Pakistan and Israel that join them, amount to 15,500 warheads.

Russia remains the undisputed leader here, capable of equipping 8,570 missiles with nuclear warheads. The United States is not far behind, with 6,350 warheads stored in its warehouses. Great Britain and France have 65 and 10 nuclear weapons, respectively. China's entire nuclear arsenal of 200 warheads is kept in an undeployed state. The military nuclear potential of Delhi and Karachi is estimated at approximate figures: 80 - 100 warheads for India and 90 - 100 for Pakistan. Israel, according to experts, has 80 nuclear warheads.

While major nuclear powers are making efforts towards global nuclear disarmament, analysts note the growth of military nuclear capabilities in Third World countries. Thus, within the framework of the agreement between the Russian Federation and the United States on the reduction of strategic and offensive arms (START-3), Russia reduced its arsenal by a thousand nuclear warheads. The United States cut its offensive reserves proportionately - by 900 units. But India and Pakistan, judging by the calculations of experts, have increased their combat power approximately 20 nuclear warheads each.

Note that, according to the US State Department, which published its report on American strategic capabilities a few days ago, the United States has more warheads than Russia. The report indicates that the Americans have 882 deployed ballistic missiles, and Russia has only 521. Moreover, the United States has a total of 1,800 nuclear warheads, and the Russian Federation has 1,537.

The published information was the result of data exchange between nuclear powers under the START-3 agreement. Exchange of information, when the United States transferred its database to its Russian counterparts, without, however, indicating specific numbers.

Meanwhile, the implementation of START-3 remains under threat due to disagreements between Russia and the United States over the American missile defense system in Europe. In mid-May, the Russian Foreign Ministry threatened to withdraw from the treaty if the Americans continued to place their weapons in European countries. Previously Head of the Main Operations Directorate General Staff RF Armed Forces Andrei Tretyak said that the deployment American system missile defense(BMD) near the Russian borders to our nuclear deterrent forces (SNF). Research organizations of the Ministry of Defense came to such conclusions during the analysis of plans to modernize the US missile defense system.

The 20th century entered the history of mankind not only with its round number. Many peoples had different chronology systems, and the numbering of centuries in them differed radically. The main thing is that after the 20th century Gregorian calendar every next century, and even year, may be the last for human civilization.

Nuclear weapons are the main invention not only of the 20th century, but of the entire human history. For the first time, people have a tool with which they can radically change the environment.

There is a very interesting story about the confusion of scientists and military personnel who, on October 30, 1960, watched the test explosion of a hydrogen bomb at a test site on the islands New Earth. After the bomb, whose power was reduced from 100 to 50 megatons, successfully exploded, observers hastened to report this to Moscow. The hugs began, the champagne was opened...

In the festive bustle, someone noticed that at the epicenter of the explosion the reaction was still ongoing, although, in theory, the components of the bomb should have already burned out - the estimated time had expired. Atoms of ordinary substances could be involved in the chain reaction. Theoretically, the reaction could become self-sustaining - continue until the last atom on Earth enters into it. Scientists and military personnel breathed a sigh of relief only at the moment when they received a message about the attenuation of the reaction.

This, of course, is a story, most likely composed by one of the writers after a conversation with a test participant. But the fairy tale is a lie, and, as we know, there is a hint in it. With the help of atomic weapons it is possible to destroy, if not the entire Earth, then a very significant part of it. The project of one of the creators of the hydrogen bomb, Andrei Sakharov, is well known. The academician suggested blowing up hydrogen bomb high power in Atlantic Ocean and send an artificial tsunami wave to the US coast. According to rough calculations, the wave could reach the middle of the continent with consequences that are now clear to everyone from disaster films. The dumbfounded military quickly sent the newly-minted strategist home, telling him that they preferred to fight an armed enemy rather than civilians.

In those years, it might well have seemed that the nuclear explosion on July 16, 1945 at the American Alamogordo test site opened Pandora's box. By the 1960s, no one could predict where the arms race would lead. During the days of the Cuban Missile Crisis, when there were, if not minutes, then hours left before the use of atomic weapons, panic erupted in the United States - no one doubted that Russian barbarians could bomb American civilians. Twenty years earlier, the doubts of the Japanese in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as we know, did not interest anyone.

Weapons of Deterrence

And yet, humanity slowly, creakingly, managed to turn off the suicidal road. This was facilitated by the collapse of the USSR, which became a serious geopolitical victory for the United States and its allies. And after it turned out that the renewed Russia retained the nuclear potential of the USSR, the rattling of atomic weapons lost its meaning.

It may seem like a paradox, but nowadays nuclear weapons have become a means of mass destruction for any country as a guarantee against a full-scale enemy attack. This is well illustrated by the relations between the United States and the DPRK. Despite all the belligerence of the rhetoric, the United States does not risk starting a conflict, especially after the DPRK has acquired, albeit still rather hypothetical, means of delivering nuclear warheads to US territory. Thus, the most terrible weapon has become the most effective guarantee of the integrity of the country.

Nuclear Club

At the end of 2017, 9 countries possessed nuclear weapons: the USA, Russia, France, Great Britain, China, Israel, India, Pakistan and the DPRK. Officially - according to international treaties– only the first five countries possess atomic weapons. The disclaimer about the unconfirmation of data on Israel's possession of nuclear weapons can be omitted - the lack of material evidence is compensated by numerous testimony of witnesses. The United States was the first to develop a nuclear bomb; the DPRK was the last to join the nuclear club. According to experts, Russia has the most nuclear warheads (6,800), and the DPRK has the least (10–20).

USA

The United States has a dubious primacy in combat use atomic weapons against civilians. On August 6 and 9, 1945, American atomic bombs exploded over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing tens of thousands of mostly civilians.

First American test nuclear weapons dated July 16, 1945. The scientific part of the development of a promising type of weapon was led by Robert Oppenheimer, the technical leader was General Leslie Groves.

In total, the United States has produced more than 66,000 nuclear weapons since 1945. At its peak, in 1967, there were 31,225 charges in American arsenals. Now their number is estimated at 6,600. The Americans carried out 1,054 test explosions, the maximum yield was 15 megatons.

Russia/USSR

The Soviet Union tested its first atomic bomb on August 26, 1949, although this was officially announced six months later. In 1953, the Soviet Union was the first in the world to test a thermonuclear bomb. In 1961, the hydrogen bomb was tested successfully for the first time.

Russia, which became the legal successor of the USSR, inherited not only the nuclear arsenals located on the territory of the RSFSR, but also received all the warheads located on the territory of Kazakhstan, Belarus and Ukraine. According to estimates in 1986, the USSR had about 45,000 nuclear warheads - Russia got a very impressive arsenal.

After a series of arms reduction treaties, approximately 6,800 nuclear weapons remain in Russia.

United Kingdom

The first British nuclear weapons test took place in 1952. The explosion, whose power was estimated at 25 kilotons, thundered over the waters of the Pacific Ocean northwest of Australia. Five years later, British thermonuclear weapons were successfully tested on Christmas Island.

For Great Britain, the issue of possessing nuclear weapons was rather a matter of prestige, because by the time of the first atomic test The USSR and the USA accumulated impressive arsenals. The British Army had the most nuclear warheads in service in the mid-1970s – 450. Now Foggy Albion has 215 warheads.

France

For the French, as for the British, nuclear weapons were a ticket to the ranks of great powers, not a strengthening armed forces. They detonated the first atomic bomb in the Algerian desert in 1960, and carried out the first thermonuclear explosion on Mururoa Atoll in the summer of 1968.

In total, the French conducted 210 nuclear weapons tests. At the peak cold war The French had more than 400 warheads, now their number has been reduced to 300.

China

The debut of Chinese nuclear weapons took place in 1964. Less than three years later, the Chinese became the owners of a thermonuclear bomb.

Due to the excellent secrecy regime in the PRC, there has never been reliable data on the country's nuclear potential. For example, in the early 2000s, representatives of China stated that their country’s nuclear potential was less than that of Great Britain (at that time approximately 200 warheads). At the same time, foreign experts and a number of Russian specialists estimated the number of nuclear warheads at the disposal of the PRC at several thousand. Modern estimates give a figure of 270 charges.

India

In 1974, India became a member of the nuclear club. The Smiling Buddha bomb, detonated on May 18, had a yield of 12 kilotons. Currently, the Indian army may have 120–130 nuclear warheads in its arsenal.

Pakistan

Pakistan announced its nuclear weapons quite loudly - within three days in May 1998, 6 charges were tested at once in the province of Balochistan. Current quantity nuclear bombs estimated at 130 – 140.

The small but proud Asian country conducted its first nuclear test, with a yield of up to 20 kilotons, on October 9, 2006. It is believed that since then the North Koreans may have accumulated 20 charges.

Israel

Israel has everything to produce nuclear weapons. There are witnesses who spoke about such production. However, all available figures are estimates. According to them, Israel may have from 80 to several hundred nuclear warheads.