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Nuclear weapons: Who all have them, and how many?
More than two dozen countries in the world have nuclear power, but only a few have nuclear weapons or are suspected of pursuing nuclear weapons, a latest report has revealed.
The combined findings of the Federation of American Scientists, CIA World Factbook, Nuclear Threat Initiative and the US Census Bureau were recently published by CNN.
We bring forth to our readers the list of nations sitting on a nuclear stockpile, based on the study findings:
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United States of America
Estimated Warheads: 7,650
Operational: 2,150
Reserve: 2,500
Retired, awaiting dismantlement: 3,000
First Test: 1945
Most Recent Test: 1992
Total Tests: 1,054
It is estimated that about 500 warheads are assigned to land-based missiles, 1,150 are assigned to nuclear submarines and 300 are ready to be deployed on aircraft. Also, as part of NATO's nuclear sharing program, an additional 200 B61 gravity bombs are deployed in five NATO countries: Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey, the report notes.
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Russia
Estimated Warheads: 8,420
Operational: 1,720
In Reserve: 2,700
Retired, awaiting dismantlement: 4,000
First Test: 1949
Most Recent Test: 1990
Total Tests: 715
Of those, it is estimated that about 1,070 warheads are assigned to land-based missiles, 350 are assigned to nuclear submarines and 300 are ready to be deployed on aircraft, according to the report.
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United Kingdom
Estimated Warheads: 225
Operational: Fewer than 160
In Reserve: 65
First Test: 1952
Most Recent Test: 1991
Total Tests: 45
All are assigned to nuclear submarines, the country's only launch mechanism. In 1998, it retired all air-delivered nuclear weapons, the report notes.
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France
Estimated Warheads: 300
Operational: 290
In Maintenance or awaiting dismantlement: 10
First Test: 1960
Most Recent Test: 1996
Total Tests: 210
Of those, about 240 are thought to be assigned to nuclear submarines, while the other 50 are ready to be deployed on aircraft. France dismantled its land-based nuclear weapons in 1996, according to the report.
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China
Estimated Warheads: 240
Operational: Unknown
First Test: 1964
Most Recent Test: 1996
Total Tests: 45
Of China's 240 estimated warheads, about 180 can be carried via aircraft or land-based missiles. The rest are either awaiting dismantlement or meant for nuclear submarines that are not yet available, the report states.
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India
Estimated Warheads: 80-100
Operational: 0
First Test: 1974
Most Recent Test: 1998
Total Tests: 6
The warheads in storage can be carried via aircraft or land-based missiles. India is looking to add a sea-based launch mechanism, report notes.
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Pakistan
Estimated Warheads: 90-110
Operational: 0
First Test: 1998
Most Recent Test: 1998
Total Tests: 6
The warheads in storage can be carried via aircraft or land-based missiles, report states.
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North Korea
Estimated Warheads: Fewer than 10
First Test: 2006
Most Recent Test: 2013
Total Tests: 3
Experts say the country has plutonium for about 10 warheads, but it is not thought to have the technology to deliver the weapons, the report states.
North Korea has conducted three underground nuclear tests, with the most recent coming in February. It has also carried out ballistic missile tests. But it is not thought to have brought the two technologies together yet, the report adds.
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Israel
Estimated Warheads: 80
First Test: No confirmed test
Most Recent Test: No confirmed test
Total Tests: No confirmed test
Israel refuses to confirm or deny the widespread belief that it has the bomb, but it is believed to have about 80 atomic weapons and enough plutonium for as many as 200, according to the Federation of American Scientists.
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Iran
Estimated Warheads: 0
First Test: No confirmed test
Most Recent Test: No confirmed test
Total Tests: No confirmed test
A number of Western nations have placed economic and arms-related sanctions on Iran since 2010, when the International Atomic Energy Agency said Tehran was pursuing technology that could be used to build nuclear weapons. Last year, the IAEA confirmed that Iran had begun enriching uranium at its Fordo nuclear facility, the report stated.
Iran maintains its nuclear program is for civilian energy purposes only. But the IAEA has said it cannot verify whether the intent of the program is for peaceful means.
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