Today, nuclear weapons are thousands of times more powerful than the two notorious atomic bombs that destroyed the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August forty-fifth. Since this bombardment, the nuclear arms race of various countries has moved to a different phase, and under the pretext of nuclear deterrence has never stopped.
Next, we will talk about the most powerful nuclear potentials of ten world powers. Official and unofficial data are taken into account, we present our list of the top 10 nuclear powers of the world.
10. Iran
- Status: unofficial custody charge.
- First test: never.
- Last test: never.
- Arsenal size: 2,400 kilograms of low enriched uranium.
- Test Ban Treaty (CTBT): Signed.
The best American military officials unanimously declare that Iran can produce at least one nuclear weapon per year, and it takes a maximum of five years to develop a modern workable atomic bomb.
Currently, the West regularly accuses Tehran of developing nuclear weapons, which is equally regularly denied by the leadership of Iran. According to the official position of the latter, the state’s nuclear program has exclusively peaceful purposes and is being developed for the energy needs of enterprises and medical reactors.
After an international audit in the sixties, Iran had to abandon its nuclear program (1979). However, as evidenced by secret documents of the Pentagon, it was renewed 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 also is capable of delivering them to various points by means of intercontinental ballistic missiles, aircraft or the navy. The state began its research in the nuclear field 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 supporting Israel in this industry. You should know that information leaked that the Israelis created nuclear mini-bombs that are small enough to be installed in a suitcase. In addition, it was reported that they possess an unknown number of bomb neutrons.
8. North Korea
- Status: officially.
- First test: 2006.
- Last test: 2009.
- Arsenal size: less than 10 units.
- Test Ban Treaty (CTBT): not signed.
In addition to possessing a significant arsenal of modern chemical weapons, North Korea is a full-fledged nuclear power. At present, the state of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has a pair of operating nuclear reactors.
To date, North Korea has two successful nuclear tests, which were confirmed by international experts on the basis of the survey and monitoring of seismic activity in the test areas.
7. Pakistan
- Status: officially.
- First test: May 28, 1998.
- Last Test: May 30, 1998.
- Arsenal size: from 70 to 90 units.
- Test Ban Treaty (CTBT): not signed.
Pakistan resumed its previously interrupted nuclear program in response to India's Smile of Buddha tests. The official statement by 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 similar weapons. Christians, Jews, and now Hindus have a bomb. Why do Muslims not allow themselves this? “. This phrase belongs to the Prime Minister of Pakistan Zulfikar Ali Bhutto after trials in India.
Recall that Pakistan’s nuclear program was born in 1956, but was frozen by order of President Ayyub Khan. Nuclear engineers tried to prove that a nuclear program was vital, but the president said that if a real threat arose, Pakistan would be able to acquire ready-made nuclear weapons.
The Pakistan Air Force has two units operating the Nanchang A-5C (Squadron No. 16 and No. 26), which are great for delivering nuclear warheads. Pakistan ranks seventh in our ranking of the world's nuclear powers.
6. India
- Status: officially.
- First test: 1974.
- Last test: 1998.
- Arsenal size: less than 40 to 95 units.
- Test Ban Treaty (CTBT): not signed.
India has an impressive amount of nuclear weapons, and is also capable of delivering them to their destination with the help of aircraft and surface ships. In addition, its nuclear 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 exclusively peaceful purposes. The reaction of the world community to such actions followed after the 1998 tests. Economic sanctions against India imposed the United States, Japan and their Western allies.
5. China
- Status: officially.
- First test: 1964.
- Last test: 1996.
- Arsenal size: about 240 units.
- Test Ban Treaty (CTBT): Signed.
Almost immediately after testing the first atomic bomb, China tested its hydrogen bomb. These events occurred in 1964 and 1967, respectively. At present, 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 without such technologies. The official part of the document reads: “China undertakes not to use, nor threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or nuclear-weapon-free zones, regardless of time and under no circumstances.”
4. France
- Status: officially.
- First test: 1960.
- Last test: 1995.
- Arsenal size: not less than 300 units.
- Test Ban Treaty (CTBT): ratified.
France is a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and, as you know, possess weapons of mass destruction. Development in this direction in the Fifth Republic began after the end of the Second World War, however, it was only possible to create an atomic bomb in 1958. To verify the performance of weapons allowed tests of 1960.
To date, France has completed more than two hundred nuclear tests, and its potential puts the country in fourth place in world ranking of nuclear powers.
3. UK
- Status: officially.
- First test: 1952.
- Last test: 1991.
- Arsenal 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 are working closely and mutually beneficial on nuclear safety issues from the time the 1958 Mutual Defense Treaty was signed.
In addition, these two countries (USA and Great Britain) also actively exchange various secret information received by the special services of states.
2. Russian Federation
- Status: officially.
- First test: 1949.
- Last test: 1990.
- Arsenal 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 related to the testing of 970 different devices. Russia is one of the most powerful nuclear powers in the world. The first nuclear explosion, with a capacity of 22 kilotons, received its own name "Joe-1."
The “Tsar Bomb” is by far the heaviest nuclear weapon of all time. It was tested in 1967, demonstrating a whopping 57,000 kilotons during the explosion. This charge was originally developed at the rate of 100,000 kilotons, but was reduced to 57,000 kilotons due to the high probability of an excessive amount of radioactive fallout.
1. United States of America
- Status: officially.
- First test: 1945.
- Last test: 1992.
- Arsenal size: 5 113 units.
- Test Ban Treaty (CTBT): Signed.
In total, the United States has conducted more than 1,050 nuclear tests and occupies a leading position in our top ten nuclear world powers. At the same time, the state possess missiles having a nuclear warhead delivery range of up to 13,000 kilometers. The first Trinity atomic bomb test was conducted in 1945. This was the first explosion of its kind in world history that demonstrated to mankind a new type of threat.
One of the greatest luminaries of the scientific world, Albert Einstein, turned to President Franklin Roosevelt, with a proposal to create an atomic bomb. So the creator involuntarily became a destroyer.
Today, more than twenty secret facilities operate under the North American nuclear program. It is curious that during the tests in the USA, there were many incidents with nuclear weapons, which, fortunately, did not lead to irreparable consequences. Examples include cases near Atlantic City, New Jersey (1957), at Thule Air Base, Greenland (1968), in Savannah, Georgia (1958), at sea near Palomares, Spain (1966), off the coast of Okinawa, Japan (1965), etc.