|
|
the-south-asian.com November 2003 |
||||
|
November
2003
Art Environment Alpana
Singh - the World's
Nuclear
Lehngas - a limited collection Books
|
|
||||
|
World's Nuclear Arsenals - A Fact Sheet Center for Defense Information www.cdi.org
Chinese Nuclear Arsenal Strategic Nuclear Weapons: 250 Non-strategic Nuclear Weapons: 120 Total Nuclear Weapons: 400
French Nuclear Arsenal Strategic Nuclear Weapons: 350 Non-strategic Nuclear Weapons: 0 Total Nuclear Weapons: 350
Indian Nuclear Arsenal Strategic Nuclear Weapons: 60 Non-strategic Nuclear Weapons: ? Total Nuclear Weapons: 60+? Summary of Indian Nuclear Arsenal: India is generally estimated to have about 60 nuclear warheads and enough plutonium to manufacture 30-50 more. India conducted five nuclear tests in May 1998, announcing unambiguously its nuclear capacity. Two primary factors drive India's nuclear program: the need to balance China's growing nuclear arsenal and the ongoing conflict with Pakistan over Kashmir. The Indian government released a proposed nuclear doctrine in 1999. This document calls for the use of nuclear weapons only in response to a nuclear attack - in other words a no first use policy - and says that ultimately, India's nuclear forces will be based in a triad of aircraft, mobile land-based missiles and sea-based forces. The doctrine states that India intends, through a combination of redundant systems, mobility, dispersion and deception, to heighten the survivability of its nuclear arsenal. Despite its ambition to deploy a nuclear triad, today India can deliver nuclear weapons only by missile or aircraft. India has two types of missiles; the Prithvi and the Agni, each of which has several variants. The Prithvi missiles have ranges under 500 kilometers and are liquid-fueled. In January 2002, India test fired a solid-fuel Agni missile. With a range of 700 kilometers, it bridges a gap between shorter-range Prithvi missiles and longer-range variants of the Agni. Versions of the Agni with ranges up to 5,000 kilometers are being developed. Though India seeks nuclear self-sufficiency, its ballistic missile programs are largely dependent on Russian components and expertise. India is also likely to develop a global positioning system to upgrade its missile guidance systems. India has several aircraft that could be outfitted to deliver nuclear bombs. It is not clear which, if any, have been modified for nuclear delivery. India's 147 MiG-27s and 88 Jaguars would require little or no modification to deliver nuclear weapons. In addition, India has 150 Mig-21 fighters, 64 MiG-29s, and 36 Mirage 2000s, which could all be upgraded to carry nuclear weapons. Indian attempts to complete the submarine-based third of its nuclear triad have been beset by technical difficulties, and success on this front remains a long way off. India probably keeps its nuclear delivery vehicles separate from its warheads, although further deterioration in its relationship with Pakistan could lead to changes in this policy.
Israeli Nuclear Arsenal Strategic Nuclear Weapons: 100-200 Non-strategic Nuclear Weapons: ? Total Nuclear Weapons: 200+?
Pakistani Nuclear Arsenal Strategic Nuclear Weapons: 24-48 Non-strategic Nuclear Weapons: 0 Total Nuclear Weapons: 24-48 Summary of Pakistan's Possible Nuclear Delivery Systems: Pakistan is believed to have between 24 and 48 nuclear weapons with enough fissile material for 30-52 more. Pakistan's nuclear program was born out of longstanding hostility with neighboring India. Pakistan conducted its first nuclear tests just after the Indian tests in May 1998 and has been playing catch-up to match the Indian arsenal. Little solid information is available regarding the Pakistani arsenal, but it is widely estimated to consist of 24 to 48 nuclear weapons. The nuclear program uses highly-enriched uranium, but Pakistan is developing facilities to produce plutonium. The aircraft Pakistan would likely use to deliver nuclear weapons is the F-16. Pakistan has about 32 U.S. built F-16s, which were delivered in the 1980s to support Pakistan efforts in the Soviet-Afghan war. Some reports claim the F-16 has been equipped to carry nuclear weapons since 1985. In an effort to deter Pakistan from developing nuclear bombs, the United States imposed sanctions in 1990 blocking further delivery of F-16s and other military assistance. President George W. Bush, seeking to gain Pakistan's assistance for the campaign in Afghanistan, waved these sanctions on Sept. 22, 2001, allowing the delivery of 28 new F-16s to Pakistan. These have yet to be delivered. Pakistan's F-16s have a range of over 1,600 kilometers and have probably been outfitted to carry nuclear weapons. According to U.S. intelligence, Pakistan relies heavily on its ballistic nuclear missiles to counter India's conventional advantage. It has depended on North Korean and Chinese assistance to help develop its missiles but aims for more indigenous know-how. The Chinese aid stems from Beijing's interest in using Pakistan as a counter-weight to India . The best estimates indicate that today Pakistan has one type of missile, the Ghauri or Hatf, capable of delivering nuclear weapons. The Ghauri is a Pakistani name for the North Korean No-Dong, which is based on the Scud. The Ghauri is liquid fueled and has a range of 1,500 kilometers. A more advanced version (the Ghauri-2) may have a range exceeding 2,000 kilometers and third Ghauri with even greater range is being developed. Pakistan also has two reverse engineered versions of the Chinese M-9 (DF-15), the Shaheen-1 and Shaheen-2. According to Pakistan, these solid-fueled missiles have ranges of 750 and 2,500 kilometers, respectively. Both Shaheen missiles could have nuclear capacity. Like India, Pakistan is generally believed to keep its nuclear missiles in components. That is, delivery vehicles are likely kept separate from warheads. However, the escalation of conflict along the line of control in Kashmir may have led Pakistan to assemble some of its nuclear weapons.
Russian Nuclear Arsenal Strategic Nuclear Weapons: 5,000 (active) Non-strategic (tactical) Nuclear Weapons: ~3,400 (active) Total Nuclear Weapons: ~8,400 (active) Total Reserve Forces (stockpiled and not mated to delivery vehicles): ~11,000+ (the exact number is unknown, although most of these weapons are non-strategic)
United Kingdom Nuclear Arsenal Strategic Nuclear Weapons: 180 Non-strategic Nuclear Weapons: 5 Total Nuclear Weapons:185
United States Nuclear Arsenal Strategic Nuclear Weapons: 8,855 (7,000 active, 1,855 inactive) Non-strategic (tactical) Nuclear Weapons: 1,600 (800 active, 800 inactive) Total Nuclear Weapons: 10,455
Compiled by Benjamin Friedman
CENTER FOR DEFENSE INFORMATION 1779 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20036-2109 Ph: (202) 332-0600 · Fax: (202) 462-4559 info@cdi.org
|
|||||
| Copyright © 2000 - 2003 [the-south-asian.com]. Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. | |||||
| Home | |||||