Nuclear Weapons: Who Has What at a Glance

[bengalraider]

update on russian nuclear forces

Russian strategic nuclear forces

Current status
In July 2009 the Russian strategic forces included 608 strategic delivery platforms, which can carry up to 2683 nuclear warheads.

The Strategic Rocket Forces have 367 operational missile systems that include missiles that can carry 1248 warheads. These include 59 R-36MUTTH and R-36M2 (SS-18) missiles, 70 UR-100NUTTH (SS-19) missiles, 174 road-mobile Topol (SS-25) systems, 49 silo-based and 15 road-mobile Topol-M (SS-27) systems.

[Strategic Rocket Forces...]
The Russian strategic fleet includes 13 strategic missile submarines, whose missiles can carry 591 nuclear warheads. Bases of the Northern Fleet host six 667BDRM (Delta IV) submarines, which carry 96 R-29RM (SS-N-23) launchers. The only remaining Pacific Fleet base hosts five 667BDR (Delta III) submarines, which carry 69 R-29R (SS-N-18) missiles.
[Strategic fleet...]
The Russian strategic aviation consists of 76 bombers that can carry up to 844 long-range cruise missiles. The bombers are 13 Tu-160 (Blackjack) and 63 Tu-95MS (Bear H). The bombers can carry various modifications of the Kh-55 (AS-15) cruise missile and gravity bombs.
[Strategic aviation...]
As of July 2009, the space-based tier of the early warning system includes five satellites that appear operational -- three on highly elliptical orbits and two on geostationary orbit. The constellation cannot maintain 24-hour coverage of the U.S. territory, but may provide some coverage of SLBM launches from North Atlantic.
[Early warning and defense...]

 

[bengalraider]

details on russian missile forces

Russian strategic nuclear forces

Strategic Rocket Forces
Strategic Rocket Forces is a separate branch of the Russia's Armed Forces, subordinated directly to the General Staff. The Strategic Rocket Forces were demoted to this status from the status of a separate service of the Armed Forces by a presidential decree of 24 March 2001. The current commander of the Strategic Rocket Forces -- Lt.-General Andrei Shvaichenko -- was appointed to this post by a presidential decree of 3 August 2009.

In July 2009, the Strategic Rocket Forces had 367 operational missile systems of four different types. Intercontinental ballistic missiles of these systems could carry 1248 warheads.

Number of systems Total warheads
Missile system Warheads Deployment
R-36MUTTH/R-36M2 (SS-18) 59 10 590 Dombarovsky, Uzhur
UR-100NUTTH (SS-19) 70 6 420 Kozelsk, Tatishchevo
Topol (SS-25) 174 1 174 Teykovo, Yoshkar-Ola,
Nizhniy Tagil, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Barnaul, Vypolzovo
Topol-M mobile (SS-27) 15 1 15 Teykovo
Topol-M silo (SS-27) 49 1 49 Tatishchevo

Total 367 1248



Strategic Rocket Forces units
Strategic Rocket Forces include three missile armies: the 27th Guards Missile Army (headquarters in Vladimir), the 31st Missile Army (Orenburg), the 33rd Guards Missile Army (Omsk). The 53rd Missile Army (Chita) was disbanded in 2002. It appears that the 31st Missile Army (Orenburg) will be liquidated by 2016.

As of July 2009, the missile armies included 11 missile divisions with operational ICBMs.

Number of missiles
Missile division Missile system
27th Guards Missile Army (Vladimir)
Tatishchevo: 60th MD (Tatishchevo-5, Svetlyy) 41 UR-100NUTTH (SS-19)
49 Topol-M silo (SS-27)
Kozelsk: 28th GMD 29 UR-100NUTTH (SS-19)
Vypolzovo: 7th GMD (Ozernyy, Bologoye-4) 18 Topol (SS-25)
Teykovo: 54th GMD (Krasnyye Sosenki) 3 Topol (SS-25)
15 Topol-M mobile (SS-27)
Yoshkar-Ola: 14th MD 27 Topol (SS-25)
31st Missile Army (Rostoshi, Orenburg)
Dombarovsky: 13th MD (Yasnyy) 31 R-36MUTTH/R-36M2 (SS-18)
Nizhniy Tagil: 42nd MD (Verkhnyaya Salda, Nizhniy Tagil-41, Svobodnyy) 27 Topol (SS-25)
33rd Guards Missile Army (Omsk)
Uzhur: 62nd MD (Uzhur-4, Solnechnyy) 28 R-36MUTTH/R-36M2 (SS-18)
Novosibirsk: 39th GMD (Novosibirsk-95, Pashino, Gvardeiskiy) 36 Topol (SS-25)
Irkutsk: 51st GMD (Zelenyy) 27 Topol (SS-25)
Barnaul: 35th MD (Sibirskiy-2) 36 Topol (SS-25)

MD - Missile Division, GMD - Guards Missile Division
Missile systems
R-36MUTTH (also known as RS-20B and SS-18) and R-36M2 (RS-20V, SS-18) missiles were developed by the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau (Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine). R-36MUTTH missiles were deployed in 1979-1983, R-36M2 -- in 1988-1992. The missiles were produced by the Yuzhnyy Machine-Building Plant (Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine). The missiles have two liquid-fuel stages and can carry 10 warheads. The Strategic Rocket Forces plans to keep all R-36M2 missiles in service. With service lives extended to 25-30 years as planned, R-36M2 missiles could remain in operation until about 2016-2020.

UR-100NUTTH (SS-19) missiles were developed by the Machine-Building NPO (Reutov, Moscow oblast) and were deployed in 1979-1984. The missiles were produced by the M. V. Khrunichev Machine Building Plant (Moscow). The missile has two liquid-fuel stages and can carry 6 warheads. A number of missiles have been removed from service, but after a series of test launches service life of the missile was extended to more than 30 years, so some of them could be kept in service.

Road-mobile Topol (SS-25) missile system was developed at the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology. The systems were deployed in 1985-1992. The missile has three solid-propellant stages and carries single warhead. The missiles were produced at the Votkinsk Machine-Building Plant. The currently deployed missiles are close to the end of their service lives and are being withdrawn from service.

Topol-M (SS-27) and RS-24 missile systems have been developed at the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology. Topol-M exists in two versions -- silo-based and road-mobile. Deployment of the silo-based version began in 1997. The road-mobile version has completed flight tests in December 2004. The first mobile missiles began service in December 2006. The missile has three solid-propellant stages and was initially developed as a single-warhead missile. In 2007 Russia began tests of a MIRVed version of the Topol-M mobile missile, which was designated RS-24. It is likely that this missile will be deployed starting in December 2009.

Source: Strategic Rocket Forces - Russian strategic nuclear forces

 

[bengalraider]

Russian Submarine forces

Strategic fleet
Strategic naval forces are an integral part of the Russian Navy, which is a separate service of the Russia's Armed Forces. The current Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Admiral Vladimir Vysotskiy, was appointed to this post on 12 September 2007.

As of July 2009, the Navy included 13 strategic submarines of four different types. The submarines carry 165 sea-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) that can carry 591 nuclear warheads.

Number of submarines Warheads

Strategic submarines Number of SLBMs and their type Total warheads
Project 667BDR (Delta III) 5 [1] 69 R-29R (SS-N-18) 3 207
Project 667BDRM (Delta IV) 6 [2] 96 R-29RM (SS-N-23) 4 384
Project 941 (Typhoon) 1 [3] - -
Project 955 1 [4] 16 R-30 Bulava 6 - Total 13 165 591

[1] One of these submarines appears to be in the process of decommissioning.
[2] Two submarines are undergoing overhaul.
[3] One submarine of the Project 941 type has been refitted to carry a new Bulava missile system.
[4] The first submarine of this class, Yuri Dolgorukiy, has not been equipped with missiles yet.
Submarine bases
The Russian Navy includes four fleets -- the Northern Fleet, the Pacific Fleet, the Baltic Fleet, and the Black Sea Fleet. Strategic submarines are deployed with the Northern Fleet and the Pacific Fleet.

Northern Fleet
Northern Fleet headquarters is located in Severomorsk (Murmansk oblast). The fleet includes one squadron of strategic submarines.

The 12th Squadron, based in Gadzhiyevo (Yagelnaya Bay, Sayda Inlet), includes four active Project 667BDRM (Delta IV) submarines - K-51 Verkhoturie, K-84 Ekaterinburg, K-114 Tula, and K-117 Bryansk. Two Project 667BDRM submarines are currently undergoing overhaul. K-18 Karelia is expected to return to active service in 2009, K-407 Novomoskovsk - in 2011.

Pacific Fleet
Pacific Fleet headquarters is located in Vladivostok. Strategic submarines of the Pacific Fleet are included into the 16th Squadron, based in Rybachiy (Krasheninnikov Bay, Kamchatka Peninsula). The squadron includes five Project 667BDR submarines - K-211 Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, K-223 Podolsk, K-433 Sv. Georgiy Pobedonosets, K-506 Zelenograd, and K-44 Ryazan, which was transferred to Rybachiy from the Northern Fleet. At least one Project 667BDR submarine appears to be in the process of decommissioning.

Strategic submarines
All currently deployed strategic submarines were developed at the Rubin Central Design Bureau of Naval Equipment (St-Petersburg). All currently deployed strategic submarines were built at the Northern Machine-Building Production Association (Severodvinsk, Archangelsk oblast).

Submarines of the Project 667BDR (Delta III) class entered service in 1976-1982. The total of 14 ships of this class were built. These submarines carry the D-16R missile system with 16 R-29R (SS-N-18) missiles. Submarines of this class will be withdrawn from service in the next few years. At the same time, in 2007, one submarine of this class, K-44 Ryazan, returned to service from overhaul.

Submarines of the Project 667BDRM (Delta IV) class entered service in 1985-1991. The total of 7 ships of this class were built, of which one (K-64 Vladimir) has been converted into a special-forces submarine. Submarines of this class carry the D-16RM missile system with 16 R-29RM (SS-N-23) missiles. The current plans call for keeping six 667BDRM submarines in service, so the submarines are undergoing overhaul during which they are equipped with new missiles. Launch tests of the new version of the R-29RM missile, also known as Sineva, were completed in June 2004 and it was accepted for service in July 2007. Four submarines of this class - K-51 Verkhoturie, K-84 Ekaterinburg, K-114 Tula, and K-117 Bryansk - have completed overhaul already.

Project 941 (Typhoon) submarines were deployed in 1981-1989. The total of six submarines of this class were built. Submarines of this class carry the D-19 missile system with 20 R-39 (SS-N-20) missiles. Since the missiles have reached end of their service lives, Project 941 submarines have been withdrawn from service. The only exception is the lead ship of the class, TK-208 Dmitry Donskoy, which has been refitted for tests of a new missile system, R-30 Bulava.

In 1996 Russia began construction of a strategic submarine of a new class, Project 955 (also known as Borey or Yuri Dolgorukiy). It left the dry dock in April 2007 and began sea trials in 2008. Construction of a second submarine of this type, Aleksandr Nevskiy, began in March 2004, and the third, Vladimir Monomakh - in March 2006. The new submarines will carry 16 launchers of a new missile, known as Bulava.

Sea-launched ballistic missiles
All currently deployed sea-launched ballistic missiles were developed at the Machine-Building Design Bureau (Miass, Chelyabinsk oblast). The design bureau is currently named the V. P. Makeyev State Missile Center.

R-29R (SS-N-18) missiles are deployed on Project 667BDR submarines. The system was accepted for service in 1979. The missile has two liquid-fuel stages and carries three warheads. The missiles were produced at the Krasnoyarsk Machine-Building Plant.

R-29RM (SS-N-23) missiles are deployed on Project 667BDRM submarines. The system was accepted for service in 1986. The missile has three liquid-fuel stages (the third stage also works as a bus) and carries four warheads. In 1999 Russia resumed production of these missiles, in a modification known as Sineva, to be deployed on Project 667BDRM submarines during overhaul. The missiles are produced at the Krasnoyarsk Machine-Building Plant.

Russia is currently developing a new sea-launched ballistic missile, known as R-30 Bulava. Development of this missile is done at the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology. Flight tests of the missile began in September 2005. The new missile system is to be deployed on Project 955 submarines, which will carry 16 missiles. For the purposes of START Treaty, Bulava was declared as carrying six warheads.

 

[bengalraider]

Russian strategic aviation

Russian strategic nuclear forces
[Home] [Strategic aviation]
Strategic aviation
Strategic aviation units form the 37th Air Army of the Supreme High Command (Strategic) of the Russian Air Force. The commander of the 37th army -- Lt. General Igor Khvorov -- was appointed by a presidential decree of 15 November 2002.

As of July 2009, the 37th Air Army included 76 strategic bombers that can carry up to 844 long-range cruise missiles.

Number of bombers Total cruise missiles
Bomber Number of cruise missiles and their type
Tu-95MS6 (Bear H6) 32 6 Kh-55 (AS-15A) 192
Tu-95MS16 (Bear H16) 31 16 Kh-55 (AS-15A) 496
Tu-160 (Blackjack) 13 12 Kh-55SM (AS-15B) 156
Total 76 844

Strategic aviation units
The 37th Air Army includes two heavy-bomber divisions of Tu-160 and Tu-95MS aircraft. In addition to these, the army includes four divisions of Tu-22M3 (Backfire C) bombers.

The 22nd Guards Heavy-Bomber Division, based in Engels (Saratov oblast), includes two bomber regiments: the 121st Guards regiment of Tu-160 bombers and the 184th regiment of Tu-95MS bombers. The division currently includes 13 Tu-160 aircraft and 23 Tu-95MS bombers.

In addition to this, the 22nd division may include the 203rd Regiment of Il-78 tankers, which is based in Ryazan. Ryazan is also a place of a training center, which can be used a base for bombers of the division.

The 326th Heavy-Bomber Division is based in Ukrainka (Khabarovsk kray). The division includes the 79th regiment and 182nd Guards regiments of Tu-95MS bombers. The total number of bombers deployed in Ukrainka is 40.

Strategic bombers
The Tu-95MS (Bear H) strategic bomber was developed at the A. N. Tupolev Design Bureau. Serial production of the bomber continued from 1984 to 1991 at the aviation plant in Kuybyshev (currently Aviakor Aviation Plant, Samara). The bomber is equipped with turboprop engines. It can carry six Kh-55 cruise missiles in the bomb bay. The Tu-95MS16 version of the bomber can carry additional ten missiles under wings, but this significantly reduces bomber's range.

The Tu-160 (Blackjack) strategic bomber was developed at the A. N. Tupolev Design Bureau and produced at the aviation plant in Kazan (currently S. P. Gorbunov Kazan Aviation Production Association). The bomber can carry 12 Kh-55 cruise missiles in the bomb bay. During the modernization program that is currently underway Tu-160 bombers will be equipped to carry gravity bombs and non-nuclear cruise missiles.

Cruise missiles
The Kh-55 (AS-15, RKV-500A) long-range air-launched cruise missiles were developed at the Raduga Design Bureau (Dubna, Moscow oblast). Production of the missiles began in 1983 at the Dubna Machine-Building Plant. The Kh-55SM (AS-15B, RKV-500B) version of the missile, which can be deployed on Tu-160 bombers, has extra fuel tanks and extended range. In 1999 Russia tested an improved version of the Kh-55 missiles, which became known as Kh-555. Reportedly, this missile is a non-nuclear version of Kh-55. It will be carried by Tu-160 bombers.

Russia is currently developing a new long-range cruise missile, which would probably replace Kh-55. The conventional version of the new missile is known as Kh-101, the nuclear version is usually referred to as Kh-102.

 

[bengalraider]

Russian ABM system

Russian strategic nuclear forces
[Home] [Early warning]
Early warning
The system that are traditionally considered part of strategic defense -- missile defense, the early-warning system, space surveillance and anti-satellite systems -- are currently included into the 3rd Space and Missile Defense Army, which is part of the Space Forces. The Space Forces are a separate branch of Russia's Armed Forces, subordinated directly to the General Staff.

The army is responsible for "continuous observation of missile launches and space objects and delivering early warning information to the command centers of the Supreme High Command and General Staff, as well as for space surveillance and defense of Moscow from ballistic missiles and their warheads."

The 3rd Army Headquarters is located in Solnechnogorsk (Moscow oblast). Commander of the army is Lt.-General Sergey Kurushkin.

Early-warning system
Early-warning satellites
As of January 2009, the space part of the Russian early-warning system includes five satellites that appear operational -- three on highly-elliptical orbits (HEO) and two on a geostationary orbit (GEO).

Satellites deployed on the highly-elliptical orbit--Cosmos-2422 (HEO, launched on 21 Jul 2006, NORAD catalog number 29260), Cosmos-2430 (HEO, 23 October 2007, 32268), and Cosmos-2446 (HEO, 2 December 2008, 33447) -- are most likely first-generation satellites of the 73D6 type that were built for the US-KS system (also known as Oko). This system was designed to detect launches of ballistic missiles from the U.S. territory and cannot detect missiles launched from sea or other regions. The geostationary Cosmos-2379 (GEO, 24 Aug 2001, 26892) and Cosmos-2440 (GEO, 27 Jun 2008, 33108) are newer satellite of the 71Kh6 type, which have the capability to detect missiles against Earth background. Satellites of this type were developed for the US-KMO system, which was supposed to provide global coverage. This system is not yet fully operational.

The HEO satellites, Cosmos-2422, Cosmos-2430, and Cosmos-2446 are in the position to observe launches from the U.S. territory for about 18 hours a day. Cosmos-2379 had been moved into the point of 12 degrees East on geostationary orbit in September 2007. Cosmos-2440 is deployed over the point of 80 degrees East, as it is normally the case with all new US-KMO satellites. This configuration does not allow the satellites to maintain 24-hour coverage of the U.S. territory, but may provide some coverage of SLBM launches from North Atlantic.

The early-warning satellites transmit information in real time tot he command center at Serpukhov-15 (near Kurilovo, Kaluga oblast). The information is processed there and transmitted to the command center of the 3rd Army in Solnechnogorsk.

Russia is also working on a new early-warning satellite system, but the fist test launch of this program is not expected before 2009.

Radars
The land-based component of the early-warning system includes nine stations (called radio-technical nodes, ORTU). Each of them includes one or several radars, which transmit information to the command center in Solnechnogorsk. Five of the nine stations are located outside of Russia.

Radar station Radars Year built
Olenegorsk (RO-1) Dnestr-M/Dnepr 1976
Daugava 1978
Mishelevka (OS-1) Dnestr (space surveillance) 1968
two Dnestr-M/Dnepr 1972-1976
Daryal-U non-operational
Balkhash, Kazakhstan (OS-2) Dnestr (space surveillance) 1968
two Dnestr-M/Dnepr 1972-1976
Daryal-U non-operational
Sevastopol, Ukraine (RO-4) Dnepr 1979 [1]
Mukachevo, Ukraine (RO-5) Dnepr 1979 [1]
Daryal-UM non-operational
Pechora (RO-30) Daryal 1984
Gabala, Azerbaijan (RO-7) Daryal 1985
Baranovichi, Belarus Volga 2002
Lekhtusi Voronezh-M December 2006
Armavir Voronezh-DM 2009?

[1] Operated by Ukraine. No longer used by Russia
In addition to the dedicated early-warning radars, the Don-2N radar of the Moscow missile defense system is also used for early-warning.

Missile defense
The Moscow missile defense system A-135 is operated by a division of the 3rd Army. The main command center of the system and the battle-management radar are located in Sofrino (Moscow oblast). The command center of the system and its radar are undergoing a software upgrade.

The system includes the Don-2N battle-management phased-array radar, command center, and 68 short-range interceptors of the 53T6 (Gazelle) type. The 32 long-range 51T6 (Gorgon) interceptors have been removed from the system. The short-range interceptors are deployed at five sites -- Lytkarino (16 interceptors), Sofrino (12), Korolev (12) Skhodnya (16), and Vnukovo (12). Long-range missiles used to be deployed with two units with headquarters in Naro-Fominsk-10 and Sergiyev Posad-15. The system was accepted for service in 1995.

Space surveillance
Space surveillance system is operated by a space-surveillance division of the 3rd Army. To monitor objects on low earth orbits and determines parameters of their orbits, the system uses the the early-warning radar network.

The space surveillance network also includes the Krona system at Zelenchukskaya in the North Caucasus, which includes dedicated X-band space surveillance radars. Another system of this type is being deployed near Nakhodka on the Far East.

To monitor objects on high-altitude orbits, the space-surveillance system uses optical observations. The main optical observation station, Okno, is located in Nurek, Tajikistan. Its telescopes allow detection of object at altitudes of up to 40,000 km. The station began operations in 1999. Space-surveillance tasks are also assigned to observatories of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

http://www.fas.org/programs/ssp/nukes/images/chinaproj.jpg

US projections for Chinese ICBM nuclear warheads

 

[qilaotou]

China's strategic forces:
Fix and land mobile ICBM: DF-5, DF-31A and DF-41, 5 brigades, 9 ICBMs each. Nuke delivery capacity 45 to 135.
Land mobile MRBMs: DF-3, DF-31 and DF-21, 7 brigades, 20-24 missiles each. Nuke delivery capacity 160 to 480.
SSBMs: 1x 092G and 2x 094, Nuke delivery capacity 36 to 108.
H-6 bombers: 120, Nuke delivery capacity 120.

Let's skip LACMs and DF-15s, China has a minimum delivery capacity of 300+ nukes (single war head). Based on the no-first-use nuclear doctrine, China would assure a capability of delivering 50-100 nukes in the 2nd strike. Assume that 90% missiles and nukes in China will be neutralized in a preemptive nuke strike. PLA would acquire at least 6x 094 strategic n-subs and 6 brigades with 120x mobile DF-31As in service.

US cares only about US security and always projects the number of China's nukes based on Chinese ICBMs in service.

 

[Vladimir79]

China's strategic forces:

SSBMs: 1x 092G and 2x 094, Nuke delivery capacity 36 to 108.

Lets face it, the Xia class is a total failure. Type 094 has never even tested their missiles. The whole of Chinese SSBM capability is not only suspect, but probably non-existant.

 

[K Factor]

Lets face it, the Xia class is a total failure. Type 094 has never even tested their missiles. The whole of Chinese SSBM capability is not only suspect, but probably non-existant.

Forget about their missiles, their harbor queen SSBNs do not even go out on patrol. What kind of deterrence is that? It will be neutralised sitting in the harbor itself during first strike.

 

[qilaotou]

Lets face it, the Xia class is a total failure. Type 094 has never even tested their missiles. The whole of Chinese SSBM capability is not only suspect, but probably non-existant.

Check with your intelligence sources and no empty craps please.

Forget about their missiles, their harbor queen SSBNs do not even go out on patrol. What kind of deterrence is that? It will be neutralised sitting in the harbor itself during first strike.

Strike by what? Indians don't even have a single moving harbor queen!

 

[StealthSniper]

Something that might be useful:

 

[proud_hindustani]

Is it true that India has enough plutonium to produce nearly or more than 1000 nuclear warheads??

 

[LETHALFORCE]

US and Russian nuclear arsenals

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8610205.stm

 

[LETHALFORCE]

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/US_reveals_nuclear_arsenal_5113_warheads_999.html

US reveals nuclear arsenal: 5,113 warheads

The United States revealed for the first time Monday that it has a total of 5,113 nuclear warheads, an unprecedented move meant to bolster arms control efforts.

"It is in our national security interest to be as transparent as we can be about the nuclear program of the United States," Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said as the Pentagon unveiled figures long shrouded in secrecy.

"We think that builds confidence, brings more people to an understanding of what President (Barack) Obama and this administration are trying to do," she said at a conference in New York on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The symbolic step was timed to add momentum to the non-proliferation conference and comes after the United States and Russia agreed to new reductions in nuclear weapons.

Independent experts had already estimated the size of the US stockpile over the years, and arms control advocates had said keeping the numbers secret no longer made sense with the Cold War long over.

Clinton said there had been "numerous debates" inside the administration over whether to reveal the figures.

"As of September 30, 2009, the US stockpile of nuclear weapons consisted of 5,113 warheads," the Pentagon said in a statement.

The number included active warheads ready for deployment at short notice, as well as "inactive" warheads maintained at a depot in a "non-operational status," it said.

The figure represented an 84-percent reduction from the arsenal at its peak of 31,255 in 1967 during the Cold War, and a 75-percent reduction from late 1989 when the Berlin Wall fell.

The US government last disclosed details of the stockpile in 1993, releasing figures current up to only 1961.

Clinton said releasing the figures was not "in any way in opposition to our nuclear security" and that experts had already estimated the US stockpile.

A US defense official said the administration hoped more transparency from Washington would set a standard that would encourage countries to be more open.

"We hope that others will follow," the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told reporters.

"In particular we'd like to see more transparency from China. We have really quite little visibility into their programs and plans," the official said.

The numbers did not include warheads that are scheduled to be dismantled.

From 1994 to 2009, the United States dismantled 8,748 warheads but "several thousand additional nuclear weapons are currently retired and waiting dismantlement," the Pentagon said.

The US government planned to finish dismantling the weapons "in the early part of the next decade," said an official with the Energy Department.

The figures from the Pentagon appeared to confirm previous estimates from outside arms control experts, who had said the United States had about 9,000 nuclear weapons with 5,000 ready to be deployed.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

Missles in Asia (not updated)

 

[LETHALFORCE]

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Britain_reveals_nuclear_warhead_levels_999.html

Britain reveals nuclear warhead levels

Britain's
new government revealed Wednesday the planned size of its nuclear weapons stockpile, saying it will not exceed 225 warheads -- a move cautiously welcomed by anti-nuclear campaigners.

In an announcement coinciding with the end of a United Nations nuclear non-proliferation treaty conference in New York, Britain said it will retain up to 160 operationally available warheads.

"We believe that the time is now right to be more open about the weapons we hold," Foreign Secretary William Hague told parliament.

"We judge that this will assist in building a climate of trust between nuclear and non-nuclear weapons states and contribute therefore to future efforts to reduce the number of nuclear weapons worldwide."

The statement makes public for the first time the maximum number of warheads Britain will stockpile.

Hague said the move reflected the new coalition government's commitment to play a full part in the UN conference, which is due to close on Friday.

He said the announcement posed no threat to British security, with the United States and France having made similar announcements -- Paris said in 2008 that its arsenal will include fewer than 300 nuclear warheads, while the US announced earlier this month that it has 5,113 warheads, said the FCO.

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) cautiously welcomed the announcement.

"Publishing this number is a welcome step that can help build trust between states and open the way for disarmament," said CND chief Kate Hudson. "But Britain's commitment under the NPT is not to be transparent, but to disarm.

The number "gives a baseline against which further disarmament can be measured, but it is the reduction and then elimination of the UK and other countries' nuclear weapons that will deliver real security," she added.

Britain's nuclear deterrent is one of the points where Britain's governing coalition parties, the Conservatives and the smaller Liberal Democrats, differ drastically.

The Conservatives believe the Trident missile programme must be renewed, while the Lib Dems think it is outdated and too costly.

The British minister said the government would re-examine the circumstances under which Britain might consider using its nuclear weapons.

"The purpose of our nuclear weapons is to deter attack and the United Kingdom has long been clear that we would only consider using them in extreme circumstances of self-defence, including the defence of our NATO allies.

"This country has been deliberately ambiguous over the precise circumstances of use, although we have offered some assurances to non-nuclear weapons states," he said.

"However we have decided that the time is right to look again at our policy, as the US has done in their recent nuclear posture review, to ensure that it is fully appropriate for the political and security context in 2010 and beyond."

CND chief Hudson said: "The figures reveal that Britain has almost half as many warheads again as the previously published number of 'operationally available' -- higher than many had estimated.

"This very large number of 'spares' kept by Britain is similar to the supposed size of the entire nuclear arsenals of India or Pakistan," she added.