List of states with nuclear weapons

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Nuclear weapons

Background

 History
 Warfare
 Workers
 Arms race
 Design
 Testing
 Ethics
 Effects
 Delivery
 Espionage
 Proliferation
 Arsenals
 Terrorism
 Opposition

Nuclear-armed states
NPT recognized
United States
Russia
United Kingdom
France
China
Others
 India
Israel (undeclared)
Pakistan
North Korea

 v
 t
 e

Map of nuclear-armed states of the world.

NPT-designated nuclear weapon states (China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States)
Other states with nuclear weapons (India, North Korea, Pakistan)
Other states presumed to have nuclear weapons (Israel)
NATO nuclear weapons sharing states (Belgium, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Turkey)
States formerly possessing nuclear weapons (Belarus, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Ukraine)

There are eight sovereign states that have successfully detonated nuclear weapons.[1] Five are
considered to be "nuclear-weapon states" (NWS) under the terms of the Treaty on the Non-
Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). In order of acquisition of nuclear weapons these are:
the United States, Russia (successor state to the Soviet Union), the United Kingdom, France, and
China.

Since the NPT entered into force in 1970, three states that were not parties to the Treaty have
conducted nuclear tests, namely India, Pakistan, and North Korea. North Korea had been a party
to the NPT but withdrew in 2003. Israel is also widely presumed to have nuclear weapons,
though it maintains a policy of deliberate ambiguity regarding this, and is not known definitively
to have conducted a nuclear test.[2] According to the Stockholm International Peace Research
Institute's SIPRI Yearbook of 2014, Israel is estimated to have approximately 80 nuclear
warheads.[3] Furthermore, according to Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Nuclear Notebook 2014,
the total number of nuclear weapons worldwide is estimated at 10,144.[4]
South Africa has the unique status of a nation that developed nuclear weapons but then
disassembled its arsenal before joining the NPT. This means that there are three European
countries, one country in North America, zero in South America, four Asian countries, zero
Oceanian countries and zero African countries that are known to have nuclear weapons.[5]
Nations that are known or thought to have nuclear weapons are sometimes referred to informally
as the nuclear club.

Contents
 1 Statistics and force configuration
 2 Five nuclear-weapon states under the NPT
o 2.1 United States
o 2.2 Russian Federation (formerly Soviet Union)
o 2.3 United Kingdom
o 2.4 France
o 2.5 China
 3 Other states declaring possession of nuclear weapons
o 3.1 India
o 3.2 Pakistan
o 3.3 North Korea
 4 Other states believed to possess nuclear weapons
o 4.1 Israel
 5 Nuclear weapons sharing
 6 States formerly possessing nuclear weapons
o 6.1 South Africa
o 6.2 Former Soviet countries
 7 See also
 8 Notes
 9 References
 10 Bibliography
 11 External links

Statistics and force configuration

Weapons of mass destruction

By type
 Biological
 Chemical
 Nuclear
 Radiological

By country
 Albania
 Algeria
 Argentina
 Australia
 Brazil
 Bulgaria
 Canada
 China
 Egypt
 France
 Germany
 India
 Iran
 Iraq
 Israel
 Japan
 Libya
 Mexico
 Myanmar
 Netherlands
 North Korea
 Pakistan
 Philippines
 Poland
 Romania
 Russia
 Saudi Arabia
 South Africa
 South Korea
 Spain
 Sweden
 Switzerland
 Syria
 Taiwan
 Ukraine
 United Kingdom
 United States

Proliferation
  Chemical
 Nuclear
 Missiles

Treaties
 List of treaties

 Book
 Category

 v
 t
 e

The following is a list of states that have admitted the possession of nuclear weapons, the
approximate number of warheads under their control, and the year they tested their first weapon
and their force configuration. This list is informally known in global politics as the "Nuclear
Club."[6] With the exception of Russia and the United States (which have subjected their nuclear
forces to independent verification under various treaties) these figures are estimates, in some
cases quite unreliable estimates. In particular, under the Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty
thousands of Russian and U.S. nuclear warheads are inactive in stockpiles awaiting processing.
The fissile material contained in the warheads can then be recycled for use in nuclear reactors.

From a high of 68,000 active weapons in 1985, as of 2015 there are some 4,000 active nuclear
warheads and 10,300 total nuclear warheads in the world.[1] Many of the decommissioned
weapons were simply stored or partially dismantled, not destroyed.[7]

It is also noteworthy that since the dawn of the Atomic Age the delivery methods of most states
with nuclear weapons has evolved with some achieving a nuclear triad while others have
consolidated away from land and air deterrents to submarine based forces.

Warheads CTBT
Country Date of first test Delivery methods
(Active/Total)[nb 1] status
The five nuclear-weapon states under the NPT
United
1,750 / 6,970[1] 16 July 1945 ("Trinity") Signatory[8] Nuclear triad[9]
States
29 August 1949 ("RDS-
Russia 1,790 / 7,300[1] Ratifier[8] Nuclear triad[10]
1")
United 3 October 1952
150 / 215[1] Ratifier[8] Sea-based[11][nb 2]
Kingdom ("Hurricane")
 13 February 1960 Sea and air-
France 290 / 300[1] Ratifier[8]
("Gerboise Bleue") based[12][nb 3]
Suspected nuclear
China n.a. / 260[1] 16 October 1964 ("596") Signatory[8]
triad.[13][14]
Non-NPT nuclear powers
18 May 1974 ("Smiling Non- Developing nuclear
India n.a. / 110–120[1]
Buddha") signatory[8] triad.[15][16][17]
28 May 1998 ("Chagai- Non- Land and air-
Pakistan n.a. / 120–130[1]
I") signatory[8] based.[18][19]
North Non- Suspected land-
n.a. / <10[1] 9 October 2006[20]
Korea signatory[8] based.[21]
Undeclared nuclear powers
1960–1979[24] incl.
n.a. / est. 60– Suspected nuclear
Israel suspected Vela Signatory[8]
400[1][22][23] [25] triad.[26][27]
Incident

Five nuclear-weapon states under the NPT

See also: History of nuclear weapons

An early stage in the "Trinity" fireball, the first nuclear explosion, 1945

U.S. and USSR/Russian nuclear weapons stockpiles, 1945–2006

A Trident missile launched from a Royal Navy Vanguard class ballistic missile submarine

French nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (right) and the American nuclear-
powered carrier USS Enterprise (left), each of which carries nuclear-capable warplanes

These five states are also the UN Security Council's permanent members with veto power.

United States

Main articles: Nuclear weapons and the United States and United States and weapons of mass
destruction

The United States developed the first atomic weapons, during World War II in cooperation with
the United Kingdom and Canada as part of the Manhattan Project, out of the fear that Nazi
Germany would develop them first. It tested the first nuclear weapon July 16th, 1945 ("Trinity")
at 5:30 am, and remains the only country to have used nuclear weapons against an enemy state in
warfare, devastating the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It was the first nation to
develop the hydrogen bomb, testing an experimental prototype in 1952 ("Ivy Mike") and a
deployable weapon in 1954 ("Castle Bravo"). Throughout the Cold War it continued to
modernize and enlarge its nuclear arsenal, but from 1992 on has been involved primarily in a
program of Stockpile stewardship.[28][29][30] The U.S. nuclear arsenal contained 31,175 warheads
at its Cold War height (in 1966).[31] During the Cold War the United States built approximately
70,000 nuclear warheads, more than all other nuclear-weapon states combined.[32][33]

Russian Federation (formerly Soviet Union)

Main articles: Russia and weapons of mass destruction and Strategic Missile Troops

The Soviet Union tested its first nuclear weapon ("RDS-1") in 1949, in a crash project developed
partially with espionage obtained during and after World War II (see: Soviet atomic bomb
project). The Soviet Union was the second nation to have developed and tested a nuclear
weapon. The direct motivation for Soviet weapons development was to achieve a balance of
power during the Cold War. It tested its first megaton-range hydrogen bomb ("RDS-37") in
1955. The Soviet Union also tested the most powerful explosive ever detonated by humans,
("Tsar Bomba"), with a theoretical yield of 100 megatons, intentionally reduced to 50 when
detonated. After its dissolution in 1991, the Soviet weapons entered officially into the possession
of the Russian Federation.[34] The Soviet nuclear arsenal contained some 45,000 warheads at its
peak (in 1986); the Soviet Union built about 55,000 nuclear warheads since 1949.[33]

United Kingdom

Main articles: Nuclear weapons and the United Kingdom and United Kingdom and weapons of
mass destruction

The United Kingdom tested its first nuclear weapon ("Hurricane") in 1952. The UK had provided
considerable impetus and initial research for the early conception of the atomic bomb, aided by
the presence of refugee scientists working in British laboratories who had fled the continent. It
collaborated closely with the United States and Canada during the Manhattan Project, but had to
develop its own method for manufacturing and detonating a bomb as U.S. secrecy grew after
1945. The United Kingdom was the third country in the world, after the United States and Soviet
Union, to develop and test a nuclear weapon. Its programme was motivated to have an
independent deterrent against the Soviet Union, while also maintaining its status as a great
power. It tested its first hydrogen bomb in 1957 (Operation Grapple), making it the third country
to do so after the United States and Soviet Union.[35][36] The UK maintained a fleet of V bomber
strategic bombers and ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) equipped with nuclear weapons
during the Cold War. It currently maintains a fleet of four 'Vanguard' class ballistic missile
submarines equipped with Trident II missiles. The British government announced a replacement
to the current system to take place between 2007-2024.

France

Main articles: France and weapons of mass destruction and Force de dissuasion

France tested its first nuclear weapon in 1960 ("Gerboise Bleue"), based mostly on its own
research. It was motivated by the Suez Crisis diplomatic tension vis-à-vis both the Soviet Union
and the Free World allies United States and United Kingdom. It was also relevant to retain great
power status, alongside the United Kingdom, during the post-colonial Cold War (see: Force de
frappe). France tested its first hydrogen bomb in 1968 ("Opération Canopus"). After the Cold
War, France has disarmed 175 warheads with the reduction and modernization of its arsenal that
has now evolved to a dual system based on submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) and
medium-range air-to-surface missiles (Rafale fighter-bombers). However new nuclear weapons
are in development[citation needed] and reformed nuclear squadrons were trained during Enduring
Freedom operations in Afghanistan.[citation needed] France signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation
Treaty in 1992.[37] In January 2006, President Jacques Chirac stated a terrorist act or the use of
weapons of mass destruction against France would result in a nuclear counterattack.[38] In
February 2015, President Francois Hollande stressed the need for a nuclear deterrent in "a
dangerous world". He also detailed the French deterrent as "less than 300" nuclear warheads,
three sets of 16 submarine-launched ballistic missiles and 54 medium-range air-to-surface
missiles" and urged other states to show similar transparency.[39]

China

Main articles: China and weapons of mass destruction and People's Liberation Army Rocket
Force

China tested its first nuclear weapon device ("596") in 1964 at the Lop Nur test site. The weapon
was developed as a deterrent against both the United States and the Soviet Union. Two years
later, China had a fission bomb capable of being put onto a nuclear missile. It tested its first
hydrogen bomb ("Test No. 6") in 1967, a mere 32 months after testing its first nuclear weapon
(the shortest fission-to-fusion development known in history).[40] The country is currently
thought to have had a stockpile of around 240 warheads, though because of the limited
information available, estimates range from 100 to 400.[41][42][43] China is the only NPT nuclear-
weapon state to give an unqualified negative security assurance due to its "no first use"
policy.[44][45] China signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1992.[37] On February 25,
2015 U.S. Vice Admiral Joseph Mulloy stated to the House Armed Services Committee's
seapower subcommittee that the U.S. does not believe the PLAN currently deploys SLBMs on
their submarine fleet.[46]

Other states declaring possession of nuclear weapons

Large stockpile with global range (dark blue), smaller stockpile with global range (medium
blue), small stockpile with regional range (pale blue)

India

Main article: India and weapons of mass destruction

India is not a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. India tested what it called a
"peaceful nuclear explosive" in 1974 (which became known as "Smiling Buddha"). The test was
the first test developed after the creation of the NPT, and created new questions about how
civilian nuclear technology could be diverted secretly to weapons purposes (dual-use
technology). India's secret development caused great concern and anger particularly from
nations, such as Canada, that had supplied its nuclear reactors for peaceful and power generating
needs.

Indian officials rejected the NPT in the 1960s on the grounds that it created a world of nuclear
"haves" and "have-nots", arguing that it unnecessarily restricted "peaceful activity" (including
"peaceful nuclear explosives"), and that India would not accede to international control of their
nuclear facilities unless all other countries engaged in unilateral disarmament of their own
nuclear weapons. The Indian position has also asserted that the NPT is in many ways a neo-
colonial regime designed to deny security to post-colonial powers.[47] Even after its 1974 test,
India maintained that its nuclear capability was primarily "peaceful", but between 1988 and 1990
it apparently weaponized two dozen nuclear weapons for delivery by air.[48] In 1998 India tested
weaponized nuclear warheads ("Operation Shakti"), including a thermonuclear device.[49]

In July 2005, U.S. President George W. Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
announced plans to conclude an Indo-US civilian nuclear agreement.[50] This came to fruition
through a series of steps that included India’s announced plan to separate its civil and military
nuclear programs in March 2006,[51] the passage of the India–United States Civil Nuclear
Agreement by the U.S. Congress in December 2006, the conclusion of a U.S.–India nuclear
cooperation agreement in July 2007,[52] approval by the IAEA of an India-specific safeguards
agreement,[53] agreement by the Nuclear Suppliers Group to a waiver of export restrictions for
India,[54] approval by the U.S. Congress[55] and culminating in the signature of U.S.–India
agreement for civil nuclear cooperation[56] in October 2008. The U.S. State Department said it
made it "very clear that we will not recognize India as a nuclear-weapon state".[57] The United
States is bound by the Hyde Act with India and may cease all cooperation with India if India
detonates a nuclear explosive device. The US had further said it is not its intention to assist India
in the design, construction or operation of sensitive nuclear technologies through the transfer of
dual-use items.[58] In establishing an exemption for India, the Nuclear Suppliers Group reserved
the right to consult on any future issues which might trouble it.[59] As of early 2013, India was
estimated to have had a stockpile of around 90–110 warheads.[1] But presently, complete
information about India's current nuclear deployment and future expansions are highly classified.

Pakistan

Main article: Pakistan and weapons of mass destruction

Pakistan also is not a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Pakistan covertly developed
nuclear weapons over decades, beginning in the late 1970s. Pakistan first delved into nuclear
power after the establishment of its first nuclear power plant near Karachi with equipment and
materials supplied mainly by western nations in the early 1970s. Pakistani President Zulfiqar Ali
Bhutto promised in 1971 that if India could build nuclear weapons then Pakistan would too,
according to him: "We will develop Nuclear stockpiles, even if we have to eat grass."

It is believed that Pakistan has possessed nuclear weapons since the mid-1980s.[60] The United
States continued to certify that Pakistan did not possess such weapons until 1990, when sanctions
were imposed under the Pressler Amendment, requiring a cutoff of U.S. economic and military
assistance to Pakistan.[61] In 1998, Pakistan conducted its first six nuclear tests at the Ras Koh
Hills in response to the five tests conducted by India a few weeks before.

In 2004, the Pakistani metallurgist A.Q. Khan, a key figure in Pakistan's nuclear weapons
program, confessed to heading an international black market ring involved in selling nuclear
weapons technology. In particular, Khan had been selling gas centrifuge technology to North
Korea, Iran, and Libya. Khan denied complicity by the Pakistani government or Army, but this
has been called into question by journalists and IAEA officials, and was later contradicted by
statements from Khan himself.[62]

As of early 2013, Pakistan was estimated to have had a stockpile of around 100–120 warheads,[1]
and in November 2014 it was projected that by 2020 Pakistan would have enough fissile material
for 200 warheads.[63]

North Korea

Main article: North Korea and weapons of mass destruction

North Korea was a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, but announced a withdrawal
on January 10, 2003, after the United States accused it of having a secret uranium enrichment
program and cut off energy assistance under the 1994 Agreed Framework. In February 2005,
North Korea claimed to possess functional nuclear weapons, though their lack of a test at the
time led many experts to doubt the claim. However, in October 2006, North Korea stated that
due to growing intimidation by the USA, it would conduct a nuclear test to confirm its nuclear
status. North Korea reported a successful nuclear test on October 9, 2006 (see 2006 North
Korean nuclear test). Most U.S. intelligence officials believe that North Korea did, in fact, test a
nuclear device due to radioactive isotopes detected by U.S. aircraft; however, most agree that the
test was probably only partially successful.[64] The yield may have been less than a kiloton,
which is much smaller than the first successful tests of other powers; boosted fission weapons
may have an unboosted yield in this range, which is sufficient to start deuterium-tritium fusion in
the boost gas at the center; the fast neutrons from fusion then ensure a full fission yield. North
Korea conducted a second, higher yield test on 25 May 2009 (see 2009 North Korean nuclear
test) and a third test with still higher yield on 12 February 2013 (see 2013 North Korean nuclear
test). North Korea claimed to have conducted its first H-bomb test on 5 January 2016, though
measurements of seismic disturbances indicate that the detonation was not consistent with a
hydrogen bomb.[65]

Other states believed to possess nuclear weapons

Israel

Main articles: Nuclear weapons and Israel and Israel and weapons of mass destruction

Israel is widely believed to have been the sixth country in the world to develop nuclear weapons,
with "rudimentary, but deliverable," nuclear weapons available as early as 1967.[66] Israel is not a
party to the NPT. Israel engages in strategic ambiguity, saying it would not be the first country to
"introduce" nuclear weapons into the region, but refusing to otherwise confirm or deny a nuclear
weapons program or arsenal. This policy of "nuclear opacity" has been interpreted as an attempt
to get the benefits of deterrence with a minimum political cost.[66][67] In 1968, the Israeli
Ambassador to the United States, Yitzhak Rabin, affirmed to the United States State Department
that Israel would "not be the first to introduce nuclear weapons into the Middle East." Upon
further questioning about what "introduce" meant in this context, however, he said that "he
would not consider a weapon that had not been tested a weapon," and affirmed that he did not
believe that "an unadvertised, untested nuclear device" was really "a nuclear weapon." He also
agreed, however, that an "advertised but untested" device would be considered "introduction."
This has been interpreted to mean that official Israeli policy was that the country could possess a
nuclear weapon without technically "introducing" it, so long as it did not test it, and as long as it
was "unadvertised".[68][69]

In 1986, a former Dimona technician, Mordechai Vanunu, disclosed extensive information about
the nuclear program to the British press, including photographs of the secret areas of the nuclear
site, some of which depicted nuclear weapons cores and designs. Vanunu gave detailed
descriptions of lithium-6 separation required for the production of tritium, an essential ingredient
of fusion-boosted fission bombs, as well as information about the rate of plutonium production.
Vanunu's evidence was vetted by experienced technical experts before publication, and is
considered to be among the strongest evidence for the advanced state of the Israeli nuclear
weapons program.[67][70] Theodore Taylor, a former U.S. nuclear device design expert and
physicist leading the field[71] especially in small and efficient nuclear weapons, reviewed the
1986 Vanunu leaks and photographs in detail. Taylor concluded that Israel's thermonuclear
weapon designs appeared to be "less complex than those of other nations," and at the time of the
1986 leaks "not capable of producing yields in the megaton or higher range." Nevertheless, "they
may produce at least several times the yield of fission weapons with the same quantity of
plutonium or highly enriched uranium." In other words, Israel could "boost" the yield of its
nuclear fission weapons. According to Taylor, the uncertainties involved in the process of
boosting required more than theoretical analysis for full confidence in the weapons' performance.
Taylor therefore concluded that Israel had "unequivocally" tested a miniaturized nuclear device.
The Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) concluded after reviewing the evidence given by
Vanunu that as of 1987, "the Israelis are roughly where the U.S. was in the fission weapon field
in about 1955 to 1960." and would require supercomputers or parallel computing clusters to
refine their hydrogen bomb designs for improved yields without testing, though noting in 1987
they were already then developing the computer code base required.[72] Israel was first permitted
to import US built supercomputers beginning in November 1995.[72]

In a paper by the USAF Counterproliferation Center researcher Lieutenant Colonel Warner D.

Farr wrote that much lateral proliferation happened between pre-nuclear France and Israel stating
"the French nuclear test in 1960 made two nuclear powers not one—such was the depth of
collaboration" and "the Israelis had unrestricted access to French nuclear test explosion data."
minimizing the need for early Israeli testing.[73] West Germany army magazine, Wehrtechnik
("military technology"), claimed that western intelligence documented that Israel had conducted
an underground test in the Negev in 1963.[74] There is also speculation that Israel may have
tested a nuclear weapon along with South Africa in 1979, but this has not been confirmed, and
interpretation of the Vela Incident is controversial. The stated purpose of the Negev Nuclear
Research Center near Dimona is to advance basic nuclear science and applied research on
nuclear energy.[75]

According to the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Federation of American Scientists,
Israel likely possesses around 75–200 nuclear weapons.[22][76] The Stockholm International Peace
Research Institute estimates that Israel has approximately 80 intact nuclear weapons, of which 50
are for delivery by Jericho II medium-range ballistic missiles and 30 are gravity bombs for
delivery by aircraft. SIPRI also reports that there was renewed speculation in 2012 that Israel
may also have developed nuclear-capable submarine-launched cruise missiles.[77]

Nuclear weapons sharing

U.S. nuclear weapons in host countries[78]
Country Air base Custodian Warheads
Belgium Kleine Brogel 52d Fighter Wing 10~20
Germany Büchel 52d Fighter Wing 20
Ghedi Torre 52d Fighter Wing 10~20
Italy
Aviano 31st Fighter Wing 50
Netherlands Volkel 52d Fighter Wing 10~20
Turkey Incirlik 39th Air Base Wing 60~70
Total 150~200

 Belgium, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Turkey

See also: Germany and weapons of mass destruction and Netherlands and weapons of mass
destruction

Under NATO nuclear weapons sharing, the United States has provided nuclear weapons for
Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Turkey to deploy and store.[79] This involves
pilots and other staff of the "non-nuclear" NATO states practicing, handling, and delivering the
U.S. nuclear bombs, and adapting non-U.S. warplanes to deliver U.S. nuclear bombs. However,
since all U.S. nuclear weapons are protected with Permissive Action Links, the host states cannot
arm the bombs without authorization codes from the U.S. Department of Defense.[80] Former
Italian President Francesco Cossiga acknowledged the presence of U.S. nuclear weapons in
Italy.[81] U.S. nuclear weapons were also deployed in Canada until 1984, and in Greece until
2001 for nuclear sharing purposes.[82]

Members of the Non-Aligned Movement have called on all countries to "refrain from nuclear
sharing for military purposes under any kind of security arrangements."[83] The Institute of
Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) has criticized the arrangement for allegedly violating Articles
I and II of the NPT, arguing that "these Articles do not permit the NWS to delegate the control of
their nuclear weapons directly or indirectly to others."[84] NATO has argued that the weapons'
sharing is compliant with the NPT because "the U.S. nuclear weapons based in Europe are in the
sole possession and under constant and complete custody and control of the United States."[85]
States formerly possessing nuclear weapons
Nuclear weapons have been present in many nations, often as staging grounds under control of
other powers. However, in only one instance has a nation given up nuclear weapons after being
in control of them; in most cases this has been because of special political circumstances. The
fall of the Soviet Union left several former Soviet republics in physical possession of nuclear
weapons, though not operational control which was dependent on Russian-controlled electronic
Permissive Action Links and the Russian command and control system.[86][87]

Alleged Spare bomb casings from South Africa's nuclear weapon programme. Their purpose is
disputed.[88]

South Africa

Main article: South Africa and weapons of mass destruction

South Africa produced six nuclear weapons in the 1980s, but disassembled them in the early
1990s. In 1979, there was a putative detection of a covert nuclear test in the Indian Ocean, called
the Vela incident. It has long been speculated that it was possibly a test by Israel, in collaboration
with and support of South Africa, though this has never been confirmed. South Africa could not
have constructed such a nuclear bomb until November 1979, two months after the "double flash"
incident. South Africa signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1991.[89] [90]

Former Soviet countries

See also: Nuclear weapons and Ukraine

 Belarus had 81 single warhead missiles stationed on its territory after the Soviet Union
collapsed in 1991. They were all transferred to Russia by 1996. In May 1992, Belarus
acceded to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.[91]
 Kazakhstan inherited 1,400 nuclear weapons from the Soviet Union, and transferred
them all to Russia by 1995. Kazakhstan has since acceded to the Nuclear Non-
Proliferation Treaty.[92]
 Ukraine has acceded to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Ukraine inherited about
5,000 nuclear weapons when it became independent from the Soviet Union in 1991,
making its nuclear arsenal the third-largest in the world.[93] By 1996, Ukraine had agreed
to dispose of all nuclear weapons within its territory, with the condition that its borders
 were respected, as part of the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances. The
warheads were disassembled in Russia.[94] Despite Russia's subsequent and
internationally disputed annexation of Crimea in 2014, Ukraine reaffirmed its 1994
decision to accede to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as a non-nuclear-weapon
state.[95]

See also
 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty
 Doomsday Clock
 Historical nuclear weapons stockpiles and nuclear tests by country
 Nuclear disarmament
 Nuclear proliferation
 Nuclear war
 Nuclear terrorism
 Nuclear-weapon-free zone
 Nuclear power
 No first use

Notes
1. All numbers are estimates from the Federation of American Scientists. The latest update
was in September 2015. If differences between active and total stockpile are known, they
are given as two figures separated by a forward slash. If specifics are not available (n.a.),
only one figure is given. Stockpile number may not contain all intact warheads if a
substantial amount of warheads are scheduled for but have not yet gone through
dismantlement; not all "active" warheads are deployed at any given time. When a range
of weapons is given (e.g., 0–10), it generally indicates that the estimate is being made on
the amount of fissile material that has likely been produced, and the amount of fissile
material needed per warhead depends on estimates of a country's proficiency at nuclear
weapon design.
2. From the 1960s until the 1990s, the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force maintained the
independent capability to deliver nuclear weapons via its V bomber fleet.
3. France formerly possessed a nuclear triad until 1996 and the retirement of its land-based
arsenal.

References
1. "Federation of American Scientists: Status of World Nuclear Forces". Fas.org. 2014.
Retrieved 2014-05-26.
2. Harding, Luke (2006-12-12). "Calls for Olmert to resign after nuclear gaffe Israel and
the Middle East | Guardian Unlimited". London: Guardian. Retrieved 2009-05-15.
3. Nuclear Forces, sipri.org
4. Nuclear Notebook, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, thebulletin.org, 2014
5. Arms Control and Global Security, Paul R. Viotti - 2010, p 312
6. "Nuclear club," Oxford English Dictionary: "nuclear club n. the nations that possess
nuclear weapons." The term's first cited usage is from 1957.
7. Webster, Paul (July/August 2003). "[1]," The Guardian.
8. "Status of Signature and Ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty". Retrieved
13 January 2012.
9. IISS 2012, pp. 54–55
10. IISS 2012, p. 192
11. IISS 2012, p. 169
12. IISS 2012, p. 111
13. The Long Shadow: Nuclear Weapons and Security in 21st Century Asia by Muthiah
Alagappa (NUS Press, 2009), page 169: "China has developed strategic nuclear forces
made up of land-based missiles, submarine-launched missiles, and bombers. Within this
triad, China has also developed weapons of different ranges, capabilities, and
survivability."
14. IISS 2012, pp. 223-224
15. IISS 2012, p. 243
16. Peri, Dinakar (12 June 2014). "India’s Nuclear Triad Finally Coming of Age". The
Diplomat. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
17. "Nuclear triad weapons ready for deployment: DRDO".
18. IISS 2012, p. 272
19. Pakistan's Nuclear Weapons, By Bhumitra Chakma, (Routledge 2012), page 61:
"Pakistan possesses two types of nuclear delivery vehicles: aircraft and missiles. Initially
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Bibliography
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Military Balance 2012. London: Routledge. ISBN 1857436423.
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retrieved July 2, 2006.

External links
  Archive of Nuclear Data - List of warheads by country
 Globalsecurity.org – World Special Weapons Guide
 The Nuclear Weapon Archive
 Nuclear Notebook from Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
 U.S. Nuclear Weapons in Europe: A review of post-Cold War policy, force levels, and
war planning NRDC, February 2005
 Online NewsHour with Jim Lehrer:Tracking Nuclear Proliferation
 Stockholm International Peace Research Institute's data on world nuclear forces
 Nuclear Proliferation International History Project For more on the history of nuclear
proliferation see the Woodrow Wilson Center's Nuclear Proliferation International
History Project website.
 Proliferation Watch: US Intelligence Assessments of Potential Nuclear Powers, 1977–
2001

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