Nuclear force

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With nuclear force is generally meant the military power of a nation that, in combination with the classic armed forces on land, sea and air, represents a nuclear power that enables the use of nuclear weapons or maintains a corresponding potential as a deterrent against possible enemies.

Infrastructure

To this end, the nuclear powers always keep operational military facilities in operation that are subject to a higher level of security. At the same time, nuclear forces have shorter command structures in order to be able to bring about their operational readiness through a commander in chief in the shortest possible time.

In order to maintain a nuclear armed force, the nuclear powers must factor in high operating costs in addition to specialist personnel, put the relevant facilities under special protection and also permanently maintain them.

Modern nuclear armed forces distribute their nuclear weapons arsenal over several delivery systems and mobile units. Their deterrent potential is also based on the fact that not all of their own carrier systems can be destroyed and that a nuclear counter-attack is possible, the so-called second strike capacity .

In addition to land-based ICBMs , modern delivery systems can also be nuclear submarines , bomber planes and warplanes that have appropriate nuclear weapons.

Nuclear forces with data on the nuclear armament potential of a nation and their possible uses through various delivery systems are listed here.

Nuclear powers

All states that have nuclear weapons are named as nuclear powers in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The data refer to the first ignition. The number under "Warheads" is the total number of all warheads, the number in brackets after that is the number of those that are ready for use.

country Atomic bomb Hydrogen bomb Warheads
United StatesUnited States United States July 16, 1945 November 1, 1952 9,400 (2,700)
Soviet UnionSoviet Union Soviet Union / RussiaRussiaRussia  August 29, 1949 August 12, 1953 8,400 (6,000)
United KingdomUnited Kingdom United Kingdom October 3, 1952 May 15, 1957 200 (185)
FranceFrance France 3rd February 1960 August 24, 1968 350 (165)
China People's RepublicPeople's Republic of China People's Republic of China October 16, 1964 June 14, 1967 400
IndiaIndia India 1998 90-110
PakistanPakistan Pakistan 100-120
Korea NorthNorth Korea North Korea 50 (own information); approx. 12-60
An Indian Agni II medium-range missile at the 2004 National Day military parade

The figures mentioned are based on official information from the individual countries. In particular, the official data of the People's Republic of China and Great Britain are publicly questioned in expert circles as well as by former employees of the IAEA .

In addition, there are so-called "factual nuclear powers" that are either not listed in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as states with nuclear weapons or have not acceded to the treaty, but have a limited number of nuclear weapons according to what is considered to be certain:

  • India : Since May 18, 1974, owns nuclear weapons by its own account; conducted nuclear tests. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists estimated India's arsenal at 30 to 35 warheads in 2002, globalsecurity.org at up to 150 in 2005.
  • Pakistan : Since 1998, claims to have nuclear weapons; conducted nuclear tests. The arsenal is estimated at 24 to 48 warheads, some sources (e.g. globalsecurity.org) estimate the number at up to 75.
  • Israel : Probably since around 1967, today between 75 and 400 nuclear weapons
  • North Korea : Since 2006, first confirmed successful test on October 9, 2006

Size of the major nuclear forces

US Nuclear Forces

The strategic bomber fleet is the oldest part of US nuclear deterrence and has been entrusted with this task since the nuclear weapons operations against Japan . The US continues to operate an arsenal of 451 Minuteman III ICBMs. The US Air Force also has around 400 tactical nuclear weapons. These are B61-3 and B61-4 bombs. The bombs can be dropped by F-15 , F-16 and Panavia Tornado fighter-bombers .

Russian nuclear forces

Submarine-launched ballistic missile (submarine -launched ballistic missile )

13 Ship Submersible Ballistic Nuclear (SSBN) with a total of 172 missiles and 612 warheads (status no
January 2009), of which:
  • 5 submarines of the type Projekt 667BDR with 76 RSM-50 (SS-N-18 Stingray) and 3 warheads each
    • Submarines: K-44 Ryazan , K-211 Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky , K-223 Podolsk , K-433 Svyatoy Georgiy Pobedonosets and K-506 Zelenograd ( Pacific Fleet ). Apparently two of them are in the process of being decommissioned.
  • 6 submarines of the type Projekt 667BDRM with 96 RSM-54 Stineva (SS-N-23 Skiff) and 4 warheads each
    • Submarines: K-51 Verkhoturye , K-84 Yekaterinburg , K-114 Tula , K-117 Bryansk and K-407 Novomoskovsk (all Northern Fleet ). The K-18 Karelia is currently being overhauled.
  • 1 submarine: TK-208 Dmitri Donskoi of the Typhoon class (Project 941), planned after overhaul to be equipped with RSM-56 Bulava (SS-N-32) missiles with a maximum of 6 warheads.
  • 1 submarine: Yuri Dolgoruki of the Borei class (Project 955), planned equipment with 16 RSM-56 Bulava missiles. Two other submarines of the class are under construction: Aleksandr Newski and Vladimir Monomakh .

Strategic Missile Forces (RWSN)

The RWSN was founded on March 24, 2001 by a decree of the Russian President . After several successful tests, the conversion of the old R-36M / UR-100N to the developed R-24 (SS-27 Mod.2) is currently planned. The team strength of the Strategic Missile Forces is currently 120,000 men, two thirds of them military personnel, the rest civil employees. The commander of the RWSN has been Lieutenant General Sergei Viktorovich Karakayev since June 22, 2010 .

In January 2009 the strategic missile forces had 385 ICBMs with a total of 1357 warheads in three missile armies ready for action.

Strategic Air Force Forces

The 37th Strategic Air Army of the Long Range Aviation with 77 bombers and up to 856 long-range cruise missiles Ch-55 (NATO code: AS-15 Kent ) or Ch-15 (NATO code: AS-16 Kickback ) This includes the following bombers :

  • 31 Tupolev Tu-95 MS6 (NATO code: Bear H6) with a range of 6,500 to 10,500 kilometers
  • 32 Tupolev Tu-95MS16 (NATO code: Bear H16) with a range of 6,500 to 10,500 kilometers
  • 14 Tupolev Tu-160 (NATO code: Blackjack) with a range of 10,500 to 13,200 kilometers

The approximately 600 aircraft of the type Su-24 (NATO code: Fencer) and Tu-22M (Backfire) are not part of the strategic air force, but can also drop nuclear bombs.

Space troops

The formation of the space troops took place on June 1, 2001. It was composed of parts of the strategic missile forces and the air defense forces, which are provided for the launch and control of the missiles.

MOU numbers as part of the START-I contract
was standing Total number of carrier systems (ICBM, SLBM, heavy bombers) attributed warheads (ICBM, SLBM, heavy bombers) attributed warheads (ICBM, SLBM) Explosive power in MT (ICBM and SLBM warheads)
July 1, 2009 809 3,897 3,289 2,297.0
January 1, 2009 814 3,909 3,239 2,301.8
January 1, 2008 952 4.147 3,515 2,373.5
September 1, 1990 (USSR) 2,500 10,271 9.416 6,626.3
Russian operational nuclear weapons inventory
carrier Warheads
2000 2004 2009 2000 2004 2009
R-36M UTTH / M2 (SS-18 M4 / M5) 180 120 68 1,800 1,200 680
UR-100 NUTTH (SS-19) 150 130 72 900 780 432
RT-23 silo (SS-24 M1) 10 0 0 100 0 0
RT-23 mobile (SS-24 M2) 36 15th 0 360 150 0
RT-2PM Topol (SS-25) 360 312 180 360 312 180
RT-2PM2 Topol M Silo (SS-27) 20th 36 50 20th 36 50
RT-2PM2 Topol M mobile (SS-27 M1) 0 0 15th 0 0 15th
RS-24 Yars mobile (SS-27 Mod-X-2) 0 0 0 0 0 0
ICBM (total) 756 613 383 3,540 2,478 1,355
R-39 UTTH (SS-N-20) 3/60 2/40 0 600 400 0
R-29 RL (SS-N-18) 8/128 6/96 4/64 576 288 192
R-29 RM (SS-N-23) 7/112 6/96 3/48 448 384 192
R-29 RMU Sinewa (SS-N-23) 0 0 3/48 0 0 192
RSM-56 Bulava (SS-NX-30) 0 (1/0) (2/0) 0 0 0
SLBM (total) 18/348 14/232 10/160 1,576 1,072 576
TU-95 MS6 (Bear H6) 29 32 32 174 192 192
TU-95 MS16 (Bear H16) 34 32 31 544 512 496
TU-160 (Blackjack) 6th 14th 14th 72 168 168
Bomber (total) 69 78 77 790 872 856
A-135 ABM system 100 k. A. 68 100 k. A. 68
S-300 SAM (SA-10) 1,100 k. A. 630 1,100 k. A. 630
Luftwaffe - Tactical Bombers 400 k. A. k. A. 1,600 k. A. 650
Navy cruise missiles k. A. k. A. k. A. 500 k. A. 700
Navy fighter-bomber 140 1,600
Navy - Submarine Combat k. A. 300
tactical weapons (total) k. A. k. A. k. A. approx. 4,000 k. A. 2,050
strategic arsenal (total) 1,173 923 620 approx. 6,000 approx. 4,422 2,787

British Nuclear Deterrent Forces

Great Britain is so far the only nuclear power that relies exclusively on sea-based systems. In 1998, the last atomic bombs intended for use by combat aircraft were retired. Britain now has four ballistic nuclear submarines of the Vanguard class , which in Scottish HMNB Clyde are stationed. Each submarine can be equipped with a maximum of 16 Trident II D5 SLBMs .

Great Britain has leased a total of 64 Trident missiles from the USA. Of these, 58 still exist, six were used for test flights. Two of the four submarines are regularly in use worldwide, but only one of them is actually equipped with nuclear missiles. A third submarine is on standby at Faslane-on-Clyde, while the fourth is under maintenance, repair or modernization. This practice goes back to the British government's decision in 1998 to use only one submarine at a time as part of the nuclear deterrent policy. The number of warheads was limited to 48 per submarine.

Each Trident missile carries an average of three warheads. The British warhead is based on the American W76 design, but allows you to choose the explosive power. It can be ignited with 0.3 kt, 6 kt, 12 kt and 100 kt. The British Trident submarines also have a "sub-strategic" role, which means that some missiles probably only carry a warhead with low detonation strength for use against so-called "rogue states" (e.g. against facilities for the production of weapons of mass destruction). Overall, the British arsenal is estimated at around 200 warheads.

In Great Britain, since the establishment of the 'UK Nuclear Deterrent Forces', it has been taboo to debate or criticize the enormous running costs that have arisen during the establishment and have been incurred annually since then. In 2013 (given the enormously high national debt and high foreign trade deficits), the coalition under Prime Minister David Cameron ( Cameron I cabinet ) began this discussion.

In July 2016, the British House of Commons decided by a large majority to gradually replace the four Vanguard class submarines with new buildings in the coming years. The costs for this are expected to be the equivalent of 37 billion euros.

French nuclear forces

Force de frappe is the common name for the French nuclear force. During the Cold War , it was decided to arm the armed forces with nuclear weapons. In 1960 France carried out its first nuclear test in Algeria. The first parts of the French nuclear force were operational in 1964. The headquarters are located underground in Taverny near Paris.

In 2008 France had an airborne nuclear potential: 60 Mirage 2000N combat aircraft ( cf. 300 kt ASMP guided missile ) that can be equipped with nuclear weapons are stationed in Luxeuil-les-Bains (approx. 130 kilometers southwest of Strasbourg ), divided into two squadrons , a third northwest of Marseille . The operational range is 1500 to 2750 kilometers depending on the weapon load.

Nuclear-powered submarines, the Force océanique stratégique (FOST), which are equipped with SLBMs , etc., serve as sea-based launch systems . a. the triomphant class . France maintains a total of four sous-marin nucléaire lanceur d'engins (SNLE, German: nuclear submarine with rocket launch ramps ), two of which are constantly kept ready for use on the high seas. Each of these submarines has 16 missiles, currently still of the M45 type , each with up to six autonomous nuclear warheads (MIRV) and a range of 6000 kilometers. As of 2010, the submarines will receive the M 51 type with a range of 8,000 kilometers. The home port of FOST is the Île Longue off Brest . Around 2,300 men serve at FOST. It has around half of the Force de dissuasion's budget. The Navy also has 24 Dassault Super Étendard fighter jets , which u. a. are stationed aboard the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle . They are equipped with nuclear-armed air-to-surface missiles.

Chinese nuclear forces

The People's Republic of China has had nuclear weapons since 1964 and is an official nuclear power. On October 16, 1964, the Chinese government renounced the first use and confirmed it again on April 5, 1995 and in June 2005.

It is estimated that China has 145 active nuclear warheads and another 70 that could be made operational in a relatively short period of time. The majority of these warheads should only be usable with ICBMs or strategic bombers. The Navy of the People's Republic of China is currently pushing the establishment of a strategic submarine fleet with the Jin class (type 094) and plans to equip it with SLBMs of the type ( JL-2 (CSS-NX-4) ) with ranges of up to approx . 8000 kilometers.

The People's Liberation Army currently has 20 Dong Feng 5 ( DF-5A (CSS-4) ) Mod 2 ICBMs with a range of up to 13,500 kilometers and 20 Dong Feng 4 ( DF 4 (CSS-3) ) with a range of 5500 kilometers. The newer ICBMs with solid propellants , the Dong Feng 31 ( DF-31A (CSS-9) ) with three to five MIRVs and a mobile launch pad, will be put into service from 2010 and have a range of up to 10,000 kilometers and an accuracy of CEP of 150 meters. Two of these systems should already be operational in the Second Artillery Corps.

According to US data, China had a total of 75 to 100 ICBMs and 50 to 75 launchers in 2015.

Pakistani nuclear forces

The Pakistani armed forces have had a military branch with tactical nuclear forces since 1999. It was introduced by the Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and reports directly to the respective president. Pakistan uses highly enriched uranium (HEU) for its warheads ; its inventory in 2014 was estimated at 2.7-3.5 tons. For enrichment, the country operates gas centrifuges in Gadwal and Kahuta in the Punjab province . In August 2005, the Hatf VII Babur cruise missile was successfully tested. A year later, a successful test was carried out with a Hatf V, whose range is stated to be approx. 1300 kilometers.

Pakistani scientists are accused of having passed knowledge about nuclear weapons and nuclear materials to terrorists. Two scientists working in the field of plutonium technology were accused of having links to Al-Qaeda .

The current number of nuclear weapons is estimated by the IPPNW at 23 to 29 systems based on the amount of highly enriched uranium available .

Indian nuclear forces

The warring neighboring states of India and Pakistan have been arming their armed forces with nuclear weapons since the 2000s. For decades, India advocated nuclear disarmament, but this attitude suddenly changed in 1996 when the country withdrew from the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) that it co-initiated . The country first tested nuclear weapons in 1998 under the right-wing Hindu party BJP.

In 2014, the Strategic Forces Comand had 90–110 nuclear warheads at their disposal, of which around 50, according to Praful Bidwai (Heinrich Böll Foundation), are ready for action. The short-range missiles as well as the medium-range missile Agni III have a range of up to 5500 kilometers and can also be equipped with nuclear warheads.

North Korean nuclear forces

Since the 1990s, North Korea has been working on its nuclear weapons program , which is intended to serve defense and as an international political lever. According to experts, it is difficult to make reliable statements about the nuclear weapons that can actually be used: North Korea repeatedly demonstrated nuclear weapons in its propaganda, but it is uncertain whether these are really operational.

The CIA assumed there were up to 60 nuclear warheads in 2017. The medium-range missile Taepodong- 1 and the ICBM Taepodong-2 can serve as carrier systems .

Abbreviations

  • ACM - Advanced Cruise Missile (greater range than the ALCM)
  • ALCM - Air-Launched Cruise Missile (air-launched cruise missile )
  • ICBM - Intercontinental Ballistic Missile ( ICBM )
  • LGM - Silo-Launched Surface Attack Guided Missile
  • UGM - Underwater-Launched Surface Attack Guided Missile
  • MIRV - Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicles
  • SERV - Safety Enhanced Reentry Vehicle
  • SLBM - Strategic Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile ( strategic ballistic missile launched from a nuclear submarine )
  • SSBN - Nuclear-Powered Strategic Ballistic Missile Submarine (nuclear submarine with strategic ballistic missiles)
  • SSN - Nuclear-Powered Attack Submarine (nuclear attack submarine)
  • SS - Ship Submersible (abbreviation for US submarines in type designation)

literature

  • Digital Library for Nuclear Issues ( online )

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ United States Reaches Moscow Treaty Warhead Limit Early
  2. ^ A b c India's Nuclear Weapons Program: The Myth of Moderation. Retrieved September 20, 2019 .
  3. ↑ North Korea's army - gigantic, dilapidated, but well equipped with nuclear weapons. April 11, 2017. Retrieved September 20, 2019 .
  4. ↑ a b https://www.tagesschau.de/ffektenfinder/ausland/nordkorea-usa-atomwaffen-105.html
  5. ↑ Russianforces.org - Le RS-24 est arrivé!
  6. ↑ START figures for July 2009 at state.gov ( memento of the original from November 30, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.state.gov
  7. ↑ START figures for January 2009 at state.gov ( memento of the original from July 15, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.state.gov
  8. ↑ START figures for 2008 at cdi.org ( Memento of the original from May 3, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.cdi.org
  9. ↑ START figures for 1990 at fas.org
  10. ^ WM Arkin, RS Norris: Russian Nuclear Forces, 2000 . In: NRDC Nuclear Notebook, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists . tape 56 , no. 4 , p. 70-71 , doi : 10.2968 / 056004017 .
  11. ↑ Russian nuclear forces, 2004 ( Memento of the original from May 28, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / thebulletin.metapress.com
  12. ^ Russian nuclear forces, 2009
  13. ↑ British nuclear forces  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . @1@ 2Template: Dead Link / thebulletin.metapress.com  2005.
  14. ↑ British question their nuclear weapons (July 17, 2013)
  15. ↑ "Ultimate Protection": Great Britain decides to renew its nuclear submarines. Spiegel Online, July 19, 2016, accessed on the same day.
  16. ↑ Force Océanique Stratégique . (French).
  17. ↑ a b www.ippnw.de: India & Pakistan. Retrieved September 21, 2019 .
  18. ↑ https://www.tagesschau.de/ffektenfinder/ausland/nordkorea-usa-atomwaffen-105.html