05/13/2015 at 18:08 · Johnny · 105 040

Top 10 nuclear powers in the world

Today nuclear weapon thousands of times more powerful than the two infamous atomic bombs that destroyed the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. From the moment of this bombing, the nuclear arms race of various countries entered a different phase, and never stopped under the pretext of nuclear deterrence.

10. Iran

• Status: Charged with unofficial possession.
• First test: never.
• Final test: never.
• Arsenal size: 2,400 kilograms of low-enriched uranium.

Top U.S. military officials unanimously say that Iran can produce at least one nuclear weapon a year, and it takes a maximum of five years to develop a modern, functional atomic bomb.

At present, the West regularly accuses Tehran of developing nuclear weapons, which is just as regularly denied by the leadership of Iran. By official position The latter, the state's nuclear program is exclusively for peaceful purposes and is being developed for the energy needs of enterprises and medical reactors.

After international verification in the sixties, Iran had to abandon its nuclear program (1979). However, according to secret Pentagon documents, it was resumed 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, threatening the world in the region, nevertheless Iran is 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 is also capable of delivering them to various points by means of intercontinental ballistic missiles, aircraft or navy. The state began its nuclear research shortly after its founding. The first reactor was built in 1950, and the first nuclear weapon in the sixties.

At present, Israel does not seek to maintain the reputation of a nuclear power, but many European countries, including France and the UK are actively assisting Israel in this industry. You should be aware that information has leaked out that the Israelis have built mini-nuclear bombs that are small enough to fit in a suitcase. In addition, they were reported to possess an unknown amount of neutron bombs.

8.

• Status: official.
• First test: 2006.
• Last test: 2009.
• Armory size: less than 10 units.

In addition to possessing a significant arsenal of modern chemical weapons, North Korea is a full-fledged nuclear power. Currently, the state of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has a couple of operating nuclear reactors.

To date, active North Korea two successful nuclear tests, which were confirmed by international experts based on the results of a survey and monitoring of seismic activity in the test areas.

7.

• Status: official.
• First test: May 28, 1998.
• Last test: May 30, 1998.
• Armory size: 70 to 90 units.
• Test Ban Treaty (CTBT): not signed.

Pakistan has resumed its previously aborted nuclear program in response to India's "Buddha Smile" tests. The official statement of the authorities contains the following words: “If India creates atomic bomb, we will eat grass and leaves for a thousand years, or even starve, but we will get a similar weapon. Christians, Jews, and now Hindus have the bomb. Why don't Muslims allow themselves to do this? ". This phrase belongs to Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto after testing in India.

Recall that Pakistan's nuclear program was born in 1956, but was frozen by order of President Ayub Khan. Nuclear engineers tried to prove that the nuclear program is vital, but the country's president said that if a real threat arises, Pakistan will be able to acquire ready-made nuclear weapons.

The Pakistan Air Force has two units operating the Nanchang A-5C (No. 16 and No. 26 Squadrons), which are excellent for delivering nuclear warheads. Pakistan ranks seventh in our ranking of the world's nuclear powers.

6. India

• Status: official.
• First test: 1974.
• Last test: 1998.
• Armory size: less than 40 to 95 units.
• Test Ban Treaty (CTBT): not signed.

India possesses an impressive number of nuclear weapons, and is also capable of delivering them to their intended destination using aircraft and surface ships. In addition, its nuclear missile 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 an exclusively peaceful purpose. The reaction of the world community to such actions followed after the 1998 tests. Economic sanctions against India were imposed by the United States, Japan and their Western allies.

5.

• Status: official.
• First test: 1964.
• Last test: 1996.
• Armory size: about 240 units.
• Test Ban Treaty (CTBT): signed.

Almost immediately after testing the first atomic bomb, China tested its own hydrogen bomb. These events took place in 1964 and 1967, respectively. Currently Chinese People's Republic 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 that do not possess such technologies. The official part of the document reads: “China undertakes not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or nuclear-weapon-free zones, regardless of time and under no circumstances.”

4.

• Status: official.
• First test: 1960.
• Last test: 1995.
• Arsenal size: at least 300 units.

France is a member of the "NPT" and is known to possess weapons of mass destruction. Developments in this direction in the Fifth Republic began after the end of the Second World War, but it was not possible to create an atomic bomb until 1958. Tests in 1960 made it possible to verify the operability of the weapon.

To date, France has carried out more than two hundred nuclear tests, and its potential puts the country in fourth place in world ranking of nuclear powers.

3.

• Status: official.
• First test: 1952.
• Last test: 1991.
• Armory 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 have cooperated closely and mutually on nuclear security issues since the signing of the 1958 Mutual Defense Treaty.

In addition, these two countries (the United States and Great Britain) also actively exchange various secret information received by the special services of the states.

2. Russian Federation

• Status: official.
• First test: 1949.
• Last test: 1990.
• Armory size: 2,825 units.
• Test Ban Treaty (CTBT): ratified.

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 involving the testing of 970 different devices. Russia is one of the strongest nuclear powers in the world. The first nuclear explosion, with a yield of 22 kilotons, received given name"Joe-1".

The Tsar Bomba is by far the heaviest nuclear weapon of all time. It passed the test in 1967, detonating a whopping 57,000 kilotons. This charge was originally designed at 100,000 kilotons, but was reduced to 57,000 kilotons due to the high potential for excessive fallout.

1. United States of America

• Status: official.
• First test: 1945.
• Last test: 1992.
• Armory size: 5,113 units.
• Test Ban Treaty (CTBT): signed.

In total, the US has conducted more than 1,050 nuclear tests and ranks at the top of our top ten. nuclear world powers. At the same time, the state possesses missiles with a nuclear warhead delivery range of up to 13,000 kilometers. The first test of the atomic bomb "Trinity" was carried out in 1945. It was the first explosion of its kind in world history, which demonstrated to mankind new type threats.

One of the greatest luminaries of the scientific world, Albert Einstein, approached President Franklin Roosevelt with a proposal to build an atomic bomb. So the creator unwittingly became the destroyer.

Today, on the nuclear program North America more than twenty secret facilities operate. It is curious that during the tests in the United States, many incidents with nuclear weapons were noted, which, fortunately, did not lead to irreparable consequences. Examples are near Atlantic City, New Jersey (1957), at Thule Air Force Base, Greenland (1968), in Savannah, Georgia (1958), at sea near Palomares, Spain (1966), off the coast of Okinawa, Japan (1965), etc.

The confrontation between the two most powerful nuclear powers in the world, Russia and the United States: video

26.06.2013

It is foolish to deny that the nuclear arms race is over. United States of America and Russian Federation leading the way, North Korea is looking for new technologies, having already captured nuclear weapons, and countries like Iran or Brazil already have the most powerful charges. Almost all countries are already ready for the Third World War, which can radically differ from the previous two. Adolf Hitler's hair would stand on end if he knew about modern possibilities weapons. And you? So, five countries with the most powerful stocks of nuclear weapons. Approximately, of course. After all, such figures are a military secret.

No. 5. France

The country conducted its first nuclear test in 1960. And although initially France's nuclear strategy was not very aggressive, today it can boast of having very powerful nuclear bombs. According to some estimates, the French stockpile is about 290 active warheads.

No. 4. UK

The UK conducted its first nuclear test in 1952. Manufacturing project nuclear bombs they named "The Hurricane". The UK currently possesses over 250 warheads. The main goal of the project is to give a worthy response to the aggressive strategy for the production of nuclear weapons and weapons in principle, which was undertaken by the USSR in its time.

No. 3. China

China has far more warheads than are estimated on official Chinese and world news sites. Moreover, according to rumors, China is going to catch up with the US in terms of reserves. The state's first test was conducted in 1964. Today it is rated as one of the most powerful in the world.

No. 2. United States of America

Oddly enough, but the United States is in second place, at least officially, because. it is difficult to find a more closed and at the same time powerful state than the United States. In addition, although the total number is known, the power of each charge can only be guessed at. There are over 7,500 warheads in the country. But by the way, the United States today.

No. 1. Russia

And finally, first place! Russia conducted its first nuclear test in 1949. And went down in history as a state, having the largest number of nuclear warheads, as well as a state that exploded one of the most powerful nuclear charges during tests. Just imagine, 57 megatons of TNT! It is said that this explosion was carried out specifically to intimidate the United States. Russia's total number of warheads is currently around 8,500 warheads or more.

You have noticed that the farther, the more incomprehensible the processes taking place on the planet become. It is explainable. First, there are more and more people. Secondly, they do not sit on a palm tree, but develop. Only their creations are not always safe. Therefore, it is necessary for a person to understand where the threats lurk. It is proposed to study the list of countries that have Politicians and the military are closely watching what is happening inside these states. Yes, and you and I need to look closely, is it not blazing?

What are we talking about?

Before telling about how many countries in the world have nuclear weapons, it is necessary to define the concepts. The fact is that not everyone imagines the strength and power of the described threat. Nuclear weapons are a means of mass destruction of the population. If (God forbid) someone dares to use it, then there will not be a single person on the planet who has not suffered as a result of such an act. Some will simply be destroyed, the rest are subject to secondary risks. The nuclear arsenal includes the devices themselves, the means of their "delivery" and control. Fortunately, this complex systems. To create them, you need to have the appropriate technology, which reduces the risk of replenishing the "owners' club". Therefore, the list of countries with nuclear weapons has remained unchanged for a long time.

A bit of history

Back in 1889, the Curies discovered oddities in the behavior of some elements. They discovered the principle of release of a huge amount of energy in the process of their decay. D. Cockcroft and other great minds dealt with this topic. And in 1934 L. Szilard received a patent for the atomic bomb. He was the first to figure out how to put the discovery into practice. We will not delve into the reasons for its work. However, there were many who wanted to take advantage of the discovery.

Such weapons were then considered to be the key to world domination. It doesn't even need to be applied. Swing like a club, everyone will obey in fear. By the way, the principle has been living for almost a century. All the nuclear powers listed below have a significant, compared with others, weight on the world stage. Of course, many people don't like it. But such is the order of things, according to philosophers.

Which countries are nuclear powers

It is clear that technologies could not create states that were not developed, that did not have an appropriate scientific and industrial base.

Although this is not all that is needed to create such complex devices. Therefore, the list of countries with nuclear weapons is small. It includes eight or nine states. Are you surprised by this uncertainty? Now let's explain what the problem is. But first, let's list them. List of countries with nuclear weapons: Russian Federation, USA, Great Britain, France, China, Pakistan, India. These states were able to implement Curie's discovery to varying degrees. Their arsenals are different in composition and, of course, threats. However, one bomb is believed to be enough to destroy life.

On the discrepancies in the quantitative composition of the "nuclear club"

That's what intrigue exists on the planet. In the list of countries with nuclear weapons, some experts include Israel. The state itself does not recognize that it can already be included in this "club". However, there is some circumstantial evidence that Israel does possess lethal weapons. In addition, some states are secretly working to create their own nuclear "baton". They talk a lot about Iran, which does not hide it. Only the government of this country recognizes the development of the "peaceful atom" carried out in its laboratories. I tend to believe that such a program, if successful, will also make it possible to create weapons of mass destruction. Experts say this. They also talk about nuclear powers supplying technology to their "satellites". This is done for political purposes to strengthen their own influence. Thus, some experts are trying to convict the United States of supplying nuclear weapons to partners. Recognized evidence has not yet been presented to the world.

About positive effects

Not all experts consider nuclear weapons only a threat to the existence of the planet. In times of crisis, it, oddly enough, can act as a powerful tool for "peace enforcement." The fact is that some leaders consider it possible to resolve claims and conflicts by military means. This, of course, is not good for people. Wars are death and destruction, a brake on the development of civilization. So it was before. Now the situation is different. All countries are connected in one way or another. As they say, the world has become very small and cramped. It is almost impossible to fight in such a way as not to hurt the "nuclear club". A power that possesses such a "club" can also use it in the event of a serious threat. Therefore, it is necessary to calculate the risks before using conventional weapons. It turned out that the members of the “nuclear club” guarantee peace.

About differences in arsenals

Of course, the club of the “chosen ones” is heterogeneous. Countries have in completely disparate parameters. If the US and Russia have a so-called triad, then other states are limited in the potential use of their bombs. Strong countries (USA, RF) have carriers of all types. These include: ballistic missiles, air bombs, submarines. That is, it can be delivered to the place of impact on land, air and sea. Other members of the "nuclear club" have not yet reached such a development. Another issue is complicated by the fact that powers do not seek to reveal their secrets. Estimates of their nuclear arsenals are very relative. Negotiations are conducted in strict secrecy. Although efforts to establish parity are constantly being made. Nuclear weapons are currently not a military, but a political factor. Many politicians and specialists are working to ensure that this state of affairs remains unchanged. Nobody wants to die.

Who didn't make it

Terms are a delicate thing. Under the "nuclear club" it is customary to understand only five states: the USA, Russia (as the legal successor of the USSR), Great Britain, France, and China. And that's it! Both Israel, which traditionally does not deny and does not confirm the existence of nuclear arsenals, and India and Pakistan, which defiantly conducted nuclear tests and officially announced the presence of nuclear weapons, cannot receive the legal status of nuclear powers from the point of view of international law. The fact is that to join the club, you do not need the consent of its current members, but a time machine. All countries that managed to carry out nuclear tests before January 1, 1967 automatically became nuclear powers. The chronology is as follows: the Americans - in 1945, we - four years later, the British and the French - in 1952 and 1960, respectively. China jumped into the "last car" - 1964.

Let us note that this state of affairs has always evoked and still evokes a feeling of indignation among some of the non-nuclear peoples. Nevertheless, 185 countries of the world have accepted these rules of the game and signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. And this means that the door to the elite nuclear institution has closed forever.

The situation is paradoxical: any country that does not recognize the aforementioned Treaty formally has every right to create its own nuclear warhead. Yes, and the members of the Treaty are also free to withdraw from it at any time - you just need to warn the rest of this 90 days in advance.

Of course, the potential owner of the bomb will have to incur serious material costs, endure all sorts of international sanctions, and possibly even survive a military attack (at one time, the Iraqi nuclear program in literally buried Israeli F-16s, destroying an Iraqi research center).

Nevertheless, especially stubborn countries can still become the owners of the coveted bomb. Approximately 40 states of the world today, figuratively speaking, are on the threshold: that is, they have the capabilities to produce national nuclear weapons. But only four dared to cross this threshold. In addition to the aforementioned Israel, India and Pakistan, North Korea considers itself a nuclear power. True, not a single intelligence service in the world has reliable data that Pyongyang conducted at least one test of an atomic bomb. In this connection, some authoritative experts call the nuclear ambitions of the North Koreans a bluff. There are reasons for this. So, North Korea declared itself at the same time a great space power, declaring that a real satellite was launched. But in orbit, not a single tracking station recorded it. Which is rather strange, especially considering that, according to Pyongyang, their satellite from near-Earth space was broadcasting revolutionary songs with might and main.

Nuclear arsenals

There are less than 30,000 warheads in nuclear arsenals today.

If we still assume that North Korea is not bluffing, then of this amount, its hypothetical contribution is the most modest. A nuclear reactor was built 100 km north of the capital of North Korea with the help of the Chinese. It was jammed twice under pressure from the United States, but still, during its operation, it was estimated that from 9 to 24 kg of weapons-grade plutonium could be accumulated. Experts believe that the manufacture of one bomb, comparable in power to the charge that destroyed Hiroshima, requires from 1 to 3 kg of plutonium-239. Thus, the maximum that the North Korean army can have is 10 charges of relatively low power.

But if there are few bombs in the homeland of Juche, then there are more than enough of their carriers. They are even under development intercontinental missiles capable of reaching the United States.

Experts attribute to Pakistan the presence of about 50 nuclear weapons. Old scud-type ballistic missiles and more advanced ghauris can be used as carriers. In addition, Pakistani engineers independently equipped the F-16s with bomb racks for nuclear bombs.

India has about 50 to 100 nuclear bombs. A wide choice of carriers: nationally developed ballistic and cruise missiles, fighter-bombers.

Israel has a more solid arsenal: about 200 charges. It is believed that Israel has nuclear-armed F-16 and F-15 aircraft, as well as Jericho-1 and Jericho-2 missiles with a range of up to 1,800 km. In addition, this country has the most advanced air and missile defense system in the Middle East.

The UK has about 200 warheads. All of them are located on four nuclear submarines armed with Trident-II missiles. Previously, there were nuclear bombs in service with Tornado aircraft, but the British abandoned tactical nuclear weapons.

The French army and navy have 350 nuclear warheads: these are sea-launched missile warheads and aerial bombs, which can be delivered to the target by Mirage-2000N tactical fighter-bombers and Super Etandar carrier-based attack aircraft.

Chinese generals have at their disposal up to 300 strategic and up to 150 tactical charges.

The United States today has more than 7,000 warheads on strategic launchers: land- and sea-based ballistic missiles and bombers, and up to 4,000 tactical bombs. Total 11-12 thousand nuclear warheads.

Russia, according to Western experts, has about 18,000 nuclear warheads, of which 2/3 are tactical. According to data provided to RG by Viktor Mikhailov, director of the Institute for Strategic Stability, in 2000 strategic nuclear forces Russia had 5906 warheads. Another 4,000 nuclear warheads are non-strategic and are tactical bombs, warheads cruise missiles and torpedoes. According to experts from one of the world's most authoritative institutions, the Swedish SIPRI, two years ago our strategic nuclear forces had 4,852 warheads, of which 2,916 were on 680 ICBMs, and 1,072 carried ballistic missiles of submarine missile carriers. Also, 864 warheads were installed on air-to-ground cruise missiles. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that there is a steady trend towards their further reduction. True, the accumulated world stocks of weapons-grade plutonium make it possible to increase arsenals to 85,000 charges within a short period of time.

In general, the total number of nuclear weapons in the world today is known only approximately. But it is known to the bomb that the arms race reached its apogee in 1986. Then there were 69,478 thousand nuclear warheads on the planet.

Alas, it must be admitted that although there are fewer bombs, their carriers have become more perfect: more reliable, more accurate and almost invulnerable.

In addition, scientists are working on a fourth-generation bomb: a purely thermonuclear weapon, in which the fusion reaction must be initiated by some alternative energy source. The fact is that the current hydrogen bombs use the classic nuclear explosion, which gives the main radioactive fallout. If the "nuclear fuse" can be replaced with something, then the generals will receive a bomb that will be as powerful as the current thermonuclear ones, but within 1-2 days after its use, the radiation on the affected area will decrease to an acceptable level. Simply put, the territory is suitable for capture and use. Imagine what a temptation it is for the attacking side...

Abandoned bombs

Statements about the need to have nuclear weapons in service are heard from time to time even in countries whose nuclear status is seemingly unshakable. In Japan, high-ranking officials regularly speak out in favor of discussing the issue of nuclear weapons, after which they resign with a scandal. From time to time calls are revived for the creation of the first "Arab atomic bomb" in Egypt. There is also a scandal surrounding a secret program of nuclear research and experiments in South Korea, which has always served as an example of restraint against the background of its northern neighbor.

Brazil, which we associate exclusively with Don Pedro and wild monkeys, is determined in 2010 to launch ... its own nuclear submarine. It is appropriate to recall that back in the 80s, the Brazilian military developed two designs of atomic charges with a capacity of 20 and 30 kilotons, however, the bombs were never assembled ...

However, several countries voluntarily gave up nuclear weapons.

In 1992, South Africa announced that it had 8 nuclear weapons and invited IAEA inspectors to observe their elimination.

Kazakhstan and Belarus voluntarily parted ways with WMD. After the collapse of the USSR, Ukraine automatically became a powerful nuclear-missile power. The Ukrainians had at their disposal 130 SS-19 intercontinental ballistic missiles, 46 SS-24 missiles and 44 heavy strategic bombers with cruise missiles. Note that, unlike other republics in the post-Soviet space, where there were also nuclear arsenals, Ukraine had the ability to build ballistic missiles (for example, all the famous SS-18 "Satan" were produced in Dnepropetrovsk) and had a uranium deposit. And theoretically she could well qualify for membership in the "nuclear club".

Nevertheless, Ukrainian ballistic missiles were destroyed under the control of American observers, and Kyiv handed over all 1,272 nuclear charges to Russia. From 1996 to 1999, Ukraine also eliminated 29 Tu-160 and Tu-95 bombers and 487 Kh-55 air-launched cruise missiles.

The Ukrainians kept only one Tu-160 for themselves: for the Air Force Museum. Nuclear bombs, it seems, were not left as a keepsake.

Evgeny Avrorin, Scientific Supervisor of the Russian Federal Nuclear Center - All-Russian Research Institute of Technical Physics (Snezhinsk city), full member of the Russian Academy of Sciences:

In general, the production of nuclear weapons is quite complex and subtle technologies, moreover, they are used both in the production of fissile materials, and directly in the creation of nuclear weapons. But when we conducted an analysis at our center about which states could create nuclear weapons, we came to the following conclusion: today absolutely any industrialized state can do it. Only a political decision is required. All information is available, nothing is unknown. The only question is technology and the investment of certain financial resources.

RG | Evgeny Nikolaevich, it is widely believed that in order to enrich uranium, which is necessary for nuclear weapons, it is required to build a special plant with cascades of hundreds of thousands of centrifuges. At the same time, the cost of creating a nuclear fuel production cycle costs more than a billion dollars. Is technology really that expensive?

Evgeny Avrorin | Look at what is being said. Much less nuclear materials are needed to create weapons than to create developed energy. Enrichment technology, it is, so to speak, fractional. Now it is no longer a secret that the most promising and advanced technology is the so-called "turntables", which were best developed in the Soviet Union. And these are very small devices, and each of them individually is very inexpensive. Yes, they are very low performing. And in order to obtain materials for the development of large-scale energy, they need a lot of them, which is where billions of dollars come from. At the same time, in order to obtain several kilograms of uranium necessary for the production of nuclear weapons, many such devices are not needed. Expensive, I repeat, is only mass production.

WG| The IAEA claims that about 40 countries are on the verge of creating nuclear weapons. Will threshold countries continue to grow?

Evgeny Avrorin | What does a country gain by acquiring nuclear weapons? It acquires more weight, more authority, feels more secure. These are positive factors. There is only one negative factor - the country is experiencing dissatisfaction with the international community. But, unfortunately, the example of India and Pakistan has shown that positive factors prevail. No sanctions were applied against these countries.

The negative factors of possession of nuclear weapons prevailed in such countries as South Africa and Brazil: the first eliminated them, the second was on the verge of creation, but refused to create. Even small Switzerland had a program to create nuclear weapons, but also turned it off in time. The most important thing to be offered to the so-called "threshold countries" is guarantees of their security in exchange for giving up the bombs. And we need to improve the control system. We need constant international monitoring, and not inspections that carry out one-time checks. Today this system is full of holes...

Reserves of highly enriched uranium are possessed by 43 states of the world, including 28 developing ones.

In the late 60s of the last century, Libya asked the USSR to build a reactor, and in the early 70s it tried to buy a nuclear bomb from China. The peace reactor was built, and the deal with the Chinese fell through.

The RN-28 light and compact nuclear bomb was created especially for the Yak-38 carrier-based VTOL attack aircraft, whose combat load was extremely limited. The "ammunition" of such bombs on the heavy aircraft-carrying cruisers "Kyiv" was 18 pieces.

The world's most powerful hydrogen bomb "Kuzkina mother" ("product 602") weighed 26.5 tons and did not fit into the bomb bay of any of the heavy bombers that existed at that time. She was hung under the fuselage of a Tu-95V specially converted for this purpose and dropped on October 30, 1961 in the area of ​​​​the Matochkin Shar Strait on Novaya Zemlya. The "product 602" was not accepted into service - it was intended solely for psychological pressure on the Americans.

In 1954, during the Totsk exercises, a real nuclear bomb was dropped on the "stronghold of the US Army infantry battalion", after which troops attacked through the center of the nuclear explosion. The bomb was called "Tatiana", and it was dropped from a Tu-4A - an exact copy of the American strategic bomber B-29.

Ilan Ramon, the future first Israeli astronaut, also took part in the famous Israeli air raid on the Iraqi nuclear research center in Osirak. During the bombing, at least one non-Iraqi citizen, a French technician, was killed. Ilan Ramon himself did not bomb the reactor, but only on the F-15 fighter he covered the planes that struck. Ramon died in an accident on the US shuttle Columbia in 2003.

Since 1945, approximately 128 thousand nuclear charges have been produced in the world. Of these, the United States produced a little more than 70 thousand, the USSR and Russia - about 55 thousand.

The 20th century entered the history of mankind not only with its round number. different systems many peoples had chronology, and the numbering of centuries in them differs dramatically. The main thing is that after the 20th century according to the Gregorian calendar, every next century, and even a year, can be the last for human civilization.

Nuclear weapons are the main invention not only of the 20th century, but of all human history. For the first time in the hands of people was a tool with which you can radically change the environment.

There is a very interesting story about the confusion of scientists and the military, who on October 30, 1960 watched the test explosion of a hydrogen bomb at a test site on the islands New Earth. After the bomb, whose power was reduced from 100 to 50 megatons, successfully exploded, observers hastened to report this to Moscow. Hugs began, opened champagne ...

In the festive turmoil, someone noticed that the reaction was still ongoing at the epicenter of the explosion, although, in theory, the components of the bomb should have already burned out - estimated time ended. The chain reaction could include atoms of ordinary substances. Theoretically, the reaction could become self-sustaining - continue until the last atom on Earth enters into it. Scientists and the military breathed a sigh of relief only at the moment when they received a message about the attenuation of the reaction.

This, of course, is a tale, most likely composed by one of the writers after a conversation with a test participant. But the tale is a lie, but, as we know, there is a hint in it. With the help of atomic weapons, if not the entire Earth, then a very solid part of it can be destroyed. The project of one of the creators of the hydrogen bomb Andrei Sakharov is known. Academician offered to blow up hydrogen bomb high power in Atlantic Ocean and send an artificial tsunami wave to the US coast. According to rough calculations, the wave could reach the middle of the continent with consequences that are now clear to everyone from disaster films. The dumbfounded military quickly sent the newly-minted strategist home, informing him that they prefer to fight with an armed enemy, and not with civilians.

In those years, it might well have seemed that on July 16, 1945, a nuclear explosion at the American Alamogordo test site opened Pandora's box. By the 1960s, no one could predict where the arms race would lead. In the days Caribbean Crisis When, if not minutes, then hours remained before the use of atomic weapons, panic erupted in the United States - no one doubted that Russian barbarians could bomb peaceful Americans. Twenty years earlier, the doubts of the Japanese in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as you know, did not interest anyone.

Deterrent weapons

And yet, it is difficult for humanity, with a creak, but it managed to turn off the suicidal road. This was facilitated by the collapse of the USSR, which became a serious geopolitical victory for the United States and its allies. And after it turned out that the renewed Russia retained the nuclear potential of the USSR, the rattling of nuclear weapons lost its meaning.

It may seem paradoxical, but today nuclear weapons of mass destruction have become for any country a guarantee against a full-scale enemy attack. This is well illustrated by the relationship between the US and North Korea. For all the militancy of the US rhetoric, there is no risk of starting a conflict, especially after the DPRK has acquired, albeit rather hypothetical, means of delivering nuclear charges to US territory. Thus, the most terrible weapon has become the most effective guarantee of the country's inviolability.

nuclear club

As of the end of 2017, 9 countries possessed nuclear weapons: the USA, Russia, France, Great Britain, China, Israel, India, Pakistan and North Korea. Officially - by international treaties Only the first five countries have atomic weapons. The disclaimer about Israel's possession of nuclear weapons can be omitted - the lack of material evidence is compensated by the numerous testimonies of witnesses. The United States was the first to develop a nuclear bomb, and North Korea was the last to join the nuclear club. According to experts, Russia has the most nuclear weapons (6,800) and North Korea the least (10-20).

USA

The United States holds a dubious lead in combat use nuclear weapons against civilians. On August 6 and 9, 1945, American atomic bombs exploded over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, claiming tens of thousands of lives, mostly civilians.

The first American test of a nuclear weapon is dated July 16, 1945. The scientific part of the development of a promising type of weapons was led by Robert Oppenheimer, the technical leader was General Leslie Groves.

In total, since 1945, the United States has produced more than 66,000 nuclear weapons. At its peak, in 1967, there were 31,225 charges in the American arsenals. Now their number is estimated at 6,600. The Americans conducted 1,054 test explosions, the maximum yield was 15 megatons.

Russia / USSR

The Soviet Union tested its first atomic bomb on August 26, 1949, although this was officially announced six months later. In 1953, the Soviet Union was the first in the world to test a thermonuclear bomb. In 1961, a hydrogen bomb was successfully tested for the first time.

Russia, which became the legal successor of the USSR, inherited not only the nuclear arsenals located on the territory of the RSFSR, but also received all the warheads located on the territory of Kazakhstan, Belarus and Ukraine. According to estimates in 1986, there were about 45,000 nuclear weapons in the USSR - Russia got a very impressive arsenal.

After a series of arms reduction treaties, approximately 6,800 nuclear weapons remain in Russia.

Great Britain

The first British nuclear test took place in 1952. The explosion, the power of which was estimated at 25 kilotons, thundered over the waters Pacific Ocean northwest Australia. Five years later, a British thermonuclear weapon was successfully tested on Christmas Island.

For Great Britain, the issue of possession of nuclear weapons was rather a matter of prestige, because already by the time of the first atomic test, the USSR and the USA had accumulated impressive arsenals. Most of the nuclear charges in service with the British army were in the mid-1970s - 450. Now Foggy Albion has 215 charges.

France

For the French, as for the British, nuclear weapons were a pass to the ranks of the great powers, not an increase armed forces. They detonated the first atomic bomb in the Algerian desert in 1960, and the first thermonuclear explosion was carried out on the Mururoa atoll in the summer of 1968.

In total, the French conducted 210 nuclear weapons tests. At the peak cold war the French had more than 400 warheads, now their number has been reduced to 300.

China

The debut of Chinese nuclear weapons took place in 1964. Less than three years later, the Chinese were in possession of a thermonuclear bomb.

Due to the excellent observance of the secrecy regime in the PRC, there has never been reliable data on the country's nuclear potential. For example, in the early 2000s, Chinese representatives stated that their country's nuclear potential was less than that of Great Britain (at that time, about 200 warheads). At the same time, foreign experts and a number of Russian experts estimated the number of nuclear warheads at the disposal of the PRC at several thousand. Modern estimates give a figure of 270 charges.

India

India joined the nuclear club in 1974. The bomb with the name "Smiling Buddha", detonated on May 18, had a yield of 12 kilotons. Now the Indian army can be armed with 120-130 nuclear charges.

Pakistan

Pakistan announced the presence of nuclear weapons quite loudly - within three days in May 1998, 6 charges were tested at once in the province of Balochistan. The current number of nuclear bombs is estimated at 130-140.

Small but proud Asian country conducted its first nuclear test, up to 20 kilotons, on October 9, 2006. It is believed that the North Koreans may have accumulated 20 charges since then.

Israel

Israel has everything for the production of nuclear weapons. There are witnesses who spoke about such production. However, all available figures are estimates. According to them, Israel may have from 80 to several hundred nuclear charges.