The current numbers in the global nuclear stockpile

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

NRDC: Nuclear Notebook

Global nuclear stockpiles, 1945-2006

July/August 2006 pp. 64-66 (vol. 62, no. 4) ) © 2006 Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Excessive secrecy prohibits the public from knowing the exact number of nuclear weapons in the world. Each nation shields the details of its own nuclear arsenal and generally knows few precise details about the size and composition of other countries' stockpiles.

Despite the uncertainty, we know that the total global nuclear weapons stockpile is considerably smaller than the 1986 Cold War high of 70,000-plus warheads. Through a series of arms control agreements and unilateral decisions, nuclear weapon states have reduced the global stockpile to its lowest level in 45 years. In the same period, the number of nuclear weapon states has grown from three to nine.

We estimate that these nine states possess about 27,000 intact nuclear warheads, of which 97 percent are in U.S. and Russian stockpiles. About 12,500 of these warheads are considered operational, with the balance in reserve or retired and awaiting dismantlement. We are able to make our estimates by monitoring all known nuclear weapon developments, by studying long-term trends, and by tracking the implementation of arms control treaties.

More at: http://www.thebulletin.org/article_nn.php?art_ofn=ja06norris

[ananda]

1. in perspective..

One nuclear weapon is one too many.

[Warren Stupidity]

2. Just for some perspective here.

In order according to this report:

Russia 5,830 operational warheads (16,000 total.)

United States 5,735 operations warheads (10,000 total.)

France 350 warheads.

Britain 200 warheads.

China 200 warheads.

Israel 60-80 warheads.

India 50-60 warheads.

Pakistan 40-50 warheads.

North Korea 5-15 warheads.

[larrysh]

3. Uh oh....>Russia has taken the lead 5,830 to 5,735.....

Time for an intentional foul to slow Russian momentum and a chance for our side to get the ball back before the buzzer!!!!!!

[flamin lib]

4. When Bush announced the deployment of missile defense

Putin announced that Russia would MIRV the ICBM fleet, bringing a lot of nukes out of retirement.