It is predicted that we humans ourselves will destroy our planet earth, so gracefully gifted to us by God, by war. Numerous wars have been fought till date, wherein some are aggressors while others are defenders. There are many things that need to be noted when one talks about the nuclear weapons pros and cons. Whatever the reason for acquiring arms, every country needs to defend its soil. In the race to do so, some have gone way ahead of others, and thus find a place in the list of top 10 nuclear weapons countries.
The race for arms among the top 10 military powers of the world has been hot since the past 60 - 70 years. There are other countries too that are believed to possess nuclear arms and warheads. Though, for now let us have a look at the top 10 nuclear power countries.
Nuclear Weapons Countries List
Countries With Nuclear Weapons
These are the top 10 nuclear weapons countries on our planet. The top 5 mentioned here are member of the (NPT) Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The next 3 countries are not members of the NPT. Israel is a non-declared state regarding nuclear weapons, and the rest are NATO nuclear weapons sharing nations.
United States: During World War II, it was feared that the Nazi regime would strive to develop nuclear weapons. As such, the United States started the Manhattan Project along with Canada and the United Kingdom. Trinity was first developed in 1945. The US bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 2 Japanese cities, and is the only nation till date to have used nuclear weapons against another country.
Russia: After the World War, Russia needed to restore some balance of power during the Cold War. They were disparate and scrambled to develop their own nuclear weapons program, to be on the same page with the US. It is also believed that Russia made use of many spies to help develop their projects. Russia has the distinction of detonating the most powerful device by humans, the Tsar Bomba.
United Kingdom: Hurricane was first tested by the UK in 1952. A lot of its resources and data was taken from the Manhattan Project, that was done in collaboration with the United States. The UK's main aim was that its project act as a deterrent to Russia. It did not want to reply completely on the US for help and wanted to be an independent nuclear power.
France: Now the French did not want to be lagging behind. It wanted to be a power to reckon with, at least in Europe if not around the world. A commendable fact is that most of the project was carried out on indigenous data. Gerboise Bleue was tested in 1960.
China: China was wary of both the US and Russia. 596 was first tested in 1964. But once the Chinese got started, they worked hard and fast, and were striving to be at par with the 2 superpowers Russia and the US. Although, China is the only country in the nuclear weapons club to have adopted the 'first no use' policy.
India: India tested Smiling Budhha in 1974. India maintained that it was a peaceful nuclear program, but it was alleged that the dual use technology was in use, where civilian nuclear technology could be secretly channeled to weapons technology. India's aim was to be at par with China, and also make sure that neighbor Pakistan was aware of India's power.
Pakistan: Not wanting to be left behind by India, Pakistan started its own nuclear program, which is believed to have been helped by China. But it was only in 1998 that Pakistan tested Chagia, and is believed to be a nation in hot pursuit of increasing its stockpile.
North Korea: The first test by North Korea was just recently in 2006. North Korea was a member of the NPT until 2003. Not much is known about the tests and subsequent projects, as North Korea is one of the most secretive countries in the world.
Israel: Israel has never officially declared that it is a nuclear weapons state, and has always maintained that, whatever it does is related to its civilian nuclear program. Though, bunkers for weapons, mobile missile launchers and launch sites have been captured in satellite images.
Germany/Belgium/Canada/Greece/Italy/Netherlands/Turkey: These are NATO countries, and as a result of the NATO nuclear weapons sharing program, these nations have deployed and stored nuclear weapons that have been provided by the United States. This program is believed to be compliant with the NPT, as the US possesses absolute custody and control of these nuclear weapons.
Besides these top 10 nuclear weapons countries, there are a few countries that are on the verge of realizing their nuclear dreams, though things are not very clear about them in this regard. These countries are Iran, Iraq and Syria, though at present Iraq is not able to work towards a nuclear goal due to their situation as regards to the US. Then there were a few countries who were considered nuclear powers earlier. Kazakhstan, Belarus and Ukrain became nuclear powers when they inherited weapons due to the fall of the USSR. But they have given back these weapons to Russia and joined the NPT. Lastly, countries such as South Africa, Argentina, South Korea, Libya, Brazil and Taiwan, have all had nuclear weapon programs, but have shelved them.
By Clifford AGA
HowStuffWorks "How Nuclear Power Works"
Nuclear power provides electricity for a significant percentage of the population. Learn about nuclear fission and take a look inside a nuclear reactor
The race for arms among the top 10 military powers of the world has been hot since the past 60 - 70 years. There are other countries too that are believed to possess nuclear arms and warheads. Though, for now let us have a look at the top 10 nuclear power countries.
Nuclear Weapons Countries List
| Country | First Year of Testing | Code Name | Active Warheads | Total Warheads | Status |
| United States | 1945 | Trinity | 2468 | 9600 | NPT |
| Russia | 1949 | RDS-1 | 4650 | 12000 | NPT |
| United Kingdom | 1952 | Hurricane | 160 | 225 | NPT |
| France | 1960 | Gerboise Bleue | 300 | 300 | NPT |
| China | 1964 | 596 | 180 | 240 | NPT |
| India | 1974 | Smiling Buddha | Unknown | 80 | Non-NPT |
| Pakistan | 1998 | Chagai-I | Unknown | 90 | Non-NPT |
| North Korea | 2006 | 2006 Test | Unknown | 10 | Non-NPT |
| Israel | 1979 | Vela Incident | Unknown | 80 | Undeclared |
| Germany/Belgium/Canada/Greece/ Italy/Netherlands/Turkey | Provided by US | --- | --- | --- | --- |
Countries With Nuclear Weapons
These are the top 10 nuclear weapons countries on our planet. The top 5 mentioned here are member of the (NPT) Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The next 3 countries are not members of the NPT. Israel is a non-declared state regarding nuclear weapons, and the rest are NATO nuclear weapons sharing nations.
United States: During World War II, it was feared that the Nazi regime would strive to develop nuclear weapons. As such, the United States started the Manhattan Project along with Canada and the United Kingdom. Trinity was first developed in 1945. The US bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 2 Japanese cities, and is the only nation till date to have used nuclear weapons against another country.
Russia: After the World War, Russia needed to restore some balance of power during the Cold War. They were disparate and scrambled to develop their own nuclear weapons program, to be on the same page with the US. It is also believed that Russia made use of many spies to help develop their projects. Russia has the distinction of detonating the most powerful device by humans, the Tsar Bomba.
United Kingdom: Hurricane was first tested by the UK in 1952. A lot of its resources and data was taken from the Manhattan Project, that was done in collaboration with the United States. The UK's main aim was that its project act as a deterrent to Russia. It did not want to reply completely on the US for help and wanted to be an independent nuclear power.
France: Now the French did not want to be lagging behind. It wanted to be a power to reckon with, at least in Europe if not around the world. A commendable fact is that most of the project was carried out on indigenous data. Gerboise Bleue was tested in 1960.
China: China was wary of both the US and Russia. 596 was first tested in 1964. But once the Chinese got started, they worked hard and fast, and were striving to be at par with the 2 superpowers Russia and the US. Although, China is the only country in the nuclear weapons club to have adopted the 'first no use' policy.
India: India tested Smiling Budhha in 1974. India maintained that it was a peaceful nuclear program, but it was alleged that the dual use technology was in use, where civilian nuclear technology could be secretly channeled to weapons technology. India's aim was to be at par with China, and also make sure that neighbor Pakistan was aware of India's power.
Pakistan: Not wanting to be left behind by India, Pakistan started its own nuclear program, which is believed to have been helped by China. But it was only in 1998 that Pakistan tested Chagia, and is believed to be a nation in hot pursuit of increasing its stockpile.
North Korea: The first test by North Korea was just recently in 2006. North Korea was a member of the NPT until 2003. Not much is known about the tests and subsequent projects, as North Korea is one of the most secretive countries in the world.
Israel: Israel has never officially declared that it is a nuclear weapons state, and has always maintained that, whatever it does is related to its civilian nuclear program. Though, bunkers for weapons, mobile missile launchers and launch sites have been captured in satellite images.
Germany/Belgium/Canada/Greece/Italy/Netherlands/Turkey: These are NATO countries, and as a result of the NATO nuclear weapons sharing program, these nations have deployed and stored nuclear weapons that have been provided by the United States. This program is believed to be compliant with the NPT, as the US possesses absolute custody and control of these nuclear weapons.
Besides these top 10 nuclear weapons countries, there are a few countries that are on the verge of realizing their nuclear dreams, though things are not very clear about them in this regard. These countries are Iran, Iraq and Syria, though at present Iraq is not able to work towards a nuclear goal due to their situation as regards to the US. Then there were a few countries who were considered nuclear powers earlier. Kazakhstan, Belarus and Ukrain became nuclear powers when they inherited weapons due to the fall of the USSR. But they have given back these weapons to Russia and joined the NPT. Lastly, countries such as South Africa, Argentina, South Korea, Libya, Brazil and Taiwan, have all had nuclear weapon programs, but have shelved them.
By Clifford AGA
HowStuffWorks "How Nuclear Power Works"
Nuclear power provides electricity for a significant percentage of the population. Learn about nuclear fission and take a look inside a nuclear reactor
