If you ever wondered which 9 countries with nukes are and does Turkey have nuclear weapons, you’ve come to the right place. Every time a new superior weapon has been introduced on the battlefields in our history, it has dramatically changed the world, starting with spears and swords to gunpowder and tanks. But never has the change been as thorough as it was with the invention of nuclear weapons, and not just in warfare, as it can be seen on our list of countries that produce the most nuclear power.
After the United States demonstrated nuke’s destructive power over Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, it became clear to other world powers that in order to retain its status, they need to develop nuclear weapons of their own. The nuclear race marked the beginning of the Cold War and soon countries around the world were deeply involved in nuclear research and testing and the nuclear club grew in numbers.
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One question that was on everyone’s mind during the 2016 failed coup was does Turkey have nuclear weapons. Technically, it does, in a sense that there are between 50 and 90 B61 tactical nuclear bombs stored in within the secure vaults of Incirlik Air Base, currently used by the NATO members for strikes against ISIS. Theoretically, at least part of that arsenal (up to 40, according to Hans M. Kristensen) is reserved for the use of Turkish Air Force, with prior approval by NATO and the United States, although that is prevented by Turkish lack of aircraft capable of launching B61 (they also prevent US Air Force from permanently basing such aircraft on Turkish soil), not to mention political backlash that would arise from such unilateral breach of NATO procedures.
Turkey isn’t the only NATO member hosting US nuclear weapons. Germany, Italy, Belgium, and Netherlands all have similar agreements with the United States. While in the height of the Cold War and the ever-present danger of Soviet tank armies rolling over Western Europe in a matter of weeks, if not days, it may have been prudent to have a cache of tactical nukes on hand in proximity to the frontline, today the whole thing makes no sense. The decision to keep nukes in Turkey has been particularly criticized. The proximity of Syria and frontlines against ISIS makes it possible – however remotely, due to heavy security – that a terrorist force may get its hands on the nuclear weapons. The other point of concern is Turkish internal instability. During the coup attempt, at one point, entire Incirlik Air Base was cut off from country’s electrical grid, forcing it to use generators in order to function. The Turkish commander of the base, General Bekir Ercan Van, was arrested, adding to concerns and numerous calls for the withdrawal of nuclear weapons from the Turkish base. With Russia being more and more perceived as a threat by NATO European members that would be a tough decision to make.
But even if Turkey doesn’t have nuclear weapons, there are plenty of them laying around. These 9 countries with nukes have enough firepower to completely destroy life on the planet several times over. According to Federation of American Scientists, there are about 16,400 nuclear warheads in the world, with at least 4,200 of them operational and in the active state. The rest are in storage and kept in reserve. For each of the nine, we listed the number of nuclear warheads – in some cases suspected or estimated – and method of delivery, land (ICBMs), sea ( submarines), air (bombers) or much coveted nuclear triad, all three of them. While MAD may have stopped USA and USSR turning us all into ash, in today’s world of asymmetrical warfare and desperate people with guns who don’t care about retaliatory strikes, nukes don’t seem as much of a deterrent as they were.
9. North Korea
Number of warheads: Unknown, suspected less than 10
Delivery method: land and sea-based
The latest addition to the nuclear club, North Korea successfully tested its first nuclear bomb in 2006. The test was the climax on North Korea’s effort dating back to 1980s to secure nuclear weapons. For the brief time in the early 2000s, it seemed that international community has managed to persuade North Korean leadership to give up on their plans, but talks broke down, and the country continued to develop their nuclear capabilities. The subsequent tests in 2009, 2013 and twice in 2016 demonstrated the Pyongyang’s regime determination to enlarging its nuclear arsenal. The accompanying rocket tests, the latest in September 2016 showed that North Korea possess a credible sea and land delivery methods for strikes against South Korea and Japan, and possible against Guam. This has led to heightened tensions on the Korean peninsula and even Pyongyang’s most staunch ally China has shown concern over their neighbor’s nuclear program.
8. Israel
Number of warheads: Unknown, suspected between 60 and 400
Delivery method: suspected nuclear triad
The most controversial – and the most secretive – nuclear weapons program on our list is Israel’s. It is easy to see a logic behind Israel’s decision to pursue nuclear weapons. For a small country completely surrounded by enemies hell-bent on not only defeating it, but erasing it from the face of the planet, nukes hold much sway. While Israel, the number 8 in our list of countries with nukes, keeps to its policy of neither confirming nor denying its possession of nuclear weapons, it is a public secret that they have them ever since the late 1970s. Apart from aircraft bombs and Jericho missiles, Israel is suspected to have fitted its new Dolphin class submarines with Popeye Turbo cruise missiles, completing the nuclear tried and ensuring the second strike capability and retaliation against its enemies. The so-called Samson option – again, neither confirmed nor denied by the Tel Aviv – is since then something Israel’s enemies must take into account. It envisions using nuclear weapons as a last stand option, in case Israel Defense Force is destroyed and much of the country overrun, securing that whoever managed to do that will suffer the same fate as Israel. For better or worse, there’s hardly a force capable of defeating IDF in conventional warfare in the region, so the world is safe from Israel’s nukes…for now.
7. India
Number of warheads: Unknown, suspected between 110–120
Delivery method: nuclear triad
Unlike many other countries who have tried to keep their nuclear weapons programs secret, India, that ranks 7th in our list of countries with nukes, has gone the opposite way. They used every chance they got to confirm their possession of nuclear weapons, even flaunt them on occasion. For a country which developed nuclear weapon solely as a deterrent, this policy makes sense. However, in recent years India has signaled its readiness to modify its policy on use of nuclear weapons, from “no first strike” to “no first strike against non-nuclear powers”. This may be interpreted as a clear threat by two of India’s most powerful neighbors, also present on our list, China, and Pakistan.
6. Pakistan
Number of warheads: Unknown, suspected between 120–130
Delivery method: Land and air
Pakistan ranks 6th in our list of countries with nukes. It is fully devoted to the development of nuclear weapons after the disastrous defeat it suffered against India in 1971. The first successful public test, code-named Chagai-I, came in 1998, just a few months after India conducted its own testing. This led to both countries being placed under sanctions by the United States and Japan, as well as several other countries. Since then, India and Pakistan have signed several bilateral treaties aimed at avoiding the use of nuclear weapons. They have promised not to attack each other’s nuclear facilities (to ensure that mistakes are avoided, each January 1st officials from both countries meet to exchange lists of such sites) and established a direct phone line between the head of states. These measures have relieved some of the tensions regarding nuclear weapons in South East Asia, although Pakistan remains a crisis spot due to its involvement with terrorist elements both within and outside its borders.
5. China
Number of warheads: Unknown, suspected 260
Delivery method: nuclear triad
The majority of the Chinese nuclear arsenal is stored in vast underground facilities, the so-called Great Chinese Nuclear Wall. The estimates cite that these tunnels occupy as much as 3,000 miles. In addition to this complex, China, the number 5 in our list of countries with nukes, has a fleet of Xian H6 bombers, a Chinese-built version of Soviet Tu-16 as an air delivery component for its nuclear weapons. Chinese nuclear triad is completed with Type 092 and type 094 submarines, capable of delivering JL-1 and JL-2 SLBMs (submarine-launched ballistic missile) to targets as far as 7,200 km.
4. France
Number of warheads: Active 290, Reserve 10, total 300
Delivery method: Air and sea
The top five entries on our list of 9 countries with nukes are signatories of various nuclear disarmament treaties and as such their nuclear arsenals are completely transparent. We kick off with France, who has been a member of the nuclear club since 1960. France conducted the majority of its nuclear experiments and tests in the South Pacific, nearby its colonial possessions in French Polynesia. The rest were performed in the Sahara, in modern day Algeria, at the time also a French colony. This was heavily criticized by other countries, especially by Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. The latest such test in 1995 led to a wide international reaction, forcing France to reduce the number of tests from planned 8 to 6 and abandoning its testing facilities in Polynesia. Currently, France has four submarines capable of launching SLBM, and by law, French Navy is required to keep at least one out on patrol at all times, to ensure a viable retaliation strike against the offending nation. In addition to these four Triomphant class -class submarines, France also has air-based nuclear weapons, designed for Rafale M and Mirage 2000N fighters.
3. The United Kingdom
Number of warheads: Active 150, Reserve 65, total 215
Delivery method: Sea
The UK ranks 3rd on our list of countries with nukes. It was the third country in the world to acquire nuclear weapons. The program officially started in 1946. Although a number of British scientists were involved in Project Manhattan and made a significant contribution, the American’s feared that nuclear secrets would be leaked (as it turned out, they were right) and have thus refused to share their research with anyone, including British. This had caused much consternation in London, and British decided to pursue the development by themselves. In 1952 the first successful test bomb was detonated off the coast of Western Australia. Currently, the UK has only sea method of delivery, namely four Vanguard-class submarines armed with Trident Missiles. Similar to France, at least one of them has to be out on the sea at any given time.
2. Russia
Number of warheads: Active 1,790, Reserve 5510, total 7,300
Delivery method: Nuclear triad
The first use of nuclear weapons in 1945 left the entire world in shock, but none as much as Stalin and the Soviet Union leadership. Suddenly, their perceived superiority in Europe over the capitalists’ forces disappeared, and USSR frantically started exploring the ways of obtaining this new weapon. In charge of the project was infamous NKVD commissioner and Stalin’s favorite executioner Lavrentiy Beria. The efforts of Soviet scientists were greatly aided by the espionage and many Manhattan Project secrets found their way into the hands of Andrei Sakharov and Igor Kurchatov, leading Soviet physicist tasked by Beria with the development of the nuclear weapon. In 1949, just four years after it started, the Soviet program produced first test bomb. And now, let’s see the number one in our list of countries with nukes.
1. The United States
Number of warheads: Active 1,750, Reserve 5220, total 6,970
Delivery method: Nuclear triad
The United States hold the top spot among 9 countries with nukes for several reasons. It was the first country to successfully develop nuclear weapons. It is also the only country in the world to use nuclear weapons in anger. The debate on the justification of Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings still rages today, more than 70 years after both cities were destroyed by nuclear bombs. The United States are also responsible for our dilemma at the beginning of the article does Turkey have nuclear weapons. The country’s current nuclear arsenal is a far cry from its heyday during the Cold War, same as Russia’s, but still terrifying in its destructive potential.
