The following list of nuclear triads, deployed in 2024, includes all four countries known to possess them (United States, Russia, China and India). Where available, the names and number of nuclear warheads are given. The list excludes non-strategic (tactical) nuclear weapons and the partial nuclear triad of France and Pakistan.
The United States and Russia, previously Soviet Union, have been wielding their nuclear triads since the 1960s. India completed its nuclear triad in 2018[1] and China in 2020.[2]
United States
edit| Weapon | Type | Warhead | Number of warheads | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LGM-30G Minuteman III | ICBM | W78 / W87[3] | 400[4][a] | Ground silo |
| Weapon | Type | Warhead | Number of warheads | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trident II D5 | SLBM | W76-0/1/2, W88[3] | 1920[5][b] | Ohio-class submarines |
| Weapon | Type | Warhead | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
| AGM-86B/C/D | ALCM | W80-1[3] | B-52H Stratofortress |
| B61-7/11, B83-1 | Unguided bomb | — | B-2A Spirit |
Russia
edit| Weapon | Type | Number of warheads | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
| RS-24 Yars | ICBM | 772[6] | Ground silo / transporter erector launcher |
| RS-20V Voyevoda[c] | ICBM | 340[6] | Ground silo |
| RT-2PM2 Topol-M | ICBM | 78[6] | Ground silo / transporter erector launcher |
| Avangard missile complex | ICBM | 7[6] | Ground silo |
| Weapon | Type | Number of warheads | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSM-56 Bulava | SLBM | 576[6] | Borei-class submarines |
| R-29RMU Sineva / Layner | SLBM | 320[6] | Delta-III and Delta IV-class submarines |
| Weapon | Type | Number of warheads | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kh-55, Kh-102 | ALCM | 448[6] | Tupolev Tu-95MS |
| Kh-55, Kh-102 | ALCM | 132[6] | Tupolev Tu-160 |
India
edit| Weapon | Type | Number of warheads | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agni-I | SRBM | ~20[7] | Transporter erector launcher / rail mobile |
| Agni-II | SRBM | ~8[7] | Transporter erector launcher |
| Agni-III | IRBM | ~8[7] | Transporter erector launcher / rail mobile |
| Agni-IV | IRBM | — | Transporter erector launcher/ rail mobile |
| Agni-V | ICBM | — | Transporter erector launcher / rail mobile |
| Prithvi-II | SRBM | ~24[7] | Transporter erector launcher |
| Weapon | Type | Number of warheads | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dhanush | SLBM | ~4[7] | Sukanya-class patrol vessels |
| Sagarika (K-15) | SLBM | 12[7] | INS Arihant, INS Arighat |
| Weapon | Type | Number of warheads | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classified 20-kt bomb | Unguided bomb | ~16[7] | Dassault Mirage 2000H |
| ? | Unguided and laser guided bombs | ~32[7] | SEPECAT Jaguar |
China
edit| Weapon | Type | Number of warheads | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
| DF-5A | ICBM | 6[8] | Ground silo |
| DF-5B | ICBM | 60[8] | Ground silo |
| DF-21A/E | MRBM | ? | Mobile launcher |
| DF-26 | IRBM | 108[8] | Mobile launcher |
| DF-31 | ICBM | ? | Ground silo / transporter erector launcher |
| DF-31A | ICBM | 24[8] | |
| DF-31AG | ICBM | 64[8] | Mobile launcher |
| DF-41 | ICBM | 84[8] | Ground silo / transporter erector launcher, rail mobile |
| Weapon | Type | Number of warheads | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
| JL-2, JL-3 | SLBM | 0 (for the JL-2), 72 (for the JL-3)[8] | Type 094 submarines |
| Weapon | Type | Number of warheads | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
| DF-21[d] | ALBM | 10[8] | Xi'an H-6N |
| ? | Unguided bomb | 10[8] | Xi'an H-6K |
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ If authorized by the President, Minuteman III could carry up to two additional warheads.[3]
- ^ Of them 1511 W76-1, 384 W88 and 25 W76-2.[5]
- ^ Expected to be replaced by RS-28 Sarmat.
- ^ Reportedly, China also possesses CJ-10K and CJ-20 nuclear-capable ALCMs, as well as nuclear-capable YJ-21 ALBM delivered by Xi'an H-6K bomber.[9]
References
edit- ^ Dinakar Peri. "INS Arighaat, India's second nuclear ballistic missile submarine, commissioned into service". The Hindu. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ "How is China Modernizing its Nuclear Forces?". Center for Strategic and International Studies. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Nuclear Delivery Systems". Nuclear Matters Handbook. Acquisition & Sustainment Office of the Under Secretary of Defense. 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
- ^ "America's Nuclear Triad". Department of Defense. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
- ^ a b "Каким ядерным оружием обладают западные страны" (in Russian). RBK Group. 25 November 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Какое ядерное оружие есть у России и США. Инфографика" (in Russian). RBK Group. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Hans M. Kristensen, Matt Korda (2018). "Indian nuclear forces, 2018". Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. 74 (6). Retrieved 25 October 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Hans M. Kristensen, Matt Korda, Eliana Johns, Mackenzie Knight (15 January 2024). "Chinese nuclear weapons, 2024" (PDF). Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Mark B. Schneider. "China's nuclear delivery vehicles" (PDF). Journal of Policy & Strategy. 4 (3). National Institute for Public Policy. Retrieved 26 October 2024.