The 20th century entered the history of mankind not only with its round number. Many peoples had different systems of 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 of Novaya Zemlya. 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 - the estimated time was over. 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. The academician suggested detonating a high-power hydrogen bomb in the Atlantic Ocean and sending 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 of the Caribbean crisis, when if not minutes, then hours remained before the use of atomic weapons, panic broke out 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, according to international treaties, only the first five countries own nuclear 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 the combat use of atomic 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. An explosion, the power of which was estimated at 25 kilotons, thundered over the waters of the Pacific Ocean northwest of 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, and not an increase in the 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 height of the 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 - for 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.

The small but proud Asian country carried out 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.

05/13/2015 at 18:08 · Johnny · 105 260

Top 10 nuclear powers in the world

Today, nuclear weapons are 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. According to the official position of 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, which threatens peace in the region, nevertheless, Iran is a 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.

Currently, Israel does not seek to maintain the reputation of a nuclear power, however, 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 advanced 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, North Korea has 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 an 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, the People's Republic of China 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.

The 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 its own name "Joe-1".

The Tsar Bomb 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 a new type of threat to humanity.

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, more than twenty secret facilities operate under the nuclear program of North America. 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. The United States of America and the Russian Federation are in the lead, 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 found out about modern weapons capabilities. 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 France's nuclear strategy was not initially aggressive, today it boasts the presence of 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.

To begin with, let's remember that nuclear weapons can destroy all living organisms, including people, in the shortest possible time. And accordingly, it is this type of weapon that is capable of destroying our entire world within a few seconds.

The second question that arises before the creation of the list is why did these countries still create nuclear weapons, despite the fact that this is an active form of destructive material? The answer to this question is that this type of energy is useful for mankind, but if it is used for peaceful purposes. Basically, the reason for the appearance of nuclear weapons in the country is the desire to protect itself from external aggressors. Interestingly, only the Americans actually used nuclear weapons in World War II against Japan, but the effect of this is still felt in the relevant areas of the country.

Here is a list of ten countries with the most nuclear weapons in the world.

Today, Iran is not a country with nuclear weapons, since there is only one Islamic country in the world that is considered as nuclear - and that is Pakistan. But before that, it was believed that several types of nuclear or chemical weapons were created in Iran. The Islamic Republic of Iran signed a treaty with the United States to eliminate nuclear weapons, as more than 1,000,000 people were killed during the Iran-Iraq war.

After the fatwa of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran stopped the creation of nuclear and other types of weapons, and everything created earlier was destroyed by the UN Security Agency. But all the same, rumors do not cease that Iran still has undestroyed nuclear weapons, but no one knows exactly how many.

The country's official name is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. We hear about North Korea all the time in the news as it seeks to build up its nuclear weapons. It was also reported that North Korea fired three ballistic missiles at the United States. This country cannot boast of a good reputation, as it is considered the most hated of all countries in the world.

It is rather difficult to determine the level of well-being of the people due to the closed nature of North Korea, but huge amounts of money are regularly spent on defense. This country created nuclear weapons for defense, tests have already been carried out and the Koreans have about 10 nuclear warheads. But for life, this country is considered one of the most dangerous.

Another popular country in the world, officially called Israel, is also considered a Jewish state. On the other hand, Israel is another one of the most hated countries in the world because of its continuous war with Palestine, which is why it is not only fiercely hated in Muslim countries, but in others too.

Israel has been reported to have a large number of nuclear weapons, but they are mainly being developed with the help of America, which is considered Israel's strategic partner. The state was formed in 1947 and does not increase its territory due to the war with Palestine, so this country still has about 80 nuclear weapons.

India, officially the Republic of India, is one of the most important countries in the world and is one of the largest countries, the second largest in terms of population in the world with a figure of about 1.3 billion people.

If we talk about the defense of this country, then it has surpassed many countries in the world, because last year it acquired a large number of weapons in Russia, now there are from 90 to 110 nuclear weapons - this is the third indicator for all countries in the world. Many of this country's nuclear experiments have failed, but they are ongoing due to the state of the Cold War on the border with Pakistan.

France

France is an extraordinarily beautiful country that is officially called the French Republic and has about 67 million people; its capital is Paris, which is also the most beautiful, largest and most cultural center in the world. The country itself is also considered the cultural center of Europe and has a dominant position regarding defense.

If we talk about past wars, then this country took part in both the First and Second World Wars. France is known as a country of nuclear energy, there are about 300 nuclear weapons, so the defense of this beautiful country is also considered the best in the world, as a highly organized army has new technological weapons.

Great Britain

Great Britain is one of the oldest countries in the world, which is also known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. In addition, it is a wealthy country with a population of 65.1 million, it ranks fourth among the most populated countries in Europe. The capital of Great Britain - London, is an important financial center for different peoples of the world.

The defense capability of this country is considered one of the highest in the world, this country is also a nuclear power, which has about 225 nuclear or chemical weapons. The army is also known all over the world as one of the best - due to the presence of highly qualified personnel. And this is one of the best countries in terms of living conditions, even despite nuclear energy.

China is the most developed country in the world because almost everything that is used on our planet is produced here. It is the leader in terms of population with more than 1.38 billion inhabitants. This happy country is officially called the People's Republic of China, is also the largest electronics manufacturer, ships its products to almost all countries in the world.

China is also a nuclear power country, so there are 250 nuclear weapons here, so the defense of this country is at a very high level due to the use of new technologies in the manufacture of weapons or other equipment used in the army. China is the world's oldest state and occupies the third largest territory in the world, after Russia and Canada.

Pakistan - one of the most beautiful and important countries in the world, appeared on the map in 1947, in accordance with the constitution of 1973 is called the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. It is the second largest Islamic country in the world due to its population of almost 200 million.

Thus, Pakistan is the only Islamic country in the world with nuclear weapons. Defense is a priority, so they do not save money on the purchase of weapons. Pakistan's stockpile is about 120 nuclear weapons.

The United States of America is considered one of the most powerful and influential countries in the world. The country includes 52 states and a total population of 320 million. If we talk about defense capability, here is the most highly organized army, which has new and better weapons, and this country is also number one among the nuclear powers of the world, having almost 7,700 nuclear weapons.

It is the only country that used nuclear weapons against the population - in Japan in 1945 during World War II. The US has many disagreements with many countries including Russia, China and Pakistan hence is also considered the most hated country in the world.

Russia

Russia is also one of the most influential countries in the world, known for the high quality of its weapons. The official name is the Russian Federation. It is the largest country in the world in terms of area, but has a population of around 146 million.

One of the most ancient countries in the world. Russia is the largest arms producer in the world. Its stockpiles of nuclear weapons are the largest among all countries in the world, amounting to about 8,500 units. Russia sells weapons to all countries of the world, so there is no doubt about their quality. This allows the country to claim the title of superpower.

The arms race in the 20th century spurred powers to develop under the plausible pretext of deterring nuclear attacks. In fact, some countries categorically deny their involvement in combat tests, for nothing that indirect evidence speaks of the presence of a nuclear arsenal on their territory.

But, whatever the position, scientists and mere mortals who are interested in the issue understand: if the bombing starts, then the historical "Kid" and "Fat Man", dropped in August 1945 on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, will seem like an amateur performance compared to that fiery cauldron that will start on the planet. Considering the modern capacity of the nuclear arsenal of some countries. Like it or not, the most powerful nuclear bomb was made under the USSR.

Nuclear arsenal of countries, number of nuclear warheads by country 2017/2018

Nuclear club countries list

Russia

• Russia received most of its nuclear weapons after the collapse of the USSR, when mass disarmament and the export of nuclear warheads to Russia were carried out at the military bases of the former Soviet republics.
• Officially, the country has a nuclear resource of 7,000 warheads and ranks first in the world in armament, of which 1,950 are in a deployed state.
• The former Soviet Union conducted its first test in 1949 with a ground launch of an RDS-1 rocket from the Semipalatinsk test site in Kazakhstan.
• The Russian position on nuclear weapons is to use them in response to a similar attack. Or in the case of attacks with conventional weapons, if it would threaten the existence of the country.

USA

• The case of two missiles dropped on two cities in Japan in 1945 is the first and only example of a combat atomic attack. So the United States became the first country to carry out an atomic explosion. Today it is also the country with the strongest army in the world. Official estimates report the presence of 6800 active units, of which 1800 are deployed in a combat state.
• The last US nuclear test was conducted in 1992. The US takes the position that it has enough weapons to protect itself and protect allied states from attack.

France

• After the Second World War, the country did not pursue the goal of developing its own weapons of mass destruction. However, after the Vietnam War and the loss of its colonies in Indochina, the country's government revised its views, and since 1960 it has been conducting nuclear tests, first in Algeria, and then on two uninhabited coral islands in French Polynesia.
• In total, the country conducted 210 tests, the most powerful of which were the Canopus of 1968 and the Unicorn of 1970. There is information about the presence of 300 nuclear warheads, 280 of which are located on deployed carriers.
• The scale of the world armed confrontation clearly demonstrated that the longer the French government ignores peaceful initiatives to deter weapons, the better for France. France joined the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty proposed by the UN in 1996 only in 1998.

China

• China. The first test of an atomic weapon, codenamed "596", China conducted in 1964, opening the way to the top five residents of the Nuclear Club.
• Modern China has 270 warheads in storage. Since 2011, the country has adopted a policy of minimal armament, which will be activated only in case of danger. And the developments of Chinese military scientists are not far behind the arms leaders, Russia and the United States, and since 2011 they have presented the world with four new modifications of ballistic weapons with the ability to load them with nuclear warheads.
• There is a joke that China is based on the number of its compatriots, who make up the largest diaspora in the world, when they talk about the “minimum required” number of combat units.

Great Britain

• Great Britain, as a true lady, although it is one of the leading Five nuclear powers, has not practiced such obscenity as atomic tests on its own territory. All tests were carried out away from the British lands, in Australia and in the Pacific Ocean.
• She began her nuclear career in 1952 with the activation of a nuclear bomb with a yield of more than 25 kilotons of TNT on board the Plym frigate, which anchored near the Pacific islands of Montebello. In 1991, the tests were terminated. Officially, the country has 215 charges, of which 180 are located on deployed carriers.
• The UK is actively opposed to the use of nuclear ballistic missiles, although there was a precedent in 2015 when Prime Minister David Cameron encouraged the international community with the message that the country, if desired, could demonstrate the launch of a couple of charges. In which direction the nuclear hello will fly, the minister did not specify.

Young nuclear powers

Pakistan

• Pakistan. Does not allow the common border with India and Pakistan to sign the "Non-Proliferation Treaty". In 1965, the country's foreign minister announced that Pakistan would be ready to start developing its own nuclear weapons if neighboring India began to sin in this way. His determination was so serious that for this he promised to put the whole country on bread and water, for the sake of protection from the armed provocations of India.
• The development of explosive devices has been a long process, with variable funding and capacity building since 1972. The country conducted its first tests in 1998 at the Chagai test site. There are about 120-130 nuclear charges in storage in the country.
• The emergence of a new player in the nuclear market forced many partner countries to impose a ban on the import of Pakistani goods into their territory, which could greatly undermine the country's economy. Luckily for Pakistan, it had a number of unofficial sponsors of nuclear testing. The largest revenue was oil from Saudi Arabia, which was imported into the country daily at 50,000 barrels.

India

• The homeland of the most cheerful films to participate in the nuclear race was pushed by the neighborhood with China and Pakistan. And if China has long been paying no attention to the positions of superpowers and India, and does not particularly oppress it, then a tough confrontation with its neighbor Pakistan, constantly turning into a state of armed conflict, spurs the country to constantly work on its potential and refuse to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty ".
• Nuclear power from the very beginning did not allow India to bully in the open, so the first test, codenamed "Smiling Buddha" in 1974, was carried out secretly, underground. All developments were classified so much that even the researchers notified their own Minister of Defense about the tests at the last moment.
• Officially, India admitted that yes, we sin, we have charges, only in the late 1990s. According to modern data, there are 110-120 units in storage in the country.

North Korea

• North Korea. The favorite move of the United States - as an argument in the negotiations to "show strength" - back in the mid-1950s, the government of the DPRK did not like it very much. At that time, the United States actively intervened in the Korean War, allowing the atomic bombing of Pyongyang. The DPRK learned its lesson and set a course for the militarization of the country.
• Together with the army, which today is the fifth largest in the world, Pyongyang is conducting nuclear research, which until 2017 was of particular interest to the world, since it was carried out under the auspices of space exploration, and relatively peacefully. Sometimes the neighboring lands of South Korea shook from medium-sized earthquakes of an incomprehensible nature, that's all the trouble.
• In early 2017, the “fake” news in the media that the United States was sending its aircraft carriers on meaningless promenades to the Korean coast left a residue, and the DPRK conducted six nuclear tests without much concealment. Today the country has 10 nuclear units in storage.
• How many other countries are conducting research on the development of nuclear weapons is unknown. To be continued.

Suspicions of possession of nuclear weapons

Several countries are known to be suspected of possessing nuclear weapons:

• Israel, like an old and wise roar, he is in no hurry to lay out cards on the table, but he does not directly deny the existence of nuclear weapons. The "Non-Proliferation Treaty" is also not signed, it invigorates worse than the morning snow. And all that the world has is just rumors about nuclear tests that "Promised" allegedly conducted since 1979 together with South Africa in the South Atlantic and the presence of 80 nuclear charges in storage.
• Iraq, according to unverified data, has been holding an unknown number of nuclear weapons for an unknown number of years. “Just because it can,” they said in the United States, and at the beginning of the 2000s, along with Great Britain, they sent troops into the country. They later offered their heartfelt apologies for being "mistaken". We didn't expect anything else, gentlemen.
• fell under the same suspicions Iran, because of the tests of the "peaceful atom" for the needs of energy. This was the reason for 10 years to impose sanctions on the country. In 2015, Iran undertook to report on uranium enrichment research, and the country was exempted from sanctions.

Four countries removed all suspicions from themselves by officially refusing to participate "in these races of yours." Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine transferred all their capacities to Russia with the collapse of the USSR, although the President of Belarus A. Lukashenko sometimes take it, and even sigh with notes of nostalgia, that “If there were any weapons left, they would talk to us differently.” And South Africa, although once involved in the development of nuclear power, openly withdrew from the race and lives in peace.

Partly because of the contradictions of internal political forces opposed to nuclear policy, partly because of the lack of necessity. One way or another, some have transferred all their capacities to the energy sector for the cultivation of "peaceful atom", and some have abandoned their nuclear potential altogether (like Taiwan, after the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine).

List of countries that have curtailed nuclear programs:

• Australia
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Libya
• Egypt
• Taiwan
• Switzerland
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• South Korea