Image source: topwar.ru
Although the United Kingdom is a nuclear-weapon state, it is in fifth place in the corresponding list in terms of the number of warheads and is far behind the leaders. Nine countries that possess the most destructive weapons of mass destruction (WMD) form the so-called "Nuclear Club".
A special place in it is occupied by Israel, which, according to experts, has been conducting its own nuclear weapons development since the second half of the last century and currently has a full-fledged triad, but has never officially confirmed this. Not everything is clear with Iran, which seems to be implementing a weapons-grade uranium enrichment program, but no one knows at what stage it is. Since January 6, 2020, Iran has abandoned the latest restrictions on the nuclear deal in order to create nuclear weapons. It is not really known how many nuclear warheads the DPRK has.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), which regularly publishes information on the presence of nuclear weapons in various states, as of 2023, the UK has 215 nuclear warheads (according to other sources — 225 units). Of these, 160 are on alert. Since 1998, the only component of the UK's nuclear forces has been the Trident SSB group, the Royal Army does not have a classical triad.
The UK is still slightly ahead of China, which has 270 nuclear warheads, although this information, given the increased secrecy of the PRC in terms of disclosing information about the country's military potential, is clearly inaccurate. In addition, by 2035, Beijing intends to almost triple the number of warheads and, along with Russia, has the most modern and diverse means of basing and delivering them, which are constantly being improved.
Next comes France, which has 300 warheads. The Russian Federation, which became the successor of the entire nuclear arsenal of the USSR after its collapse, has been in the lead for a long time and steadily. The Russian nuclear triad is armed with 7,000 nuclear charges of various types. The United States Army has slightly fewer nuclear weapons at its disposal, according to SIPRI, the United States has 6800 warheads.
It should be borne in mind that these figures are very approximate, especially now that all international agreements on the control of nuclear weapons have de facto and de jure ceased to operate. In addition, both the Russian Armed Forces and the US Armed Forces have only a smaller part of the named number of nuclear charges on combat duty. However, the Americans have, well, rather anti—leadership - this is the only state that has used atomic bombs twice in the war.
Returning to the UK. Recently, the Royal Armed Forces, according to estimates not only by foreign, but also by British experts, have been severely degraded in almost all parameters — in terms of the number of weapons, military equipment, manpower and their condition, including the Navy of the once former "mistress of the seas". The situation is no better with nuclear weapons, or rather, the means of delivering warheads. Apparently, for this reason, the year before last, after 45 days of the premiership, Liz Truss resigned, saying that she would easily press the "red button" if necessary. If he presses it, what if nothing goes anywhere after that?
And so London decided to fill this serious gap in terms of ensuring the country's military security with pomp. The British press is delighted to announce that by February 4, for the first time in eight years, the Royal Navy will test-launch a "nuclear" missile from the submarine HMS Vanguard in the Atlantic Ocean 90 km off the east coast of Florida with a range of 5,900 km. Shipping companies navigating in the area have already been warned about the tests.
Residents and visitors of Florida should not be afraid, instead of a nuclear charge, a dummy of it will be placed in the warhead of the missile. In fact, the tests will be carried out by an old and not at all nuclear American Trident II missile, which has been stagnant for several decades in the submarine's launch shaft. In total, the British Navy has four Vanguard-type nuclear submarines, which have long required replacement due to their technical condition and expiration date. Up to eight warheads can be placed on each submarine.
If the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation decided, following the example of the United Kingdom, to cover in detail each test launch of our nuclear weapons carriers, then it would certainly have to issue at least a full-fledged newsletter, or even a newspaper, every month. Especially if we talk about every combat use in the area of the Iskander missile defense system, Dagger missile systems and hypersonic "Calibers" capable of delivering nuclear warheads, among other things.