Latest news with #WeaponsofMassDestructionProgramme
The Print
5 hours ago
- Politics
- The Print
‘Strikes on nuclear infrastructure, disinformation nearly sparked nuclear crisis during Op Sindoor'
'This should act as a stark warning for states seeking to increase their reliance on nuclear weapons,' he added. 'The combination of strikes on nuclear-related military infrastructure and third-party disinformation risked turning a conventional conflict into a nuclear crisis,' said Matt Korda, Associate Senior Researcher with SIPRI's Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme and Associate Director for the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists. New Delhi: Referring to the hostilities between India and Pakistan earlier last month during Operation Sindoor, the latest report of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has cautioned that disinformation and strikes on nuclear-related military infrastructure nearly triggered a serious escalation. SIPRI released its 2025 annual report on the state of armaments, disarmament and international security on Monday, warning that a new and potentially more dangerous nuclear arms race is emerging, even as existing arms control frameworks continue to weaken. The report highlights AI as both a potential advantage and a major risk. Its ability to process vast datasets rapidly could compress crisis decision-making timelines, increasing the risk of miscommunication, miscalculation or even accidental conflict. According to SIPRI, India is estimated to have approximately 180 nuclear warheads as of January 2025, a slight increase over the previous year. These are distributed across a maturing nuclear triad comprising land-based missiles, aircraft and nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs). It further believes that India's recent move toward deploying canisterised missiles and undertaking sea-based deterrent patrols may indicate the country's fresh shift towards mating some nuclear warheads with their launchers even during peacetime. The assessment believes that India's Prithvi short-range missile is 'dual-capable' and acknowledges that in March 2024, India conducted the first flight test of its multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle (MIRV) equipped Agni-V under Mission Divyastra. Meanwhile, as per the report, Pakistan's estimated nuclear arsenal remains stagnant at around 170 warheads, though 'there is a continued development of new delivery systems and accumulation of fissile material, suggesting a potential expansion over the coming decade,' it reads. 'It is developing two versions of the Ra'ad (Hatf-8) air-launched cruise missile, though neither has yet entered service. Its Mirage III and possibly Mirage V aircraft currently serve as delivery platforms, with growing indications that the JF-17 may take over the nuclear delivery role in the future,' it reads. 'All of Pakistan's missiles, including the Nasr (Hatf-9), are believed to be dual-capable.' However, it adds that there is no certainty on whether all missile bases in Pakistan have been assigned nuclear roles. As per the assessment, while Pakistan continues to be the central focus of India's nuclear posture, it points to a growing emphasis in India on longer-range capabilities, particularly those aimed at covering targets across China. SIPRI identifies China as 'undergoing the most significant nuclear expansion' among all the nuclear-armed states. 'Its stockpile is estimated to have increased from 500 to 600 warheads in 2024, with at least 132 warheads thought to be assigned to launchers still being loaded'. The annual assessment further believes that China's DF-26 intermediate-range ballistic missile is a key dual-capable system offering flexibility in switching between conventional and nuclear payloads and adds, 'the CH-AS-X-13 air-launched ballistic missile, reportedly carried by H-6N bombers, to be nuclear-capable.' As of January 2025, SIPRI estimates that the nine nuclear-armed countries–the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel–together possess approximately 12,241 nuclear warheads. 'Of these, about 9,614 are potentially operationally available, and roughly 3,912 are deployed with military forces, and approximately 2,100 warheads are believed to be maintained at high operational alert on ballistic missiles,' it says. Although the total number of nuclear weapons worldwide continues to decline due to the dismantling of retired warheads by the United States and Russia, the report warns that the number of warheads in active military stockpiles is beginning to rise. It adds that the annual pace of dismantling has slowed and may soon be overtaken by the rate at which new warheads are being added to global arsenals. 'The era of reductions in the number of nuclear weapons in the world, which had lasted till the end of the Cold War, is coming to an end,' said Hans M. Kristensen, Associate Senior Fellow with SIPRI's Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme. 'Instead, we see a clear trend of growing nuclear arsenals, sharpened nuclear rhetoric and the abandonment of arms control agreements.' On the future of security, stability and nuclear challenge The latest SIPRI's report further underlines that the arms race today is more likely to be 'qualitative rather than quantitative', driven by rapid developments in cyber warfare, artificial intelligence (AI), quantum sensing and space technologies. Quantum technologies, the report says, are likely to disrupt current cryptographic standards and enable novel forms of global surveillance. 'Until now, nuclear-powered submarines were considered virtually undetectable due to the vastness of the ocean,' the report notes. 'But quantum detection could challenge that assumption, potentially introducing new sources of instability.' Development of nuclear missile defence is also flagged as a concern by the assessment. 'If it works, it acts as an anti-nuclear shield, removing the fear of retaliation and thus undermining deterrence,' the report warns. The weakening of arms control agreements remains a key concern in the report. The report notes that the New START treaty, the last remaining strategic arms control accord between the United States and Russia, is set to expire in early 2026. It adds that there are currently no ongoing negotiations to renew or replace it. 'There are no signs that either side is interested in a successor treaty.' 'The signs are that a new arms race is gearing up that carries much more risk and uncertainty than the last one,' said Dan Smith, SIPRI Director. 'The rapid development and application of technologies in AI, cyber, missile defence, space and quantum are radically redefining deterrence and creating new sources of instability.' (Edited by Viny Mishra) Also read: China outspends India on defence in 2024, shows SIPRI report. Pakistan far behind
Euronews
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Era of nuclear disarmament 'coming to an end', SIPRI warns
The era of nuclear disarmament is coming to an end while new technologies push the risk of nuclear conflict higher, SIPRI warned on Monday. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) stressed in its annual assessment of the state of armaments, disarmament and international security, that although the number of nuclear warheads in the world continued to decline last year due to the US and Russia dismantling retired warheads, the pace of such dismantlements is slowing down. The rate at which new warheads enter global stockpiles could therefore soon outpace dismantlements, SIPRI said, as nuclear states pursue modernisation programmes. "The era of reductions in the number of nuclear weapons in the world, which had lasted since the end of the Cold War, is coming to an end," Hans M. Kristensen, Associate Senior Fellow with SIPRI's Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme said in a statement. "Instead, we see a clear trend of growing nuclear arsenals, sharpened nuclear rhetoric and the abandonment of arms control agreements," he added. Nine countries - the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) and Israel - have nuclear warheads in their arsenals with an estimated global inventory of 12,241 warheads, of which 9,614 were in military stockpiles for potential use. Just over 2,000 of the deployed warheads, nearly all of them belonging to the US and Russia, were kept in a state of high operational alert on ballistic missiles. The two countries faced challenges in their modernisation programmes last year, but SIPRI forecasts that their deployments of nuclear weapons will rise in the years ahead. China's nuclear arsenal, which currently counts at least 600 warheads, is meanwhile growing faster than any other country's, by about 100 new warheads a year since 2023. SIPRI estimates that China could potentially have at least as many Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) as either Russia or the USA by the turn of the decade. The international security institute also flagged that 2024 saw renewed attention on nuclear-sharing arrangements, which it says carried great risks. These included claims by Russia and Belarus that Russia has deployed nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory, European NATO allies expressing willingness to host US nuclear weapons on their soil, and statements by French President Emmanuel Macron that the country's nuclear deterrent could have a "European dimension". "It is critical to remember that nuclear weapons do not guarantee security," said Matt Korda, associate senior researcher with SIPRI's Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme. "As the recent flare-up of hostilities in India and Pakistan amply demonstrated, nuclear weapons do not prevent conflict. They also come with immense risks of escalation and catastrophic miscalculation—particularly when disinformation is rife—and may end up making a country's population less safe, not more." The increased use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other technologies to speed up decision-making in crises meanwhile increases the risk of a nuclear conflict breaking out as a result of miscommunication, misunderstanding or technical accident, according to SIPRI. The annual report, which looks at the overall armament picture, found that global military expenditure rose for the 10th consecutive year in 2024 to $2.7 trillion (€2.3 trillion), driven by Russia's ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Washington however remained the largest military spender in the world, with spending of $997 billion (€861 billion) in 2024, more than three times the amount spent by China, the next biggest spender. Total European spending increased by 17%, with all countries, bar Malta, boosting their military expenditures. Just five countries - the United States, France, Russia, China and Germany - accounted for 71% of all military exports with the US growing its share to 43% from 35% at the turn of the decade. Ukraine, India, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan together accounted for 35% of total arms imports. A new study names France as the continent's toll fee capital, with French routes claiming the top spot and five of the 10 most expensive tolls in Europe. Italy and Denmark follow closely, with toll fees of €68.30 and €54.00, respectively. A study by the European tollway seller, Tollwayr, analysed toll fees across European countries, examining costs for various motorways, tunnels and bridges to identify the most expensive routes for car drivers. France leads the list with the Eurotunnel crossing between France and the UK charging €72.00, making it the most expensive toll in Europe. The country also appears in the top five positions with its major motorway routes, including the Paris-Marseille route at €68.90. "What's particularly notable is that France doesn't just have one or two expensive routes – it consistently charges premium prices across its major highways and tunnels," said Mattijs Wijnmalen, CEO of Tollwayr. "The country's extensive toll network reflects significant infrastructure investment, but also places a considerable financial burden on both local drivers and tourists." Italy ranks high on the list, with the Milan-Bari route costing drivers €68.30, making it the third most expensive toll in Europe. Denmark and Sweden both feature in the top ten, with the Øresundsbron bridge connecting the two countries, charging €54.00 from either side, making it the most expensive bridge toll in Europe. Croatia, while not in the top ten, has the most expensive tolls in Eastern Europe, charging €32.80. On the other hand, the United Kingdom's Warburton Bridge charges just €0.14, making it the least expensive toll in Europe, while Bosnia and Herzegovina's Svilaj-Odžak section costs only €0.61 for cars.
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Nuclear weapons increasing as Russia-Ukraine war, Israel-Iran conflict reignites the prospects of World War III
As Russia and Ukraine continue to engage in a bloody and bruising war and the Middle East teeters on the edge of a disastrous conflict with nuclear undertones, the world is rapidly spiralling towards a potential World War III . Russia is the world's most heavily nuclear armed power while Israel, which has opened multiple fronts in the Middle East with the latest target being Iran, is a covert nuke state. Apart from Russia and Israel, there are seven other nuclear-armed countries - the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea). According to a Stockholm International Peace Research Institute ( SIPRI ) report, all the nine nations have gone ahead with modernization of their nuclear program in 2024. Some of the countries have added a large number of nukes including upgrading of the existing weapons along with developing newer and more lethal versions. Nuclear warheads with each country The report states that in January 2025, there were an estimated 12,241 nuclear war heads in possession of the nine countries mentioned above with about 9,614 of them with the militaries for use. The nuclear armed countries had 3,912 nuclear weapons deployed for immediate use on their missiles and combat aircraft, while the remaining were stored away. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like NVDA: What's Next After the Selloff? Seeking Alpha Read Now Undo Russia and the US have the maximum number of deployed nuclear weapons. The SIPRI report claims that a small number of the deployed warheads may also belong to China. A total of about 2,100 warheads are mounted on missiles for immediate firing. While the world saw Russia and the US retiring and dismantling a large number of nuclear weapons since the end of the Cold War in 1991, the trend seems to be reversing with new weapons being developed and deployed at a rapid pace which is likely to quicken in the coming years. Live Events World nuclear forces, January 2025 Deployed Stored Military Stockpile Retired Total USA 1 770 1 930 3 700 1 477 5 177 Russia 1 718 2 591 4 309 1 150 5 459 UK 120 105 225 - 225 France 280 10 290 - 290 China 24 576 600 - 600 India - 180 180 - 180 Pakistan - 170 170 - 170 North Korea - 50 50 - 50 Israel - 90 90 - 90 "The era of reductions in the number of nuclear weapons in the world, which had lasted since the end of the cold war, is coming to an end. Instead, we see a clear trend of growing nuclear arsenals, sharpened nuclear rhetoric and the abandonment of arms control agreements," noted Hans M. Kristensen, Associate Senior Fellow with SIPRI's Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme and Director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists (FAS). Russia and the US had in 2010 entered into the Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (New START) which expires in February 2026. As the former in involved in a conflict with Ukraine and the US tied up behind the scenes in both the Europe and Middle East wars, the prospects of the treaty getting an extension or a new deal is extremely bleak. As part of their modernization program, both sides could rearm more missiles with multiple warheads as well as reactivate silos from which nukes were pulled out earlier. New non-strategic nuclear weapons by both and the development of new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) like Sarmat by Russia could result in increase in the nukes. China's nukes China's rapid development of nuclear weapons could force the US to adopt a tit-for-tat approach bring the memories of the Cold War era back. SIPRI estimates that China, the world's third largest nuclear power with 600 warheads, is growing its arsenal at rapid pace. . The country is estimated to have added 200 warheads since 2023. China has six major nuclear missile silos spread across the cold deserts in its north and mountains of the east with an estimated capacity of 350 ICBMs. Its pace of ICBM deployment is accelerating, and China could match Russia and the US in deploying nuke-armed missiles before the end of 2030. Painting a rather alarming picture, SIPRI reports that China can have 1,500 warheads by 2035, still only about one third of each of the current Russian and US nuclear stockpiles. Europe prepares for nuclear war Even since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, the United Kingdom and France have advocated for a larger nuclear weapon stockpile with the former also speaking about expanding its nuclear umbrella to the rest of Europe if the US decides to pull back as its President Donald Trump has said on multiple occasions. The UK's Integrated Review Refresh in 2023 speaks for increasing the number of warheads. The country may go for four more nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) along with maintaining the continuous at-sea nuclear deterrence, and delivering 'all the needed upgrades'. Similarly, France is going ahead with developing a third-generation SSBN and a new air-launched cruise missile. It is also upgrading its existing arsenal and delivery systems. India now has 180 nuclear warhead, at least 10 more than Pakistan. India is developing new canisterized missiles with Multiple Independently targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) capabilities. Pakistan, too, has been with China and North Korea's help modernizing its nuclear warheads. 'The combination of strikes on nuclear-related military infrastructure and third-party disinformation risked turning a conventional conflict into a nuclear crisis,' said Matt Korda, Associate Senior Researcher with SIPRI's Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme and Associate Director for the Nuclear Information Project at FAS. 'This should act as a stark warning for states seeking to increase their reliance on nuclear weapons.' North Korea has been developing its nuclear warheads as well as missiles with longer range to target the US mainland. The country is estimated to have 50 warheads with SIPRI reporting enough fissile material to produce up to 40 more nukes as well as on course to develop a tactical nuclear weapon. Israel has never admitted openly to having nuclear weapons but is likely to be in possession of 90 warheads. It is upgrading its plutonium production reactor site at Dimona while in 2024 the country also test-fired a missile propulsion system that could be related to its Jericho family of nuclear-capable ballistic missiles.
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Business Standard
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
China's nuclear arsenal growing fastest globally, may hit 1,500 by 2035
China's nuclear arsenal is growing faster than that of any other country, adding roughly 100 new warheads per year since 2023, according to estimates by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri). In its annual report on armaments, disarmament, and international security released on Monday, the institute said China is now estimated to hold at least 600 nuclear warheads. ICBM silos and long-term nuclear ambitions By January 2025, China had either completed or was nearing completion of around 350 new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) silos. These silos span three major desert sites in the north and three mountainous regions in the east of the country. If China maintains its current trajectory, it could possess a number of ICBMs comparable to those of Russia or the United States by 2030. Still, even if China reaches the upper estimate of 1,500 nuclear warheads by 2035, this would amount to only about one-third of the current arsenals of the US or Russia. Sipri Director Dan Smith raised concerns about the weakening of nuclear arms control frameworks and the risk of a renewed arms race. 'China is increasing its nuclear force steadily,' Smith warned, adding that the country could potentially reach 1,000 warheads within the next seven to eight years. Israel, India and Pakistan also expanding capabilities Israel—while officially maintaining strategic ambiguity regarding its nuclear weapons—is believed to be upgrading its arsenal. In 2024, it tested a missile propulsion system, potentially linked to its Jericho series of nuclear-capable ballistic missiles. Israel also appears to be enhancing its plutonium production reactor at the Dimona facility. India, meanwhile, expanded its nuclear stockpile in 2024 and continued developing new types of delivery systems, including 'canisterised' missiles. Once fully developed, these systems could enable India to store missiles with warheads already mounted and may allow for multiple warheads per missile. Pakistan also advanced its nuclear programme in 2024, developing new delivery systems and increasing its fissile material stock. Sipri analysts say this indicates a likely expansion of Pakistan's arsenal in the coming years. India-Pakistan tensions nearly spark nuclear crisis Earlier in 2025, military tensions between India and Pakistan escalated into a brief armed conflict. According to Sipri, this episode included strikes on nuclear-related military infrastructure and saw a surge in third-party disinformation campaigns. 'The combination of strikes on nuclear-related military infrastructure and third-party disinformation risked turning a conventional conflict into a nuclear crisis,' said Matt Korda, Associate Senior Researcher at Sipri's Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme and Associate Director at the Nuclear Information Project at FAS. 'This should act as a stark warning for states seeking to increase their reliance on nuclear weapons. Global nuclear stockpile in 2025 As of January 2025, the global nuclear stockpile was estimated at 12,241 warheads. Of these, about 9,614 were in military stockpiles and available for potential use. Around 3,912 warheads were deployed on missiles or aircraft, with the rest held in central storage. Approximately 2,100 of these deployed warheads were kept on high operational alert and mounted on ballistic missiles—nearly all of them belonging to either Russia or the United States. However, Sipri now suggests that China may also be maintaining some of its warheads in a launch-ready state during peacetime.
