United States Nuclear Forces
American strategic delivery systems are divided into a triad, or three different modes of delivering nuclear weapons to the other side's targets.
The nuclear triad consists of long-range bombers, land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs). This division of delivery systems provides the foundation of deterrence by assuring that each side has a second-strike capability if attacked. Under START II, all operational MX missiles, which are housed at F. E. Warren AFB in Wyoming, are to be deactivated by 2007. Also to comply with START II, the Navy will have to reduce the number of warheads on each missile or retire additional subs--or both. Under the current timetable, SLBMs will be allowed to carry no more than 2,160 warheads by the end of 2004, and no more than 1,750 by the end of 2007.
| ICBMs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Launchers |
Warhead x yield
(kilotons) |
Total
warheads |
Total
megatons |
| Minuteman III: | 500 | 1,500 | 404 | |
| Mk-12 | (200) | 3 W62 x 170 (MIRV) | (600) | (102) |
| Mk-12A | (300) | 3 W78 x 335 (MIRV) | (900) | (302) |
| MX/Peacekeeper | 50 | 10 W87 x 300 (MIRV) | 500 | 150 |
| Total | 550 | 2,000 | 554 | |
| SLBMs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name |
Launchers/
SSBNs |
Warhead x yield
(kilotons) |
Total
warheads |
Total
megatons |
| Trident I C-4 | 192/8 | 8 W76 x 100 (MIRV) | 1,536 | 154 |
| Trident II D-5 | 240/10 | 1,920 | 336 | |
| Mk-4 | 8 W76 x 100 (MIRV) | (1,536) | (154) | |
| Mk-5 | 8 W88 x 475 (MIRV) | (384) | (182) | |
| Total | 432/18 | 3,456 | 490 | |
| Bombers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Launchers |
Warhead x yield
(kilotons) |
Total
warheads |
Total
megatons |
| B-2 Spirit | 16 | ALCM/W80-1 x 5-150 | 400 | 60 |
| B61-7/-11, B83 bombs | 950 | 700 | ||
| B-52H Stratofortress | 56 | ACM/W80-1 x 5-150 | 400 | 60 |
| Total | 72 | 1,750 | 820 | |
| Grand Total | 1,074 | ~7,200 | ~1,850 |
|---|
US TACTICAL NUCLEAR DELIVERY VEHICLES
Virtually every military fighter, or attack airplane can deliver nuclear bombs. Such short-range air-delivered nuclear weapons, operated by the US Air Force, have not been curtailed by any treaty or unilateral initiative. Land-based and sea-based tactical nukes, as they are called, have been removed by treaty mandate or unilateral initiatives. Some have been destroyed and others stockpiled. Deployed tactical nuclear weapons are now restricted to various modifications to the B-61 gravity, or free-fall, bomb. US aircraft capable of delivering this weapon are the A-4, A-6, A-7, AV-8B, F-4, F-15, F-16, F-18, F-111, and presumably the F-117 stealth fighter. NATO aircraft so capable are the F-4, F-100, F-104, and the Tornado.
Information compiled by Robert S. Norris and William M. Arkin of the Natural Resources Defense Council. Inquiries should be directed to:
NRDC, 1200 New York Avenue, N.W., Suite 400, Washington, D.C., 20005 (v) 202-289-6868.
Source: Bulletin of Atomic Scientists and NRDC
