How much does a nuclear bomb cost, where are they hidden, and who decides to launch them?

All the way via World Warfare II, the US dropped two atomic bombs—”Itsy-bitsy Boy” on Hiroshima and “Elephantine Man” on Nagasaki—causing big destruction and loss for Japan. Today time, countries spherical the field are spending a staggering USD 91.4 billion yearly good to own their nuclear weapons. This equals about USD 2,898 every 2nd, or virtually Rs. 2.5 lakh per 2nd—an amount elevated than the annual GDP of extra than 100 countries.

In Pakistan, F-16 fighter jets are stationed at bases love Mushaf (Sargodha) and Shahbaz, and it is miles believed that the Sargodha Weapons Storage Complex, located about 10 km away, properties its nuclear arsenal. Pakistan possesses diverse varieties of missiles equivalent to Abdali, Shaheen, Ghauri, Hatf, and others. Selections regarding nuclear strikes in Pakistan are taken by the Nationwide Interpret Authority, which is led by the High Minister.

Who decides to initiating a nuclear bomb?

Globally, presidents or high ministers attain circuitously uncover a nuclear strike on their very agree with. As an different, they own salvage codes (dapper codes) required to authorize a initiating. On the opposite hand, the right firing of a nuclear missile is implemented by a selected tell team at the bottom operational stage. The decision is mostly made after consulting high security entities love the Cabinet Committee on Security, Nationwide Security Consultant (NSA), and the Chief of Defence Workers. For instance, the US President carries a “nuclear soccer”—a briefcase containing war plans and purpose data, whereas the Russian President has a identical case for launching nuclear weapons.

India has a principal missile arsenal that entails Agni, Shaurya, Pralay, and BrahMos, all capable of delivering nuclear strikes. It additionally possesses a nuclear triad—the flexibility to initiating nuclear assaults from land, air, and sea. India follows a “No First Exercise” nuclear protection, which formula it can per chance now not ever strike first with a nuclear weapon—but if attacked, it promises to acknowledge with plump power.

In 1957, a nuclear bomb by chance dropped from an airplane in New Mexico. Fortunately, it didn't detonate, preventing a difficulty. In 1958, a B-47 bomber dropped a nuclear bomb in South Carolina, but good fortune appreciated the scenario because the nuclear weapon remained intact contained in the missile. In 1961, a B-52 bomber carrying two nuclear bombs crashed in California. In 1965, a airplane launched from an American airplane provider dropped a nuclear bomb into the ocean, and it has never been discovered.

All the way via the Chilly Warfare, the worldwide nuclear bomb count virtually reached 60,000. To deal with this, nuclear disarmament purposes had been introduced. Handiest South Africa voluntarily dismantled its whole nuclear arsenal, freeing itself from nuclear weapons.

In August 1945, the US dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing between 125,000 and 250,000 of us. The cities persevered the devastating effects of the atomic bombs for over 50 years.

International locations that posses nuclear weapons

In accordance with the Stockholm World Peace Compare Institute’s 2024 file, nine countries currently luxuriate in over 12,000 nuclear weapons: Russia, the US, China, France, the United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea. Russia holds 2,815 nuclear warheads, the U.S. has 1,928, China possesses 410, France has 290, the UK holds 225, Pakistan has 170, and India has 172 nuclear weapons. North Korea, with the smallest stockpile, has 30 nuclear bombs.

Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal is valued at roughly USD 4.455 billion. If Pakistan had been to promote all its nuclear weapons, it can certain its foreign debt, which stands at spherical USD 27.4 billion.

Presently, constructing a nuclear bomb or warhead costs between USD 18 million (Rs. 1530 crore) and USD 53 million (Rs. 4516 crore), reckoning on diverse components. This implies the general tag of a nuclear bomb machine shall be as excessive as Rs. 4,500 crore. On the opposite hand, these costs can vary between countries.

In accordance with a 1998 file by the Federation of American Scientists, the B61-12 nuclear bomb from the U.S. is believed about highly lethal, with a warhead priced at USD 28 million. On the opposite hand, when factoring in the missile, initiating airplane, initiating pads, and repairs, the general tag of a nuclear weapon is spherical USD 270 million or roughly Rs. 2,300 crore.