Nuclear weapons

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2025
Nuclear winter
Toon et al. simulated a nuclear scenario involving a potential nuclear exchange between India and Pakistan, modeling atmospheric effects from nuclear weapon detonations ranging from 15 kt to 100 kt on urban areas.
2025 United States estimated to hold 1,770 deployed warheads, 1,930 in reserve, and 1,477 retired and awaiting dismantlement, totaling 5,177 nuclear warheads.
2024
AGM-183 ARRW
In the fiscal year 2025 budget, no funding was allocated for procurement or further research and development of the AGM-183 ARRW missile program.
2024
Nuclear winter
The Independent Study is scheduled to release its final report, providing a comprehensive assessment of nuclear winter research findings.
2024
Nuclear risk during the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Multiple Russian government 'red lines' are crossed without nuclear weapons being used, reducing the immediate perceived nuclear threat
2024
Nuclear triads
Comprehensive deployment of nuclear triads by the United States, Russia, China, and India, with detailed inventories of nuclear warheads.
December 9 2024
Nuclear risk during the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Belarusian President Lukashenko confirmed the presence of Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus, specifically mentioning the Oreshnik missile system.
December 7 2024
Nuclear risk during the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Russia and Belarus signed an agreement providing security guarantees, including nuclear security and potential use of Russian nuclear weapons to repel aggressions.
November 19 2024
Nuclear risk during the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Putin signed a decree allowing Russia to use nuclear weapons in response to conventional attacks by a non-nuclear state supported by a nuclear power, effectively lowering the nuclear strike threshold.
September 25 2024
Nuclear risk during the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Putin warned the West that Russia would consider nuclear retaliation if attacked with conventional weapons, threatening nuclear powers supporting attacks against Russia.
September 20 2024
Nuclear risk during the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Russia attempted to test its newest ICBM, the RS-28 Sarmat, but the test failed, resulting in destruction of the launch silo and surrounding facilities.
August 2024
Nuclear risk during the Russian invasion of Ukraine
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi issued an urgent call for 'maximum restraint' from Russia and Ukraine regarding the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, due to significant military activity near the facility during the Kursk Oblast incursion.
May 2024
Nuclear risk during the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Ukrainian drones conducted attacks on two Russian early-warning long-range Voronezh radars, targeting sites in Armavir (southern Russia) and near Orsk in Orenburg Oblast, raising international concerns about escalating tensions in nuclear infrastructure vulnerabilities.
May 3 2024 Nuclear Notebook from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists published, detailing the US nuclear arsenal with 1,770 deployed weapons, 1,938 in reserve, totaling 3,708 in the stockpile, and 1,336 retired weapons.
March 2024
Parties to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty
Papua New Guinea ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, becoming the most recent country to do so.
March 17 2024
AGM-183 ARRW
Final planned end-to-end test launch of the AGM-183A conducted successfully from a B-52 bomber taking off from Andersen Air Force Base, with the USAF stating they 'gained valuable insights' without providing further details.
March 11 2024
AGM-183 ARRW
In the Fiscal Year 2025 budget release, no funding was allocated for procurement or further research and development of the AGM-183, effectively terminating the project.
March 1 2024
Nuclear risk during the Russian invasion of Ukraine
In an interview with El País, NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană states that NATO does not see an imminent threat of Russia using nuclear weapons, while criticizing Putin's dangerous rhetoric that erodes international trust.
February 29 2024
Nuclear risk during the Russian invasion of Ukraine
During his annual Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly, Russian President Vladimir Putin warns that more direct Western intervention in Ukraine would result in a nuclear conflict, threatening potential strikes on Western targets.
February 28 2024
AGM-183 ARRW
Andersen Air Force Base released pictures of a live AGM-183A carried by a B-52 bomber during a training event.
February 26 2024
Nuclear risk during the Russian invasion of Ukraine
French President Emmanuel Macron meets with European heads of state in Paris, declining to rule out the possibility of deploying Western military personnel in Ukraine, stating that 'anything is possible' to help Ukraine win the war.
2023
Nuclear winter
The U.S. National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine initiated an Independent Study on Potential Environmental Effects of Nuclear War, aimed at comprehensively evaluating existing research on nuclear winter.
2023
J. Robert Oppenheimer
Portrayed by Cillian Murphy in Christopher Nolan's film 'Oppenheimer', which won the Academy Award for Best Picture, with Murphy winning Best Actor.
2023
Nuclear close calls
Reports emerged suggesting that Trump had considered using nuclear weapons against North Korea in 2017.
2023
Richard Feynman
In the film Oppenheimer, directed by Christopher Nolan, Feynman is portrayed by actor Jack Quaid.
November 2023
AGM-183 ARRW
Despite previous cancellation, the program was announced to still be in active development following undisclosed additional testing.
November 2023 Junior Heritage Minister Amihay Eliyahu publicly calls for dropping a nuclear bomb over Gaza, which was interpreted as a potential tacit admission of Israel's nuclear capabilities. Prime Minister Netanyahu reprimanded and suspended the minister.
November 15 2023
AGM-183 ARRW
Lockheed Martin announced the program was ready for low-rate manufacture following development breakthroughs.
October 12 2023
AGM-183 ARRW
Another ARRW test conducted, with the Air Force again stating they 'gained valuable new insights into the capabilities of this new, cutting-edge technology'.
August 19 2023
AGM-183 ARRW
ARRW test conducted, with the Air Force stating they 'gained valuable new insights into the capabilities' of the weapon.
June 2023
Nuclear risk during the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Russian political scientist Sergey Karaganov calls for the use of nuclear weapons against NATO member states in Europe, arguing it is necessary to 'bring those who have lost their mind to reason'.
June 14 2023 New START Treaty data reported, showing the United States has 665 deployed ICBMs, SLBMs, and heavy bombers, with 1,389 nuclear warheads on these platforms.
March 2023
AGM-183 ARRW
The AGM-183 ARRW program was initially cancelled after multiple failed tests.
March 29 2023
AGM-183 ARRW
Assistant Secretary of the Air Force Andrew Hunter announced the AGM-183A program would not proceed, though the final two test flights would continue to collect data for future hypersonic programs.
March 29 2023
Nuclear risk during the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Russia's Defense Ministry announces a nuclear missile drill, including testing of nuclear-tipped RS-24 Yars missiles.
March 25 2023
Nuclear risk during the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Putin announces plans to install Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.
March 13 2023
AGM-183 ARRW
Hypersonic test-launch of an operational AGM-183A prototype from a Boeing B-52H Stratofortress at Edwards Air Force Base. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall declared the test a failure.
February 26 2023
Nuclear risk during the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Putin tells Russia-1 television that Russia must 'take into account' NATO's nuclear capabilities, claiming the West wants to 'liquidate' Russia.
February 21 2023
Nuclear risk during the Russian invasion of Ukraine
During a Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly, Putin announces Russia's suspension of participation in the New START nuclear weapons treaty with the United States.
February 21 2023
New START
Russian President Vladimir Putin announces suspension of Russia's participation in the New START treaty during the Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly, claiming the US and NATO would not be allowed to inspect Russian nuclear facilities.
January 2023
AGM-183 ARRW
Congressional Budget Office estimated a production run of 300 ARRWs would cost $14.9 million per missile, with a total program cost of $5.3 billion.
January 2023
Nuclear risk during the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Graham Allison wrote an analysis for Time presenting a seven-point summary of Putin's hypothetical intentions to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
January 25 2023
Nuclear risk during the Russian invasion of Ukraine
John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the US National Security Council, stated during a White House press briefing that the United States saw no indication of Putin's intention to use weapons of mass destruction or nuclear weapons, and no signs of plans to strike NATO territory.
January 24 2023
Nuclear risk during the Russian invasion of Ukraine
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists adjusted its Doomsday Clock to 90 seconds to midnight, advancing 10 seconds from the 2020 setting. This adjustment was primarily due to the increased nuclear escalation risk from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
January 22 2023
Nuclear risk during the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of the Duma, issues a threatening statement about potential nuclear retaliation if NATO supplies weapons to Ukraine, suggesting possible use of more powerful weapons in response to perceived threats to Russian security.
2022
Nuclear fallout
The US Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency published 'Planning Guidance for Response to a Nuclear Detonation', updating and expanding upon previous Civil Defense nuclear fallout protection frameworks.
December 16 2022
J. Robert Oppenheimer
United States Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm vacated the 1954 security clearance decision, affirming Oppenheimer's loyalty.
December 9 2022
AGM-183 ARRW
First All-Up-Round (AUR) test completed, including both booster and hypersonic glide vehicle. Test was partially successful, though test range sensors malfunctioned.
December 9 2022
AGM-183 ARRW
First All-Up-Round (AUR) test completed, including both booster and hypersonic glide vehicle, using a B-52H Stratofortress at Edwards Air Force Base. Test deemed partially successful, though test range sensors malfunctioned.
October 18 2022
Nuclear risk during the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Major General Kyrylo Budanov, Chief of Ukraine's Military Intelligence, states he does not believe Russia will use nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

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This contents of the box above is based on material from the Wikipedia articles List of nuclear triads, Nuclear weapons of the United States, AGM-183 ARRW, Richard Feynman, Nuclear fallout, New START, J. Robert Oppenheimer, Nuclear winter, Nuclear close calls, List of parties to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, Nuclear risk during the Russian invasion of Ukraine & Nuclear weapons and Israel, which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.