Strategy Battles Editorials · Strategic Intelligence Nuclear Readiness Tracker Monitor the nuclear posture, arsenal size, delivery systems and readiness levels of every nuclear-armed state worldwide.
Strategic Monitor · 18 April 2026
Last updated: 18 April 2026 · Strategy Battles Editorials
~12,500 Total Nuclear Warheads Worldwide Source: Federation of American Scientists · SIPRI · Bulletin of Atomic Scientists
Nuclear State Assessments
🇺🇸 United States
DEFCON 3 Total Warheads (est.) 5,550
1,670Deployed
Delivery Systems ICBM (Minuteman III) · SLBM (Trident II) · B-52 · B-2 Spirit
Nuclear Doctrine Second strike capability. No first use not declared. Extended deterrence to NATO allies.
Current Status Normal elevated readiness. B-21 Raider entering service. Columbia-class SSBN programme underway. STRATCOM at standard alert posture.
🇷🇺 Russia
ELEVATED Total Warheads (est.) 6,257
1,588Deployed
Delivery Systems ICBM (RS-28 Sarmat) · SLBM (Bulava) · Tu-160 · Kinzhal hypersonic
Nuclear Doctrine Escalate to de-escalate. First use permitted if conventional war threatens state survival. Nuclear rhetoric used as coercion.
Current Status Elevated posture since Ukraine invasion. Multiple nuclear exercises conducted. RS-28 Sarmat declared operational. Repeated nuclear warnings issued to NATO.
🇨🇳 China
EXPANDING Total Warheads (est.) 500+
~350Deployed
Delivery Systems DF-41 ICBM · JL-2 SLBM · DF-17 hypersonic · H-6 bomber
Nuclear Doctrine No first use declared. Minimum deterrence being revised. Rapid expansion of arsenal underway. Warhead count expected to triple by 2035.
Current Status Fastest nuclear build-up in history. 300+ new missile silos under construction. Nuclear submarine patrols increasing. Doctrine shifting toward launch-on-warning.
🇰🇵 North Korea
HIGH ALERT Total Warheads (est.) 40-50
UnknownDeployed
Delivery Systems Hwasong-17 ICBM · Hwasong-18 · KN-23 SRBM · Submarine launched
Nuclear Doctrine First use authorised by law. Preemptive strike doctrine adopted 2022. Nuclear weapons fully integrated with conventional military forces.
Current Status ICBM capability fully operational. Solid-fuel missiles reduce launch warning time. Miniaturised warheads confirmed. Tactical nuclear weapons programme active.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
NORMAL Total Warheads (est.) 225
~120Deployed
Delivery Systems Trident II D5 SLBM (Vanguard-class SSBN)
Nuclear Doctrine Continuous At Sea Deterrence (CASD) since 1968. Sub-strategic role. Extended deterrence within NATO.
Current Status One SSBN on patrol at all times. Dreadnought-class replacement programme underway. Warhead cap raised to 260 in 2021 integrated review.
🇫🇷 France
NORMAL Total Warheads (est.) 290
~280Deployed
Delivery Systems SLBM (M51) · ASMP-A air-launched cruise missile · Rafale F3-R
Nuclear Doctrine Strict sufficiency principle. Independent deterrent — not integrated into NATO nuclear planning. Extended deterrence discussions ongoing.
Current Status Standard operational posture. M51.3 missile development ongoing. Third-generation SSBN programme announced. Discussing European nuclear deterrence role.
🇵🇰 Pakistan
ELEVATED Total Warheads (est.) 165+
UnknownDeployed
Delivery Systems Shaheen-III MRBM · Nasr SRBM · Ra'ad cruise missile
Nuclear Doctrine Full spectrum deterrence. First use against India explicitly not ruled out. Tactical nuclear weapons for battlefield use confirmed.
Current Status Arsenal growing fastest after China. Tactical nuclear weapons developed specifically for battlefield use against Indian conventional forces. India-Pakistan tensions remain elevated.
🇮🇳 India
NORMAL Total Warheads (est.) 164+
UnknownDeployed
Delivery Systems Agni-V ICBM · K-4 SLBM · Brahmos cruise missile
Nuclear Doctrine No first use. Massive retaliation declared. Credible minimum deterrence. SSBN programme achieving second-strike capability.
Current Status Agni-V with MIRV capability confirmed. First SSBN INS Arihant on patrol. Arsenal focused on Pakistan and China deterrence simultaneously.
🇮🇱 Israel
UNDISCLOSED Total Warheads (est.) ~90 (estimated)
UndisclosedDeployed
Delivery Systems Jericho III ICBM · Dolphin-class submarine (SLCM suspected) · F-35I
Nuclear Doctrine Deliberate nuclear ambiguity — neither confirm nor deny. Samson Option — massive retaliation if state survival threatened.
Current Status Arsenal never officially confirmed. Believed to maintain second-strike capability via submarine launched cruise missiles. F-35I certified for nuclear delivery suspected.