Increase In India’s Nuclear Stockpile
The SIPRI report also highlights that India may have added eight nuclear warheads to its stockpile in the past year, increasing from 164 to 172. India has been steadily increasing its nuclear stockpile since 2014, when it was assessed to be at 100 warheads. This growth has allowed India to close the gap with Pakistan and surpass it in terms of nuclear weapons. Indian nuclear delivery platforms include fighter jets, land-based ballistic missiles and submarine launched missiles.
China’s Nuclear Weapons Readiness
The SIPRI report also mentions that China has recently elevated its nuclear weapons readiness. China has placed warheads on high operational alert and paired them with long-range missiles for potential short-notice strikes. This indicates a significant development in China’s nuclear strategy. It is worth noting that China’s nuclear force is currently three times larger than India’s, with an estimated 500 warheads.
Global Nuclear Trends
While the global number of nuclear warheads continues to decrease as Cold War-era weapons are dismantled, there has been a year-on-year increase in the number of operational nuclear warheads. In January 2024, there were approximately 9,585 nuclear warheads in military stockpiles worldwide, with 3,904 deployed and around 2,100 on high operational alert. The majority of these warheads belong to Russia and the USA.
India’s nuclear stockpile has surpassed Pakistan’s for the first time in 25 years, with India estimated to possess 172 warheads compared to Pakistan’s 170. This information is based on a report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). It is important to note that China’s nuclear arsenal is currently three times larger than India’s, with 500 warheads.
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