| Nuclear weapons |
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Re-equipping the world's nuclear powers. Thousands billion added in the coming years for new warheads, missiles and submarines. Furthermore, the IAEA that Iran's nuclear ambitions remain.
The number of nuclear weapons in the world has decreased, but the arms
race may yet rise again. Now attention is being given to develop or
upgrade nuclear-missiles, submarines and warheads.
It is a fact that there is a development of weapons systems in all
nuclear powers, says Martin Goliath, department head of the nuclear
issues on the FOI.
This picture is confirmed in a recent report from the BASIC Trident
Commission, an independent political committee to provide input into
future decisions about Britain's nuclear weapons system.
United States spends the most. Nuclear-weapon-bearing systems and
warheads to be modernized or replaced by new. There is also an
investment in missile defense. The price tag is 4500 billion in ten
years, an increase of 17 percent compared to the current budget. Three
new factories will be built for another 600 billion. In addition to the
planned new fleet of nuclear-armed submarines. The bombs that are
placed on combat ready strategic carriers will be reduced from 1950 to
1550 before the 2018th.
Russia put 460 billion by 2020 on rockets and submarines, including two new classes of intercontinental ballistic missiles. The production will be doubled, with a large new factory at a cost of three billion. China is investing in intercontinental missiles, cruise missiles and nuclear-armed submarines. France has a new class of submarines and new aircraft carrying nuclear weapons, while the debate in Britain about the future of the country's nuclear weapons.
Much has changed since the Cold War. Nuclear weapons have other roles
and the situation in terms of deterrence is not as locked, says Martin
Goliath.
The Russian program is said to be partly a reaction to U.S. investments
in missile defense and ballistic missiles with conventional warheads.
The Chinese have been partly to do with concern for India's
regeneration. India's program is driven by fear of Pakistan and China,
whereas Pakistan's nuclear weapons program is a response to India's
large conventional advantage. North Korea is assumed to invest in
nuclear weapons in part to a greater weight in diplomatic contacts.
According to a new report from the IAEA, Iran continues to pursue a
nuclear weapons project in low-level uranium enrichment and simulations
of explosive. Iran denies the accusations.
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| Last Updated ( Monday, 28 November 2011 ) |
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