Nuclear Weapons in 2022

As per Stockholm-based defence think tank SIPRI, India had 160 nuclear warheads as on January 2022 and it appears to be expanding its nuclear arsenal.

Details –

SIPRI has launched the findings of SIPRI Yearbook 2022, which assesses the current state of armaments, disarmament and international security.

Key findings of SIPRI Yearbook 2022 –

• Nuclear arsenals are expected to grow —
  • • Despite a marginal decrease in the number of nuclear warheads in 2021, nuclear arsenals are expected to grow over the coming decade.
    • This is due to the fact that the nine nuclear-armed states continue to modernise their nuclear arsenals. These nine states are – the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea).
    • The total number of nuclear weapons declined slightly between January 2021 and January 2022. However, the number will probably increase in the next decade.
• Nuclear arsenal — At the start of 2022, the 9 nuclear-armed states possessed an estimated 12,705 nuclear weapons.
• A mixed outlook for global security and stability —
  • • The 53rd edition of the SIPRI Yearbook reveals both negative and some hopeful developments in 2021.
    • Relations between the world’s great powers have deteriorated further at a time when humanity faces an array of profound common challenges.
• India and Pakistan —
  • • India and Pakistan appear to be expanding their nuclear arsenals.
    • Both countries introduced and continued to develop new types of nuclear delivery system in 2021.
    • India’s nuclear stockpile increased from 156 in January 2021 to 160 in January 2022. India does not share official data on its nuclear arsenal.
    • Pakistan’s nuclear stockpile has remained at 165 in January 2021 and January 2022.
    • India and Pakistan make statements about some of their missile tests but provide no information about the status or size of their arsenals.
• China is in the middle of a substantial expansion —
  • • China is in the middle of a substantial expansion of its nuclear weapon arsenal.
    • Satellite images have indicated the construction of over 300 new missile silos. A missile silo is also known as missile launch facility or nuclear silo.
    • Several additional nuclear warheads are thought to have been assigned to operational forces in 2021 following the delivery of new mobile launchers and a submarine.

About SIPRI –

• Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) is an independent international institute dedicated to research into conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament.
• Established in 1966, SIPRI provides data, analysis and recommendations, based on open sources, to policymakers, researchers, media and the interested public.
• SIPRI was established on the basis of a decision by the Swedish Parliament and receives a substantial part of its funding in the form of an annual grant from the Swedish Government.
• It releases the annual report ‘Trends in World Military Expenditure’.