Updated December 2024 Multiple Independently-targetable Reentry Vehicles (MIRVs) were originally developed in the early 1960s to permit a missile to deliver multiple nuclear warheads to different targets. In contrast to a traditional missile, which carries one warhead, MIRVs can carry multiple warheads. For instance, a Russian MIRVed missile under development may be able to carry […]
Nuclear Governance in a New Era: Responsibilities and Challenges
The Global Nexus Initiative (GNI) is a unique project that combines experts from the nuclear industry and leading energy, climate change and nuclear security advocacy organizations. The nuclear governance system is facing an unprecedented challenge as traditional nuclear suppliers that have built the backbone of the safety, security, and nonproliferation regime face new competition to […]
Fact Sheet: Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (also known as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, or NPT) is an international agreement designed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, promote cooperation between states on peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and advance nuclear disarmament. The NPT was opened for signature on July 1, 1968, and the […]
Fact Sheet: The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT)
Updated January 2025 The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) is a multilateral agreement that prohibits the explosive testing of nuclear weapons. The CTBT opened for signatures on September 24, 1996, but the agreement is still in the ratification stage. The United States has signed, but has not yet ratified the treaty. The United States conducted […]
Fact Sheet: Global Nuclear Weapons Inventories in 2017
Unless otherwise specified, all information in this chart comes from Kristensen’s and Norris’s Status of World Nuclear Forces 2017 CHART: Global Nuclear Weapons Inventories 2017 Deployed Non-deployed Retired Total United States[i] ~1,740a ~2,260 ~2,800 ~6,800 Russia[ii] ~1,950a ~2,350 ~2,700 ~7,000 France ~280 ~10 * ~290 United Kingdom ~120 ~95 * ~215 China 0 […]
