Weapons around the world

Physics Web ^ | Aug 2005 | Jon Wolfsthal

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Nuclear weapons remain the most powerful force ever invented by humankind. They can be constructed with either highly enriched uranium (over 20% 235U) or plutonium. Most modern nuclear weapons rely on a combination of fission and fusion, using the initial nuclear release from a core of uranium or plutonium to ignite a secondary fusion of lighter elements. The first nuclear weapons developed by the US had explosive yields equivalent to 10-20 kt of TNT, while most of today's deployed weapons range from 100-500 kt in yield. In all, there are approximately 27,600 nuclear weapons in existence.

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About the author: Jon Wolfsthal is deputy director for non-proliferation at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Washington, DC, e-mail jwolfsthal@ carnegieendowment.org

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HUMINT NOTE* Iran’s nuclear power plant designs are capable of producing the type of plutonium that can be used to make a nuclear warhead. The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is a document that does not safeguard against Iranian aggression. Supplying and retrieving nuclear fuel is a reasonable safeguard if Iran were to abandon its nuclear fuel cycle. It has not agreed to do so and suggests it will never give up its rights under the NPT. While the free world has agreed to reduce its nuclear arsenals, Iran has made a conscious decision toward creating its own.

TRANSLATION: “Iran calls for the destruction of Israel” The missle is the SHAHAB III which is capable of striking Israel

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