Stockpile count
Context:
In its annual study released on Monday, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) noted that China upgraded its nuclear arsenal from 350 warheads in January 2022 to 410 warheads in January 2023.
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
- Establishment: SIPRI was founded in 1966 and has its headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden. It was established to conduct research and disseminate knowledge on topics about security, disarmament, and peace.
- Independence: SIPRI is a stand-alone research organisation. It can retain objectivity in its research and analysis because it is not connected to any political or governmental organisation.
- Research Focus: The main areas of research interest for SIPRI include disarmament, arms control, peacebuilding, and conflict resolution. It carries out substantial studies on these subjects and seeks to offer policymakers, academics, and the general public evidence-based analyses.
- Publications: SIPRI creates a variety of publications, including the SIPRI Yearbook, which is its flagship. The Yearbook provides a yearly summary of changes in international security, initiatives at arms control, military budget, and arms transfers. It is widely regarded as a reliable source of knowledge on these topics.
- Information gathering: SIPRI compiles and keeps up huge databases on military spending, arms transfers, and nuclear weapons. By researchers, decision-makers, and journalists alike, its data is highly valued and frequently cited. Global Perspective: SIPRI’s research has an international focus and addresses both global and local security challenges. It strives to improve international communication and cooperation while presenting a thorough grasp of security concerns.
- Collaborations: To advance peace and security, SIPRI works with governments, international organisations, and civil society organisations. It actively participates in policy discussions and attends conferences and workshops held abroad.
- Impact: The research and analysis conducted by SIPRI have had a substantial influence on policy discussions and decision-making procedures about disarmament, arms control, and peacebuilding. Its work is respected for its objectivity and methodical use of evidence.
- Education and Outreach: By putting on seminars, hosting training sessions, and publishing research findings, SIPRI also helps with education and outreach initiatives. It aims to increase understanding and awareness of peace and security concerns among different stakeholders.
- Global Reputation: SIPRI is highly regarded as a world expert in the study of peace. It has gained respect and power in academic circles, groups that make policy, and international organisations thanks to its knowledge and contributions.
Intercontinental ballistic missile
- A long-range missile called an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is made for transporting nuclear or conventional warheads over extremely long distances. These missiles can reach targets on various continents and can travel great distances—typically thousands of km.
- Due to their capacity to cause serious harm to an adversary’s territory, ICBMs are one of the main elements of a country’s strategic nuclear deterrent.
- Range: ICBMs may travel over thousands of kilometres to their intended targets, allowing them to traverse continents or seas. They are made to be launched from one nation and hit a target in a different nation.
- Speed: ICBMs can travel at incredible speeds, frequently exceeding Mach 20 (20 times the speed of sound), because of their potent rocket engines. They can elude opposing defences and get to their targets more rapidly thanks to their tremendous velocity.
- Payload: ICBM payloads can include nuclear, conventional, or even multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs) warheads. ICBM nuclear warheads have the power to wreak havoc and broad destruction.
- Guidance Systems: To correctly travel and hit their intended targets, ICBMs have highly developed guidance systems. Inertial guidance, star navigation, and satellite-based systems are some examples of these guiding mechanisms.
- Launch Platforms: ICBMs are launched from submarines, transportable platforms, or silos that are based on the ground. Mobile platforms and submarines offer enhanced survivability and flexibility, while ground-based silos give a robust and secure launch platform.
- Strategic Deterrence: One of the main uses of ICBMs is to act as a deterrent against potential enemies. Enemies may be deterred from attacking owing to the threat of huge reprisal if we have the power to launch deadly nuclear strikes from far-off areas.
