Having nuclear weapons in the arsenal of a nation is an enviable luxury. But despite the economic advantages they provide, they are not without their drawbacks. North Korea, for example, has every incentive to keep its weapons under control, but it would not want to risk accidentally hitting another nation. Hence, nuclear weapons are still being produced even though they are not useful. The question is, should the United States continue to build them?
Although the number of nuclear weapons has declined, the threat remains. According to the latest estimates, nine countries in the world possess nuclear weapons. The global stockpile stands at close to 13,000, a far cry from the 60,000-strong arsenal during the Cold War. Moreover, the United States alone has nuclear-armed submarines that have a seven-times more destructive power than all of the World War II bombs combined.
Having nuclear weapons has other advantages as well. It slows down the arms races. However, it also requires long-term planning. Nuclear weapons and power programmes require technical and administrative teams and long-term planning. In addition, unstable governments are less likely to initiate such programmes. However, in some countries, the United States is an exception. This means that the United States is unlikely to get involved in another nuclear war. And so, the question remains, are nuclear weapons still being made?
Boosted weapons typically consist of implosion devices that contain deuterium or tritium gas. The high temperature triggers fusion. High-energy neutrons from the fusion reaction accelerate the fission chain reaction. Boosting has increased the efficiency of fission weapons by 100-fold since 1945, and it plays a crucial role in nearly every nuclear weapon in use today. Pakistan even tested a boosted weapon in 1998.
As the Cold War progressed, the U.S. continued to build bomb-making sites. In the 1950s, General Leslie Groves led the development of the Los Alamos National Laboratory under the direction of Robert Oppenheimer. Later, the Air Force created the Y-12 National Security Complex in Tennessee and the Hanford plutonium production facility in Washington. These sites were the most effective weapons of the Cold War, and today, they are still being manufactured.
The United States has long-range bombers. The first purpose-built nuclear bomber was the Convair B-36 Peacemaker. This aircraft served the USAF until 1959. A decade later, Boeing produced the B-52 Stratofortress. It was capable of carrying a large arsenal of nuclear bombs. This deterrence force was based on the Strategic Air Command and kept nuclear-armed bombers in the sky.
The United States began development of nuclear weapons during World War II, when President Franklin Roosevelt ordered it. A program began at the National Bureau of Standards, but British scientists urged the United States administration to take it over. The program moved to the Office of Scientific Research and Development and officially transferred to the United States Army in 1942. The Manhattan Project was a collaboration of the Americans, British, and Canadians. In September 1945, the United States launched its first nuclear test explosion and the bomb was dropped on Japan.
Today’s advanced weapons have many benefits. They allow scientists and engineers to refine previous designs and address evolving military requirements. They can hold hard and deeply buried targets. They can enhance the reliability and safety of American nuclear weapons, attract the best nuclear talent, and provide additional insight into adversaries’ nuclear programs. These are only a few of the benefits of modern nuclear weapons. The debate on whether they should be manufactured is important, but it is not enough to rule out the future.
In the past, the United States and Soviet Union were the only countries that were more likely to use nuclear weapons. However, there is a difference between planning and acting. Planners believe Presidents should be given a wide choice. However, Presidents will likely be cautious in using nuclear weapons, and use them sparingly when necessary. But if they do, they are likely to act carefully to ensure safety. The new nuclear states will likely be more cautious.