The question, Can Nuclear Weapons reach United States? Has been on the minds of many since the Cold War ended. Nuclear weapons are a threat to our country and to the world. It is not impossible for a country to develop nuclear weapons. Several countries have nuclear arsenals, including the United States, Great Britain, India, and China. Although North Korea is rumored to be developing a nuclear warhead, it is unclear if this would be enough to reach the United States.
In the event of an attack, there are a number of simple steps that you can take that could save your life. The first one is to evacuate as far away from the blast area as possible. This means moving to a shelter more than a half-mile away from the blast site. If possible, stay at a shelter and avoid staring at the flash. If you live in a building, find shelter above the 9th floor.
In the United States, there are many aging nuclear weapons that have not been designed for use in the future. The National Nuclear Security Administration has begun a process known as life-extension to extend the usefulness of some of these weapons. The program is called the Stockpile Responsiveness Program, and it has been effective at exercising critical nuclear weapons design skills. These skills were not fully exercised during the Cold War, but are essential to modern warhead development programs.
While North Korea recently conducted two tests of new intercontinental ballistic missiles, it is important to note that Russia’s missiles are more sophisticated than North Korea’s, making it difficult to detect. In addition, to shoot down these missiles, the US missile defense system would have to fire multiple interceptors. As such, the system could easily become overwhelmed. The US does have other systems to protect smaller areas, including the Aegis system that fires missiles from ships or land-based launchers. Meanwhile, the Patriot system is a mobile ground-based system, and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, which fires missiles at low altitudes.
However, the current conflicts are unlikely to lead to a nuclear strike. It is unlikely that Russia would provoke the US, and the United States’ NATO allies. The threat from Russia is much more likely to come from the mismanagement of the Chernobyl nuclear site. Regardless of what happens, the United States will never allow such a threat to take place. And the only way to prevent this is to stay alert and be prepared for it.
The US and Russia have both developed nuclear war plans. A smarter approach would involve countering the enemy’s nuclear force rather than attacking a single city, which isn’t as strategic as other cities. And New York City is not nearly as important as other cities in the world. So, the question becomes: “Can Nuclear Weapons reach United States?”
Operation Paperclip was the first test conducted by the United States using a thermonuclear weapon. It was the largest nuclear weapon tested in the U.S., with a 15-megaton warhead. The fallout exploded at such high altitudes that a 320-foot deep crater was left behind. Another nuclear weapon test was Shot Sedan (or Operation Plowshare) in 1953, yielding 104 kilotons. The Nevada Test Site was destroyed in the process. A summary of the United States’ nuclear testing can be found at the website below.
What can the United States do to prevent this? Thankfully, the New START Treaty limits Russia’s nuclear-armed missiles to 1,550 kilometers. As a result, the United States and Russian Federation have agreed to extend the treaty until 2026. A meaningful stockpile freeze requires the United States to maintain the nuclear weapons it possesses. This is a long-term goal, and the U.S. has every incentive to maintain its status as the world’s most powerful nation.
The world currently has 13,080 nuclear warheads. In the Cold War, the United States had more than 60,000 warheads. Russia now holds the highest number of nuclear weapons. The Russians currently have the largest number of deployed warheads at 6,257. It is estimated that only 1,458 of the warheads are actively deployed. The remaining 3039 and 1,760 are either inactive or retired.