How many nuclear bombs (or warheads) are there in the US? (or the World?)?

Answer 1

9960 intact warheads in the US inventory, 5735 in operational status.

Worldwide is between 27000 and 28000 total intact warheads, 20000 or so active.

I'd also wager a guess theres a few more floating around unaccounted for.

sources for both are below.

Answer 2

Stockpiled - Deliverable
US: 10,640 - 6,390
Russia 16,000 - 3,242
Brit 200 - 200
France 350 - 350
China ~400 ~325
Israel 200 - 200
India 150 - 110
Pakis 75 - 75
N.Korea ~13 ~13

You may as well know where they are all aimed. Here's a brief summary: (but as you can imagine, it's only best guess)

N.Korea: Seoul is within tactical range,limited capacity for direct attack on continental USA, unless from medium range missile fired from a ship or sneaked-on weapon to US port. Most likely target is US forces in S.Kor and Japan.

Iran: poses little threat to continental US, largest threat is strike at Israel, main threat is future years when they do possess an operational nuke.

Pakistan: ally now but an unstable one, possibility their nukes can be taken over by terrorist elements against the US.

India: Ally but more stable, continued confrontation over Kashmir raises the possibility of a nuclear war, under a war situation, fanatical elements could put the control of weapon systems into their hands.

Terrorists: this is a new post-Cold War threat, not involve state actors or rational leaders. Many terrorists seek martyrdom and would see a US strike on a Muslim target as a positive step toward turning Muslim world against the US.

Britain,France,Israel: have sizable arsenals, concern is over the theft,pilfreage or diversion, as well as unauthorized or ciminal action to launch, which would have negative consequences for the US.

US: strategy is twofold: countervalue and counterforce targeting. The first on major cities,industrial complexes, and critical economic modes, with reduncy. The 2nd targets weapons systems before they can be launched, success relied on preemptive strike and maintenance of high alert forces, ready to launch on warning...ie, hair triggers.

These are general guidances, the actual targest are kept on list contained on the highly classified Single Integrated Operational Plan (SIOP). At the moment of decision, only the President can issue the command based on his reading of the SIOP. The world is continuously less than 30 minutes away from full scale nuclear war, unfortunately still at this time.

And now, the assessment for our friends in Russia:
From the point of view of strategic nuclear weapons, Russian is the main concern. The end of the Cold War has brought a sobering awareness of the vulnerabilities of their nuclear complex, their security is downgraded with some assets left in new and unstable countries. Old habits die hard, the suspicions of US intentions are still there, look at the post-Cold War incident on Jan. 25, 1995 -

Russia almost launched a nuclear attack after a Norwegian missile launch for scientific research was detected from Spitsbergen and thought to be an attack on Russia, launched five minutes from Moscow. For the first time in history the Soviat briefcase is activated.

Getting back to targeting, the presence of highly survivable mobile systems, both in the US and Russia, vis-a-vis land-based systems, bombers and subs. has made countervalue and counterforce targeting obsolete. Both sides have recognized MAD and any launch would be national suicide. The only threat from Russia then is the irrational actions of rogue commanders or accidental launches from an aging control-command system.

And finally China: has some long range capability, covering most of continental USA. they have stated a "no-first-use' policy, even over the impending Taiwan crisis. Their real competition is economic and political, threatening to dominate the world markets. Russia is trying to sell strategic bombers and nuclear subs which would be of concern. There is some potential for future nuclear confrontation, but presently we are in a nuclear standoff with them.

Answer 3

I believe the "official" number is 2,800...BUT many nuclear delivery devices have as many as 15 warheads each.

Answer 4

I sat for three years on one of the top ten most top secret bases in the country. We had plenty and the other 9 had at least as many. However, if I told you, I would have to kill you.

Answer 5

The Last Official number was 2,700

Answer 6

don't forget about some others that r currently unusable. the usaf lost some bombers out in the ocean carrying nukes. the brits or russians (forgot which) lost subs carrying nukes

Answer 7

Enough to exterminate all the roaches on earth and every other living thing.

Answer 8

Too Many my friend