Chinese Nuclear forces 2016.pdfVIP

Bulletin IT IS 6 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT of the Atomic Scientists ® Nuclear notebook Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists 66(6) 134–141 ! The Author(s) 2010 Reprints and permissions: Chinese nuclear forces, 2010 sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/0096340210387046 Robert S. Norris and Hans M. Kristensen Abstract The authors write about ChinaÕs nuclear arsenal, one known for its obscure and opaque nuclear delivery systems and even more inscrutable nuclear weapons storage and production. Despite the secrecy, the authors are able to present an inventory of the countryÕs land-based missiles, submarines and sea-based missiles, aircraft, cruise missiles, and provide information on the nationÕs warhead storage and production. Keywords aircraft, China, cruise missiles, land-based missiles, sea-based missiles, submarine, warhead production, warhead storage onsiderable uncertainty sur- weapon systems by roughly 25 percent rounds the composition and over the past five years, according to Cfuture development of ChinaÕs Pentagon estimates (Defense nuclear forces; however, we estimate Department, 2005, 2010). This growth that China has approx