We all know that nuclear weapons, being the most powerful weapons on the planet, possess immense destructive capability, and their lethality is evident. Therefore, they are not something that ordinary nations can possess.
It is noteworthy that currently, around the world, including the five permanent members of the United Nations, only nine countries have nuclear weapons, with Russia, the United States, and China holding the largest arsenals. Given that we are currently in a period of peace, it is very difficult for large-scale wars to break out. Deterrent weapons are also rarely utilized in actual war zones.
The destructive power of nuclear weapons is extremely high.
Therefore, since nuclear weapons cannot be used at will, how do these nuclear-armed nations maintain their nuclear arsenals, and what happens to them if they are not used for a long period? Let us explore.
Generally speaking, if nuclear weapons are not used for an extended period, they may exceed their shelf life, and the typical lifespan of a nuclear warhead is about 20 years. However, the shelf life of a nuclear warhead is not static, and proper storage and maintenance can significantly extend the lifespan of nuclear warheads, thus saving production costs.
Of course, if a nuclear warhead reaches the end of its shelf life, it needs to be replaced, and old parts must be maintained or dismantled, using conventional explosives for detonation, breaking it down into nuclear and non-nuclear components, and then recycling usable parts or disposing of them to reduce nuclear contamination and enhance environmental protection.
Thus, to continue maintaining the number of nuclear weapons and the nuclear threat to other countries, a detailed nuclear weapons development plan is needed, recording the production timeline of each type of nuclear weapon and noting their expiration dates. Consequently, they should be replaced to avoid greater impacts on military force development after expiration.
According to related data, one-third of Russia’s annual military spending is used to maintain nuclear warheads, while the United States allocates approximately $40 billion for the maintenance of its nuclear arsenal. Why are nuclear maintenance costs staggering? The main reason is that the total number of nuclear warheads in the world today is around 15,000, with China, the United States, and Russia holding the majority. The larger the quantity, the higher the maintenance costs naturally are.
Therefore, not only does the development of nuclear weapons require substantial investment, but the maintenance and preservation of nuclear weapons also necessitate significant investment to sustain daily operational costs, which represents a considerable national budget.
In summary, as a deterrent, although nuclear weapons have significant power, there are many challenges behind them that pose great difficulties for nuclear-armed countries in developing nuclear weapons. They must seek truth from reality and use nuclear weapons cautiously to contribute meaningfully to promoting global peace and development. This also reflects the profound significance of the existence of nuclear weapons.
