*
*
Nuclear powers plan weapons spending spree, report finds
US to spend £700bn in next decade while Russia and Pakistan among those
assigning roles to weapons beyond deterrence
*
o
* Richard Norton-Taylor
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/richardnortontaylor>
* guardian.co.uk <http://www.guardian.co.uk/>, Sunday 30 October 2011
16.48 EDT
* Article history
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/oct/30/nuclear-powers-weapons-spending-report#history-link-box>
North Korea nuclear weapons test
A 2009 nuclear missile test in North Korea: the country's latest Musudan
missile is capable of reaching targets in Japan and Guam. Photograph:
Kcna/AFP/Getty Images
The world's nuclear powers are planning to spend hundreds of billions of
pounds modernising and upgrading weapons warheads and delivery systems
over the next decade, according to an authoritative report published on
Monday.
Despite government budget pressures and international rhetoric about
disarmament, evidence points to a new and dangerous "era of nuclear
weapons <http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/nuclear-weapons>", the report
for the British American Security Information Council (Basic) warns. It
says the US will spend $700bn (£434bn) on the nuclear weapons industry
over the next decade, while Russia
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/russia> will spend at least $70bn on
delivery systems alone. Other countries includingChina
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/china>, India
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/india>, Israel, France and Pakistan
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/pakistan> are expected to devote
formidable sums on tactical and strategic missile systems.
For several countries, including Russia, Pakistan, Israel and France,
nuclear weapons are being assigned roles that go well beyond deterrence,
says the report. In Russia and Pakistan, it warns, nuclear weapons are
assigned "war-fighting roles in military planning".
The report is the first in a series of papers for the Trident
Commission, an independent cross-party initiative set up by Basic. Its
leading members include former Conservative defence secretary Sir
Malcolm Rifkind, former Liberal Democrat leader and defence spokesman
Sir Menzies Campbell and former Labour defence secretary Lord Browne.
There is a strong case, they say, for a fundamental review of UK nuclear
weapons policy. The Conservatives in Britain's coalition government say
they want to maintain a Trident-based nuclear weapons system. However,
they have agreed to a "value for money" audit into a Trident replacement
as four new nuclear missiles submarines are alone estimated to cost
£25bn at the latest official estimate. The Lib Dems want to look at
other options. The paper, by security analyst Ian Kearns, is entitled
Beyond the United Kingdom: Trends in the Other Nuclear Armed States.
Pakistan and India, it warns, appear to be seeking smaller, lighter
nuclear warheads so they have a greater range or can be deployed over
shorter distances for tactical or "non-strategic" roles. "In the case of
Israel, the size of its nuclear-tipped cruise missile enabled submarine
fleet is being increased and the country seems to be on course, on the
back of its satellite launch rocket programme, for future development of
an inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM)," the report notes.
A common justification for the new nuclear weapons programmes is
perceived vulnerability in the face of nuclear and conventional force
development elsewhere. For example, Russia has expressed concern over
the US missile defence and Conventional Prompt Global Strike programmes.
China has expressed similar concerns about the US as well as India,
while India's programmes are driven by fear of China and Pakistan.
Pakistan justifies its nuclear weapons programme by referring to India's
conventional force superiority, the report observes.
In a country-by-country analysis, the report says:
• The US is planning to spend $700bn on nuclear weapons over the next
decade. A further $92bn will be spent on new nuclear warheads and the US
also plans to build 12 nuclear ballistic missile submarines,
air-launched nuclear cruise missiles and bombs.
• Russia plans to spend $70bn on improving its strategic nuclear triad
(land, sea and air delivery systems) by 2020. It is introducing mobile
ICBMs with multiple warheads, and a new generation of nuclear weapons
submarines to carry cruise as well as ballistic missiles. There are
reports that Russia is also planning a nuclear-capable short-range
missile for 10 army brigades over the next decade.
• China is rapidly building up its medium and long-range "road mobile"
missile arsenal equipped with multiple warheads. Up to five submarines
are under construction capable of launching 36-60 sea-launched ballistic
missiles, which could provide a continuous at-sea capability.
• France has just completed deployment of four new submarines equipped
with longer-range missiles with a "more robust warhead". It is also
modernising its nuclear bomber fleet.
• Pakistan is extending the range of its Shaheen II missiles, developing
nuclear cruise missiles, improving its nuclear weapons design as well as
smaller, lighter, warheads. It is also building new plutonium production
reactors.
• India is developing new versions of its Agni land-based missiles
sufficient to target the whole of Pakistan and large parts of China,
including Beijing. It has developed a nuclear ship-launched cruise
missile and plans to build five submarines carrying ballistic nuclear
missiles.
• Israel is extending its Jericho III missile's range, and is developing
an ICBM capability, expanding its nuclear-tipped cruise missile enabled
submarine fleet.
• North Korea <http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/north-korea> unveiled a
new Musudan missile in 2010 with a range of up to 2,500 miles and
capable of reaching targets in Japan. It successfully tested the
Taepodong-2 with a possible range of more than 6,000 miles sufficient to
hit half the US mainland. However, the report, says, "it is unclear
whether North Korea has yet developed the capability to manufacture
nuclear warheads small enough to sit on top of these missiles".
Iran's nuclear aspirations are not covered by the report.
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