A graphic look at the American Nuclear Arsenal

A Look at the American Nuclear Arsenal, From 1945 to 2013 http://www.nationaljournal.com/defense/a-look-at-the-american-nuclear-arsenal-from-1945-to-2013-20140117 By Matt Vasilogambros

With the Air Force’s handling of the nuclear arsenal in question this week, here’s a look at the program itself in one chart.  When it comes to America’s nuclear arsenal, any error could be catastrophic.

That’s why news of corruption and crime coming out of the U.S. Air Force this week was so alarming. On Wednesday, the Air Force said that 34 officers responsible for launching this country’s nuclear missiles were suspended because they were cheating on their monthly proficiency tests on how to operate the warheads.

Additionally, other Air Force officers in charge of nuclear codes are involved in an investigation involving illegal drugs.

Air Force officials say the country’s nuclear arsenal is safe. But what does it actually look like?

Using statistics from a Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists study from September, here is a look [see chart] at nuclear weapons since 1945. The number of nuclear weapons stopped its steady incline in 1986 after the U.S. and Soviet Union agreed to two nuclear arms reduction treaties.

January 18, 2014 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized