Weapons explained
What each weapon type is, what it does and which countries have the most.
Strategic
Nuclear weapons
The most destructive weapons ever made: a single warhead can destroy a city. Nine countries are believed to possess them; Russia and the US…
Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)
A missile with a range of over 5,500 km that flies up out of the atmosphere and comes back down on a target on another continent within abo…
Ballistic missile submarine (SSBN)
A large nuclear-powered submarine that hides in the deep ocean carrying long-range nuclear missiles. Because it is almost impossible to fin…