The interactive simulation site NUKEMAP by Alex Wellerstein depicts the multiple effects of nuclear explosions at various yields. Nuclear explosions are more powerful by factors of 10 million to 100 million than chemical explosions, and leave deadly radiation fallout that would contaminate air, soil, water and food supplies, similar to the disastrous Chernobyl nuclear reactor meltdown in 1986. Tactical nuclear weapons are substantially more destructive than their conventional counterparts even at the same explosive energy. There is heightened concern over these dual capability delivery systems because Russia has used many of these short-range missile systems, particularly the Iskander-M, to bombard Ukraine. Russia has updated its delivery systems to be able to carry either nuclear or conventional bombs. These missiles are mostly held in reserve in central depots in Russia.
Most are deployed on air-to-surface missiles, short-range ballistic missiles, gravity bombs and depth charges delivered by medium-range and tactical bombers, or naval anti-ship and anti-submarine torpedoes. Russia’s tactical nuclear weapons can be deployed by ships, planes and ground forces. Russia has retained more tactical nuclear weapons, estimated to be around 2,000, and relied more heavily on them in its nuclear strategy than the US has, mostly due to Russia’s less advanced conventional weaponry and capabilities. Israel’s undeclared nuclear arsenal is also believed to include tactical weapons. Pakistan, China, India, and North Korea all have several types of tactical nuclear weaponry. The UK and France have completely eliminated their tactical stockpiles. Most of its remaining stockpile, about 150 B61 gravity bombs, is deployed in Europe. Because low-yield nuclear weapons’ explosive force is not much greater than that of increasingly powerful conventional weapons, the US military has reduced its reliance on them.
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