🇺🇸 United States Nuclear Arsenal

In 2025, United States has a total of 5277 nuclear warheads, including 1770 deployed. They made 1030 tests between 1945 and 1992.

The United States maintains the world’s most sophisticated nuclear triad, but it is balancing an aging arsenal, an unprecedented modernization surge, and a deteriorating arms-control environment. The active stockpile has stayed roughly flat at just under 3,800 warheads, yet every delivery system and nearly every warhead type is now in simultaneous recapitalization—a “no-fail” effort meant to deter two peer competitors (Russia and China) after New START potentially expires in 2026.

Readiness levels of the US arsenal remain unchanged:

• 400 single-warhead Minuteman III ICBMs sit on 24/7 alert in 450 silos.
• 14 Ohio-class SSBNs provide the continuous-at-sea deterrent; typically 10–12 are operational and 4–5 are on “hard alert” patrols.
• B-52H and B-2A bombers are de-alerted in peacetime but can be generated within hours; they now carry the AGM-86B ALCM and B61 variants. Up to 100 B61 bombs are forward-deployed at six NATO bases.

Modernization is in full swing: the Air Force, Navy, and NNSA are working on eight major delivery-system programs and at least five parallel warhead programs, all scheduled to field in the 2027–35 window.

Force structure and major vectors

Land — Intercontinental ballistic missiles

• 400 LGM-30G Minuteman III across F.E. Warren, Malmstrom and Minot AFBs.
• LGM-35A Sentinel (formerly GBSD): 634 missiles planned (400 operational, rest for test and spares). First emplacement mid-2030s after a cost-growth review; designed to serve to 2075.
• Warheads: legacy W78/W87 today; W87-1 enters production FY 2031/32 to arm Sentinel.

Sea — Ballistic-missile submarines

• 14 Ohio-class SSBNs, each with up to 20 Trident II D5LE missiles carrying W76-1, W76-2 (low-yield) and W88 Alt 370 warheads.
• Columbia-class SSBN-826: 12 boats; lead ship delivers 2029 and takes the first deterrent patrol in 2031.
• Missile & warhead pipeline: Trident II D5LE2 upgrade and the new W93/Mk 7 warhead, planned for first production in the mid-2030s to align with Columbia deployment.

Air — Strategic bombers and nuclear cruise missiles

• B-52H Stratofortress (46 nuclear-certified) will receive new engines and carry the AGM-181 Long-Range Standoff Weapon (LRSO) armed with the W80-4 warhead, with first production unit due September 2027.
• B-2A Spirit (20 nuclear-certified) will transition from B61-3/-7/-11 to the precision-guided B61-12.
• B-21 Raider stealth bomber is in flight test; initial operational capability is targeted for the mid-2020s, with a production run of at least 100 aircrafts.
• Gravity bombs: B61-12 full-rate production underway; the B83-1 megaton bomb is slated for retirement, and a B61-13 variant is proposed to placate Congress.

Outlook (2025–2035)

The United States will be in a “trough” where legacy systems age out faster than new ones arrive, creating schedule and budget pressure—Sentinel has already triggered a 37% cost overrun review. Arms-control uncertainty compounds risk: Russia has suspended New START notifications, and the treaty will expire on 5 February 2026 with no successor in sight. Concurrently, China’s arsenal could reach parity in deployed warheads before 2035, driving bipartisan resolve in Washington to complete recapitalization and keep the triad’s three-leg hedge.

In practical terms:

• 2025–27: B61-12 and W88 Alt 370 production finishes; W80-4 and LRSO begin production; B-21 reaches IOC.
• 2028–31: Columbia lead boat commissions; Sentinel fielding starts; W87-1 production ramps.
• Mid-2030s: W93 warhead and Trident D5LE2 deploy; Columbia class becomes majority of the SSBN force.