US has 5,113 launch-ready nukes

The United States has officially announced the size of its nuclear arsenal, saying it now possesses 5,113 operational nuclear weapons.

“Increasing the transparency of global nuclear stockpiles is important to non-proliferation efforts” and more progress on arms control, AFP quoted a Pentagon statement as saying on Monday.

The figure only refers to operational warheads and excludes outdated nuclear missiles and nuclear weapons slated for dismantlement, which are estimated to number around 4,600, Reuters reported, citing the figure from the Federation of American Scientists.

The US government says it has reduced its nuclear weapons stockpile by about 84 percent from its maximum level of 31,225 warheads at the end of fiscal year 1967.

The US government last revealed the size of its nuclear arsenal in 1961.