Nuclear weapons are once again in discussion. Image Credit source: AI Picture
In the times of unrest in many countries, the discussion about nuclear weapons is not ending. The US has accused China of secretly carrying out activities at its ‘low-yield’ nuclear test sites, which may be a violation of international treaties. China has been rejecting these allegations, but these claims have given rise to a new arms race.
On the other hand, America has been opposing Iran’s nuclear program for a long time. The US argues that Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons under the guise of civilian nuclear energy, which is a threat to the stability of the Middle East. The most shocking aspect is that America itself has indicated to resume nuclear testing. After decades of moratorium, if any superpower starts testing, it could be the beginning of the end of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).
The world of nuclear weapons is as destructive as it is complex. In the current global scenario when the tension between America, China and Iran regarding nuclear programs is at its peak, it becomes necessary to understand how these weapons work and whether they also have any expiry date.
Science of age and expiry of nuclear weapons
It is a common belief that nuclear bombs remain deadly forever once they are made, but science says the opposite. Nuclear weapons have a fixed expiry period. There are some reasons for this also.
1- Radioactive Decay
The main part of nuclear weapons is plutonium or uranium. Although the half-life of plutonium-239 is approximately 24 thousand years, other components within the bomb do not last that long. In particular tritium (a radioactive isotope of hydrogen), which is often used to increase the power of a nuclear explosion, has a half-life of only about 12 years. This means that every decade its effectiveness is halved, due to which the lethality of the bomb may reduce.
2- Physical and chemical degradation
A nuclear bomb is not just radioactive material, but is a combination of thousands of complex parts, electronic circuits, high explosives and plastic bonded materials. Over time, the constant radiation inside the bomb causes its electronic components to deteriorate. Plastic and rubber parts harden and start breaking and metal parts may rust or undergo chemical changes.
3- Pit’s age
The core of a nuclear weapon is called the ‘pit’. Research shows that plutonium pits begin to change their structure over time, raising questions about their reliability. Most experts believe that the safe age of a nuclear pit can be between 50 to 100 years.
Maintenance of nuclear weapons is an expensive process.
In today’s world, the discussion of nuclear weapons is not limited to their science only, rather it has become the biggest instrument of geopolitical power. Since nuclear weapons expire, they are kept under the Life Extension Program (LEP). America and other nuclear rich countries spend billions of dollars every year only on modernizing these weapons and replacing their old parts. This includes issues such as replacing old tritium with fresh tritium, updating old neutron generators and electronic switches, and testing through computer simulations whether the bomb will work without actually detonating.
Nuclear-weapon states recognized by NPT
In terms of nuclear weapons, nine countries of the world are mainly divided into two categories. This division has been done on the basis of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the signing of which started in the year 1968.These are those countries which had tested nuclear weapons before January 1, 1967. They are internationally recognized as Nuclear Weapon States and are also permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. The United States is the first nuclear-armed country in the world. Russia falls into this category as the successor to the erstwhile Soviet Union. The United Kingdom conducted its first test in 1952. France became a nuclear power in 1960 and China conducted nuclear tests in 1964.
Nuclear-weapon states outside the NPT
These are countries that have not signed the NPT or have exited it and have developed their own nuclear programs. These include India, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel. India conducted tests in 1974 (Smiling Buddha) and 1998 (Pokhran-II). India’s stance has been that NPT is discriminatory. Pakistan conducted nuclear tests in 1998 in response to India’s tests. North Korea was previously part of the NPT, but withdrew from it in 2003 and conducted its first nuclear test in 2006. Israel has never officially confirmed or denied having nuclear weapons, but global defense experts believe that it has a large stockpile of nuclear weapons.
South Africa destroyed nuclear weapons
South Africa is the only country in the world to have developed nuclear weapons, but in the early 1990s it voluntarily destroyed all its nuclear weapons and joined the NPT as a non-nuclear nation.
In this way we can say that nuclear weapons definitely expire. If they are not properly maintained, they will become mere junk or worse. These can cause accidents in their own storage. Today, when the world is witnessing the triangular tension between Iran, China and America, it is clear that nuclear weapons are not just a means of security, but an ongoing expensive and dangerous scientific process.
The path to peace lies not in the threat of nuclear tests, but in disarmament and mutual dialogue. The world has to understand that even though the expiry date of these weapons can be extended, the safety of humanity lies only in their complete eradication.
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