Do nuclear bombs lose power if stored for too long? The lifespan of a nuclear weapon is…

Nuclear Weapons: After the terrorist attack on 22nd April in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, tensions have escalated between India and Pakistan. The situation between the two countries is currently very delicate. Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated that the world should not forget that both countries have nuclear weapons. Notably, Pakistan is not a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which means it has not declared a ‘No First Use’ policy. Amid all this, people are talking about a war between India and Pakistan and the use of nuclear weapons. Apart from India and Pakistan, many other countries also have destructive nuclear bombs. So, in such a situation, let us know how long these destructive weapons can remain ‘alive’?

Notably, nuclear weapons contain many complex mechanical and electronic systems. These parts can wear out over time. Like any old electronic device, electronic components such as detonators can lose their reliability. As per reports, nuclear weapons last about 30-50 years before being destroyed by helium corrosion. But in a high radiation environment, these bombs can last about a decade.

Nuclear weapons’ radioactive components, primarily isotopes with a half-life of 50-60 years, gradually decay. Some weapons utilise tritium, a shorter-lived isotope (half-life of 24 years) that enhances explosive yield but requires periodic replenishment due to its complete conversion to inert helium. Additionally, non-radioactive components, such as explosives and electronics, degrade over time, impacting weapon functionality.

As per several available reports, India currently has about 164 nuclear weapons. Whereas, according to the 2024 report of Sweden’s think tank Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Pakistan has 170 nuclear warheads. Whereas India has 172 nuclear weapons.

Nuclear bombs are so dangerous that if they are dropped anywhere, there will be no trace of life for decades. An example of it was Hiroshima and Nagasaki, where the US dropped nuclear bombs in 1945.

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