How many countries have nuclear weapons and how many are there? How destructive are today’s nuclear weapons? What about “nuclear deterrence” theory? Do nuclear weapons help keep the peace? What is the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons? How is the ban treaty verifiable? Why does this treaty matter if none of the countries with nuclear weapons have joined? Why should countries that don’t have nuclear weapons care about this treaty? Why should one country give up its nuclear weapons if other countries still have them? What does AI mean for the risk of nuclear war? What is nuclear sharing and who is involved? Is nuclear sharing legal? What are the risks of nuclear sharing? Will the US and UK resume nuclear sharing at Lakenheath air base? Can a NATO state join the TPNW? What about the Middle East? Did Ukraine give up nuclear weapons? What is the “Eurobomb” and why are European politicians talking about it? What are "tactical" nuclear weapons? What are 'dirty bombs'? What are space nuclear weapons? Who makes the decisions around the nuclear weapons stationed abroad? What is the nuclear test ban treaty and why has Russia revoked its ratification? What is the New START Agreement and why has Russia suspended its implementation? What are gravity bombs and why is the US building the new B61-13 nuclear weapon? What about attacks on nuclear facilities? Has India deployed any nuclear warheads on missiles or bombs? Is the United States' MOAB - Massive Ordnance Air Blast – bomb a nuclear weapon?

Has India deployed any nuclear warheads on missiles or bombs?

Answer

As of January 2026, the Federation of American Scientists concluded that India may have deployed 12 warheads onto missiles, probably submarine-launched ballistic missiles.

This change would mark a shift in India’s nuclear posture because previously it kept its estimated 180 warheads in storage and they would only be loaded onto missiles in the event of a crisis.

The Indian Ministry of Defence has not commented on these reports.

How does this compare to other nuclear-armed countries?

India’s posture compares with other nuclear-armed states such as China, France, Russia, the UK and the US which have had warheads loaded onto delivery systems for many years, with the majority being deployed by Russia (1796 warheads) and the US (1770 warheads).

It is not known if India deploys these warheads occasionally or permanently.

Why does it matter if a warhead is in storage or loaded onto a missile?

When a warhead is loaded onto a missile or a bomb at an airbase, it is available for use immediately. This has been called having nuclear weapons on hair-trigger alert which greatly increases the risk of weapons being used by accident or a misreading of an adversary’s actions and intentions. Since nuclear missiles generally cannot be recalled once launched, there would be extremely little time to correct an accidental launch order once it has been issued.

Source: Federation of Atomic Scientists 2026 Status of World Nuclear Forces