VIII. Israeli nuclear forces

Chapter:

10. World nuclear forces

Source:

SIPRI Yearbook 2022

Author(s):

Hans M. Kristensen, Matt Korda

As of January 2022, Israel was estimated to have a stockpile of around 90 nuclear warheads (see table 10.9), the same number as in January 2021. This estimate is on the lower end of a possible range that other analysts have estimated could reach as high as 300 nuclear weapons; however, SIPRI assesses that these larger estimates are probably too high.¹ Israel continues to maintain its long-standing policy of nuclear ambiguity: it neither officially confirms nor denies that it possesses nuclear weapons.² This lack of transparency means there is significant uncertainty about the size of Israel’s nuclear arsenal and the yields and characteristics attributed to its weapons.³ The estimate here is largely based on calculations of Israel’s inventory of weapon-grade plutonium and the number of operational nuclear-capable delivery systems. The locations of the storage sites for the warheads, which are thought to be stored partially unassembled, are unknown.