At the start of 2026, Russia had 1,796 deployed nuclear warheads out of a total arsenal of approximately 5,420, according to an estimate by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The number of deployed warheads has been rising for the fourth consecutive year and is SIPRI’s highest estimate for Russia since 2017. The institute emphasises that this status does not mean that all warheads are ready for immediate launch.
Briefly about the main points
- SIPRI estimates Russia’s nuclear arsenal at approximately 5,420 nuclear warheads.
- A total of 1,796 warheads have been deployed as part of the operational forces.
- Over the course of four years, the rating has risen by 208 points.
- An ‘active’ status does not mean that the system is immediately ready for launch.
- Following the New START treaty, uncertainty regarding strategic forces has increased.
How SIPRI categorises Russia’s nuclear arsenal
According to the classification SIPRI, Russia’s military stockpile comprises 4,400 warheads that could potentially be used. In addition to those deployed, 2,604 warheads are stored in central depots. A further 1,020 or so have been decommissioned and are awaiting dismantling.
Russia has the largest total nuclear arsenal in the world. By way of comparison, the US is estimated by the institute to have 5,042 warheads, of which 1,770 are deployed. Moscow and Washington together account for around 83% of the world’s military stockpile of nuclear weapons.
The estimate has risen by 208 warheads over four years
SIPRI’s annual assessments show a steady build-up of Russian deployed forces since 2022: from 1,588 warheads in January of that year to 1,674 in 2023, 1,710 in 2024 and 1,718 in 2025. Over the entire period, the increase amounted to 208 units, or approximately 13%.
The largest annual increase occurred at the start of 2026: compared with the previous estimate, the number rose by 78 warheads. At the same time, the current level remains below the approximately 1,950 deployed warheads that SIPRI recorded in 2017; by 2018, the estimate had fallen to 1,600.
The Institute compiles its data from open sources and may refine both its methodology and historical figures. These figures are therefore estimates rather than an official inventory of nuclear forces.
Deployed forces, high readiness and restrictions under New START
SIPRI classifies warheads mounted on missiles or deployed at operational force bases as ‘deployed’. This is a different category from warheads in a state of high operational readiness, which can be activated within a very short time. Consequently, the fact that all Russian warheads are deployed does not mean they can be launched immediately.
According to SIPRI estimates, there are approximately 2,100–2,200 warheads worldwide in a state of high operational readiness, predominantly on ballistic missiles. Almost the entire arsenal belongs to Russia and the US; France and the UK possess smaller arsenals. The Institute also allows for the occasional deployment of small numbers of warheads on missiles by China and India during peacetime.
Term of the contract New START between Russia and the US expired in February 2026. In the absence of a new treaty, SIPRI notes, uncertainty regarding the future of the two countries’ strategic forces has risen sharply. Both have the technical capability to increase the number of warheads on existing delivery systems relatively quickly, whilst Russia continues a large-scale modernisation of its strategic forces.
