Can Putin launch nukes at several NATO countries at once?

[AbsentmindedWoman]

Obviously, I am completely ignorant about everything to do with nuclear bombs but I have googled, and my tiny mind just doesn't grasp how this works.

In theory, could the UK/ US/ France/ Germany/ several other countries all suffer hits seconds apart?

Or would Putin have to choose one to be the first? How would he choose targets?

I understand the idea of mutual assured destruction if there are just two entities battling it out - but I don't understand how the dynamics of MAD work if it is Russia vs numerous countries, and Putin can only target one area at a time?

Is the nuclear capacity at his disposal really so huge he could take out many major cities and all military bases in Europe and the USA all at once?

Probably, we don't know.

Russia has over 6,000 nuclear unit warheads.

The US has just over 5,000 nuclear warheads.

They could in theory nuke the entire planet

@MojoMoon

Russia has over 6,000 nuclear unit warheads.

The US has just over 5,000 nuclear warheads.

They could in theory nuke the entire planet

Yes and no I mean it would take time to arm it all and activate the missiles etc would take quite a few years to use them all id imagine as it wouldn't be like loading and firing a nerf gun

Multiple targeting systems i'm afraid.

I reckon he’d go in alphabetical order.

it wouldn't be like loading and firing a nerf gun

Oh you're no fun.

They could but considering the prevailing wind is East to West they would be a bit bonkers, then again...

i think they could launch multiple weapons simultaneously. I think Putin's more than hinted that the UK is a top target.

They could in theory nuke the entire planet

Do they have the capacity to ready them for launch for several separate targets and for NATO to not see anything on surveillance until it is too late?

I thought prepping nukes for launch was a bit of a complicated business?

And certainly the US will know if the preparations start, in theory - but I guess I'm wondering if they can do a bunch of hits in one fell swoop.

Do they have to pause to 're-load' things, almost? Or are the nuclear weapons more like an automatic machine gun?

Possibly, who knows. But what a dramatic scare mongering thread. 🙄

@TimeToMakeACupofTea

I reckon he’d go in alphabetical order.

But which alphabet would he use?

I've cross posted with some of you - thank you for answering.

@Cocycola

Possibly, who knows. But what a dramatic scare mongering thread. 🙄

If you are scared, don't read it. It's fairly simple.

The Russian alphabet

@nanbread

it wouldn't be like loading and firing a nerf gun

Oh you're no fun.

@TimeToMakeACupofTea

I reckon he’d go in alphabetical order.

Time to move to Wales I think…

He can target multiple at once.

Submarine launched ballistic missiles can be fired at a moments notice, and within minutes missiles can be sent in multiple directions. They have effectively an unlimited range and can strike more or less anywhere on the planet. Each submarine contains, multiple missiles (8-16), of which may contain multiple warheads (6). In theory one typical submarine could launch 96 independent strikes.

Other ballistic missiles can be fired from the land, these take more preparation, but will either be fired from silos or from mobile launchers. Units will likely have pre-arranged targets at critical infrastructure over the globe. When Putin readied his nuclear deterrent it was this type of force that was put at its highest level of alert, and mobile launchers were probably rolled out and armed.

Nuclear weapons fired or dropped by aircraft typically have a much smaller range, they take the most preparation from orders to fire to weapons delivery, as unless already airborne you have to prep an aircraft. The smaller ranged of these are often described as tactical nuclear weapons but may also describe much smaller ranged ballistic missiles.

Putin has enough of each to decimate the West and it’s critical infrastructure at the drop of a hat.

@Cocycola

Possibly, who knows. But what a dramatic scare mongering thread. 🙄

It doesn’t seem at all dramatic or scaremongering to me. It’s quite sanguine and laid-back, considering…

So is his current stock of nuclear "deterrents" just sailing around in subs across the globe?

Multiple weapons, multiple targets, no problem. In fact a modern intercontinental ballistic missile can deliver several warheads to different targets. These can be launched from silos, mobile launch facilities, or submarines.

Putin has enough of each to decimate the West and it’s critical infrastructure at the drop of a hat

As does the US, its not one sided and he cannot launch a full scale attack without the West knowing & even if he did, we would see them in the air and response on Russia would be devastating.

Nothing anywhere would survive and he would have destroyed his beloved Russia.

Look how he has not launched all out war on Ukraine and esp Kyiv, he wants to keep it in more or less one piece, he isn't yet crazy.

Yes, but that is MAD - mutually assured destruction

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

So is his current stock of nuclear "deterrents" just sailing around in subs across the globe?

Not all of them I dont think. I expect he has quite few land-based silos.

@Alexandra2001

Putin has enough of each to decimate the West and it’s critical infrastructure at the drop of a hat

As does the US, its not one sided and he cannot launch a full scale attack without the West knowing & even if he did, we would see them in the air and response on Russia would be devastating.

Nothing anywhere would survive and he would have destroyed his beloved Russia.

Look how he has not launched all out war on Ukraine and esp Kyiv, he wants to keep it in more or less one piece, he isn't yet crazy.

I never said it was one sided.

@Fagled

He can target multiple at once.

Submarine launched ballistic missiles can be fired at a moments notice, and within minutes missiles can be sent in multiple directions. They have effectively an unlimited range and can strike more or less anywhere on the planet. Each submarine contains, multiple missiles (8-16), of which may contain multiple warheads (6). In theory one typical submarine could launch 96 independent strikes.

Other ballistic missiles can be fired from the land, these take more preparation, but will either be fired from silos or from mobile launchers. Units will likely have pre-arranged targets at critical infrastructure over the globe. When Putin readied his nuclear deterrent it was this type of force that was put at its highest level of alert, and mobile launchers were probably rolled out and armed.

Nuclear weapons fired or dropped by aircraft typically have a much smaller range, they take the most preparation from orders to fire to weapons delivery, as unless already airborne you have to prep an aircraft. The smaller ranged of these are often described as tactical nuclear weapons but may also describe much smaller ranged ballistic missiles.

Putin has enough of each to decimate the West and it’s critical infrastructure at the drop of a hat.

Do you work with the secret service or something?!