Nuclear triad

<p>A nuclear triad is a three-pronged military force structure of land-based <a href="/facts/Intercontinental_ballistic_missile/0vKnj2Y7">intercontinental ballistic missiles</a> (ICBMs), <a href="/facts/Submarine-launched_ballistic_missile/AypqGmQ9">submarine-launched ballistic missiles</a> (SLBMs), and <a href="/facts/Strategic_bomber/g0PWamDC">strategic bombers</a> with <a href="/facts/Nuclear_weapon/QVdBcMdm">nuclear bombs and missiles</a>. Countries build nuclear triads to eliminate an enemy's ability to destroy a nation's nuclear forces in a <a href="/facts/Pre-emptive_nuclear_strike/pDvHGqxC">first-strike</a> attack, which preserves their own ability to launch a <a href="/facts/Second_strike/eL70K3Ny">second strike</a> and therefore increases their <a href="/facts/Nuclear_deterrence/ImetP5jV">nuclear deterrence</a>.
</p><p>Four countries are known to have complete nuclear triad: <a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5">the United States</a>, <a href="/facts/Russia/jfkCwyxn">Russia</a>, <a href="/facts/India/QW4TV4sy">India</a>, and <a href="/facts/China/lTjIXY5p">China</a>. <a href="/facts/Israel/dEe3IcaY">Israel</a> is suspected to possess a nuclear triad, but its status is not confirmed. <a href="/facts/France/CxIeIKM3">France</a> and <a href="/facts/Pakistan/cbIsvJy1">Pakistan</a> are considered partial triad powers.
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Nuclear triad open-in-new

Nuclear triad