Space Travel News
NUKEWARS
Belarus holds snap inspection of nuclear arms carriers
Belarus holds snap inspection of nuclear arms carriers
by AFP Staff Writers
Moscow (AFP) May 7, 2024

Belarus said Tuesday it had started a surprise inspection of its non-strategic nuclear weapon carriers on the orders of President Alexander Lukashenko.

The announcement comes a day after his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin ordered nuclear drills in Russia, raising fears the powerful weapons could be used in Ukraine.

Non-strategic nuclear weapons, also known as tactical nuclear weapons, are designed for battlefield use and can be delivered via missiles.

They are less devastating than the strategic nuclear weapons used to obliterate entire cities but are still massively destructive and have never been used in combat.

"In accordance with an order from the President of Belarus, a sudden inspection of non-strategic nuclear weapons carriers is being carried out," the Belarusian defence ministry said.

The inspection will test the "planning, preparation and use of strikes with tactical nuclear warheads" and involve a squadron of Su-25 aircraft, it added.

Lukashenko said the inspection was for "purely defensive" purposes and that the army was practising how to launch "missile strikes to repel a possible attack on Belarus".

"We have never in our lifetime been so close to the brink of nuclear war. I'm a peaceful man, I don't want war," he said at a speech commemorating upcoming Victory Day.

Belarus does not have any nuclear weapons itself, but last year agreed to host Russian tactical warheads on its territory amid rising tensions over Ukraine.

Putin has upped his nuclear rhetoric since the Ukraine conflict began, warning in his address to the nation in February there was a "real" risk of nuclear war.

Last year Russia ditched its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and pulled out of a key arms reduction agreement with the United States.

Related Links
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com
Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com
All about missiles at SpaceWar.com
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
NUKEWARS
Russia orders nuclear drills in response to Western comments on troops for Ukraine
Washington DC (UPI) May 6, 2024
Russia announced Monday that it would conduct tactical nuclear drills in response to what it claimed were "provocative statements and threats" from Western officials concerning the Ukrainian war. The Russian Defense Ministry said the nuclear exercises would be to "maintain the readiness of personnel and equipment" and to ensure the "territorial integrity and sovereignty" of Russia. The drills would practice the use of "non-strategic nuclear weapons." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said ... read more

NUKEWARS
NUKEWARS
Manganese discovery on Mars suggests ancient Earth-like conditions

NASA Scientists Gear Up for Solar Storms at Mars

China aims to retrieve Martian soil samples by 2030

Hera mission plans Mars flyby en route to asteroid study

NUKEWARS
Gateway progresses: Artemis IV readies for lunar assembly

China to launch Chang'e 6 spacecraft for moon mission

Chang'e 7 mission set for lunar south pole survey in 2026

China's Chang'e 7 lunar mission will host international instruments

NUKEWARS
Webb telescope details weather patterns on distant exoplanet

Juno mission reveals volcanic landscapes on Io

Probing liquid water beyond Earth with advanced radar technology

Dating the Solar System's orbital changes with enstatite meteorites

NUKEWARS
Ozone's influence on exoplanetary climate dynamics highlighted in new research

Genomes of multicellular algal relatives reveal evolutionary clues to plant origins

Nightside clouds reveal new insights on giant exoplanet Wasp-43b

Decaying orbits of exoplanets linked to stellar magnetic fields

NUKEWARS
NASA's Ion Thruster Expertise Sustains Satellite Operations

HyImpulse successfully launch their SR75 rocket from Southern Launch

Radioisotope thermoradiative cells: advancing power generation for outer planet missions

Pulsed plasma rocket development accelerates manned missions to Mars

NUKEWARS
Shenzhou XVII astronauts safely back from Tiangong space station

Shenzhou XVIII crew takes command at Tiangong space station

Shenzhou XVIII astronauts enter space station

China outlines objectives for Shenzhou XVIII space mission

NUKEWARS
Unveiling the space-weathered features of asteroid Ryugu

Hubble discovers new small asteroids in main belt survey

Winchcombe meteorite's tumultuous space odyssey uncovered by nano-analysis

International Collaboration Boosts Planetary Defense Efforts with Hera Mission

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.