The world’s nuclear powers are increasingly deploying warheads on missiles and aircraft instead of keeping them in storage, raising the risk of conflict and escalation, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute warned.
Despite a gradual decline in overall stockpiles, an estimated 9,745 of the world’s 12,187 were held in military stockpiles for potential use in January 2026, with around 4,012 already deployed with operational forces, according to SIPRI.
