- A maximum of 700 long-range missiles and bombers can be deployed in intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), deployed submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and deployed heavy bombers equipped for nuclear armaments;
- Only 1,550 nuclear warheads can be deployed by US and Russia on "deployed ICBMs, deployed SLBMs, and deployed heavy bombers equipped for nuclear armaments (each such heavy bomber is counted as one warhead toward this limit)"
- Up to 800 deployed and non-deployed ICBM launchers, SLBM launchers, and heavy bombers equipped for nuclear armament.
However, the inspections under the treaty were put on hold in March 2020 because of the Covid-19-induced pandemic. The talks for resuming inspections were due November 2022, but were postponed by Russia and have been pending since then.
- SALT or Strategic Arms Limitation Talks-1: The treaty came into force in 1969. Under this both US and USSR pledged not to construct new Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) silos, not to increase the size of existing ICBM silos significantly, and capped the number of Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) launch tubes and SLBM-carrying submarines.
- START or Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty-1: The treaty was signed in 1991 required the destruction of excess delivery vehicles, which was verified through on-site inspections, the regular exchange of information, and the use of satellites.
- START-II or Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty-2: The treaty was signed in 1993 to reduce deployed strategic arsenals to 3,000-3,500 warheads and banned the deployment of destabilising multiple-warhead land-based missiles.
- SORT or Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty: In 2004, the United States and Russia reduced their strategic arsenals to 1,700-2,200 warheads each under this treaty.
- New START or New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty: The predecessor to the New START treaty was signed in 2010. It was a legally binding, verifiable agreement that limits each side to 1,550 strategic nuclear warheads deployed on 700 strategic delivery systems (ICBMs, SLBMs, and heavy bombers) and limits deployed and non-deployed launchers to 800. It came into force in 2011 and was extended in 2021 for five more years. The treaty allowed both US and Russian inspectors to ensure that both sides are complying with the treaty. Each side could conduct up to 18 inspections of strategic nuclear weapons sites every year to ensure the other has not breached the treaty's limits.
One subscription. Two world-class reads.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Quarterly Starter
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Access to Exclusive Premium Stories Online
Over 30 behind the paywall stories daily, handpicked by our editors for subscribers


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app