How do you launch a nuclear missile?
We explain the nuclear weapons systems of the US, Russia, Britain and China.
'Do we want his finger anywhere near the button?' Hillary Clinton asked during the US election campaign, referring to Mr Trump and the nuclear arsenal. But how close is an American president's finger to 'the button'? How close is anyoneβs? We explain how the nuclear weapons systems of the US, Russia, Britain and China work β and how much power any one individual has over them.
(Photo: A Trident Ii, Or D-5 Missile, Is Launched From An Ohio-Class Submarine. Credit: Getty Images)
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Clips
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How would a US President launch a nuclear attack?
Duration: 02:23
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Launching a nuclear missile from beyond the grave
Duration: 01:13
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βI felt close to nuclear war onceβ
Duration: 01:44
Broadcasts
- Tue 24 Jan 2017 02:06GMTΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ World Service Americas and the Caribbean
- Tue 24 Jan 2017 03:06GMTΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ World Service Online & UK DAB/Freeview only
- Tue 24 Jan 2017 04:06GMTΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ World Service East Asia
- Tue 24 Jan 2017 05:06GMTΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ World Service Australasia & South Asia only
- Tue 24 Jan 2017 07:06GMTΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ World Service East and Southern Africa
- Tue 24 Jan 2017 09:06GMTΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ World Service Americas and the Caribbean
- Tue 24 Jan 2017 15:06GMTΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ World Service except East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa
- Tue 24 Jan 2017 20:06GMTΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ World Service Online, Americas and the Caribbean, Australasia, Europe and the Middle East & UK DAB/Freeview only
- Tue 24 Jan 2017 21:06GMTΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ World Service East and Southern Africa, East Asia, South Asia & West and Central Africa only
- Sat 28 Jan 2017 22:06GMTΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ World Service except East Asia & News Internet
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The Inquiry
Getting beyond the headlines to explore the forces and ideas shaping the world
