Spirit of Hope WMDs

Spirit of Hope
First nuclear weapon test	1952
First thermonuclear weapon test	1954
Last nuclear test	1990
Largest yield test	15 MT
Total tests	394
Peak stockpile	4,200
Current stockpile	1,250

Spirit of Hope is a declared nuclear power, with it's a declared arsenal of 750 SM48 mounted on SLBM's in 8 SSBN's and 500 SM38 that can be mounted onto air or ship launched cruise missiles. Spirit of Hope denies any chemical or biological weapons, but does carry out defensive research.

History

Spirit of Hope began research into the production of nuclear weapons in 1953, and detonated it's first device July 19th 1958, at which time the government began limited production of non standardized nuclear weapons. In 1961, after continued research and miniaturization, serial production of a number of different designs began. Research continued into hydrogen weapons wand on January 6th 1969 Spirit of Hope detonated it's first fusion weapon.

In parallel with the development of weapons, Spirit of Hope also designed and developed a nuclear delivery force. In 1953 there existed no capability to deliver nuclear weapons even if any had been on hand, a number of design studies were begun, including land based strategic bombers, a flying boat, and missiles that would be launched from land or sea. In 1958 with the first delivery of weapons only the land based strategic bomber was ready for use, the decision was made to cancel the flying boat and to continue research into missiles. From 1958 until 1963 Spirit of Hope relied upon a small number of individually fitted nuclear weapons intended to be delivered by strategic bombers. In 1963 land based intercontinental ballistic missiles and sub launched ballistic missiles were introduced. As SLBMs became more accurate and reliable, land based ICBMs were eliminated in 1984.

Current Strategy

Spirit of Hope General Military Staff maintains that nuclear weapons can be used tactically, and as such reserves the right to use nuclear weapons first in an armed conflict, however the Spirit of Hope Army has rejected tactical use of nuclear weapons on land, and does not have any nuclear weapons or delivery methods under it's control. The Navy and the Air Force both have control of warheads capable of being mounted on air or ship launched cruise missiles, and the missiles to which those warheads may be mounted. The Navy states that tactical nuclear weapons will only be used against warships that are out of port, while the Air Force reserves the right to use it's weapons as it sees fit. Nuclear weapons may only be mounted on their delivery vehicles with the express written consent of the President of Spirit of Hope, and as such the actual usage of nuclear weapons is subject to the Presidents decision.

The declared deterrent strategy of the Spirit of Hope General Military Staff is counter value.

Spirit of Hope always keeps 2 of it's 8 SSBN's on patrol at any time, with another 2 SSBN's kept on ready alert, able to leave port within 48 hours. These SSBNs form the majority of the deterrent force for Spirit of Hope.

Declared Arsenal

Spirit of Hope has a declared arsenal of 1,000 SM48 nuclear warheads, with a yield of 450 kilotons. They are mounted on SLBM's with a range of 12,000 km's. Each SSBN carry's 16 SLBM's, with each SLBM capable of mounting up to 8 warheads, decoys, or other special payloads. Normally 11 warheads are mounted with the remaining space used for decoys and penetration aids.

In addition to the SM48, Spirit of Hope has 500 SM38's, with a variable yield of 10-100 kilotons. They can be mounted onto a verity of missiles that can be launched either by aircraft, surface ships, or submarines. Primary means of delivery is either the SSM12, a supersonic surface to surface anti-ship missile, or the ASM15, a subsonic low observation air to surface missile.