Oppenheimer's Legacy: The Real History of Nuclear Weapons - Part 2 - 1960 to 1970

Part 2 of this series examines the shift in focus across superpowers towards miniaturization of nuclear warheads and development of difficult to detect strategic nuclear delivery vehicles (SNDVs) after the transition from nuclear to thermonuclear weapons. This led to the emergence of ICBMs and SLBMs, increasing the risks of nuclear warfare and reducing reaction times considerably. The 1962 Cuba Missile Crisis brought the world dangerously close to a nuclear apocalypse, prompting the realization of the need for mutual cooperation and treaties to check dangerous nuclear escalations and proliferation.

The detonation of a nuclear weapon by China in 1964 marked the onset of the nuclear weapons age in Asia and underscored the need to check nuclear proliferation, ultimately leading to the creation of the NPT regime. By the end of the 1960s, both superpowers had deployed thousands of megatons-worth of thermonuclear warheads atop ICBMs and SLBMs, capable of annihilating each other and the Earth many times over in just minutes, making it a critical time for the continued sustenance of life on planet Earth.

Looking back, it is a miracle that mankind survived the threat of nuclear warfare for decades. The recently declassified documents reveal just how close the world came to the brink, highlighting the urgent need for international cooperation to prevent a catastrophic nuclear disaster. The experience of the 1960s serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked nuclear proliferation and the critical importance of diplomatic efforts to prevent the devastation of civilization.

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