|
USA: Has the second largest arsenal of chemical weapons in the world, consisting of ~31'000 tons of chemicals, and 3.6 million grenades [14]. The chemical weapons contain about 12'000 tons of agents, and 19'000 tons are in bulk storage. Details on composition and location are given in Table 1.
Russia: An estimate of the Russian stockpile in 1993 puts it at ~40'000 agent tons, of which one-fourth is of pre-World War II vintage. A larger portion seems to be in bulk storage [15]. Out of the officially declared quantity 30'000 tons are phosphoric organic agents (Sarin, Soman, VX), the remaining 10'000 tons are composed of 7'000 tons Lewisite (in containers ?), 1'500 tons of mixture of mustard gas and Lewisite (GB, GD, VX), and 1'500 tons mustard gas.
Middle East
Egypt: First country in the Middle East to obtain chemical weapons training, indoctrination, and material. It employed phosgene and mustard agent against Yemeni Royalist forces in the mid-1960s, and some reports claim that it also used an organophosphate nerve agent.
Israel: Developed its own offensive weapons program. The 1990 DIA study reports that Israel maintains a chemical warfare testing facility. Newspaper reports suggest the facility be in the Negev desert.
Syria: It began developing chemical weapons in the 1970s. It received chemical weapons from Egypt in the 1970s, and indigenous production began in the 1980s. It allegedly has two means of delivery: a 500-kilogram aerial bomb, and chemical warheads for Scud-B missiles. Two chemical munitions storage depots, at Khna Abu Shamat and Furqlus. Centre D'Etude et Recherche Scientifique, near Damascus, was the primary research facility. It is building a new chemical-weapons factory near the city of Aleppo.
Iran: Initiated a chemical and warfare program in response to Iraq's use of mustard gas against Iranian troops. At end of war military had been able to field mustard and phosgene. Had artillery shells and bombs filled with chemical agents. Was developing ballistic missiles. Has a chemical-agent warhead for their surface-to-surface missiles.
Iraq: Used chemical weapons repeatedly during the Iraq-Iran war. Later it attacked Kurdish villagers in northern Iraq with mustard and nerve gas. Since end of Gulf War UN destroyed more than 480'0000 liters of Iraq's chemical agents and 1.8 million liters of precursor chemicals.
Libya: Obtained its first chemical agents from Iran, using them against Chad in 1987. Opened its own production facility in Rabta in 1988. May have produced as much as 100 tons of blister and nerve agents before a fire broke out in 1990. Is building a second facility in an underground location at Tarhunah.
Saudi Arabia: May have limited chemical warfare capability in part because it acquired 50 CSS-2 ballistic missiles from China. These highly inaccurate missiles are thought to be suitable only for delivering chemical agents.
Asia
North Korea: Program since 1960s, probably largest in the region. Can produce "large quantities" of blister, blood, and nerve agents.
South Korea: Has the chemical infrastructure and technical capability to produce chemical agents, had a chemical weapons program.
India: Had CW stocks and weapons.
Pakistan: Has artillery projectiles and rockets that can be made chemical-capable.
China: China has a mature chemical warfare capability, including ballistic missiles.
Taiwan: Had an "aggressive high-priority program to develop both offensive and defensive capabilities", was developing chemical weapons capability, and in 1989, it may be operational.
Burma: Its program, under development in 1983, may or may not be active today. It has chemical weapons and artillery for delivering chemical agents.
Vietnam: In 1988 was in the process of deploying, or already had, chemical weapons. Also it captured large stocks of US riot control agents during and at the end of the Vietnam War.
Europe
Yugoslavia: The former Yugoslavia has a CW production capability. Produced and weaponized Sarin, sulphur mustard, BZ (a psychochemical incapacitant), and irritants CS and CN. The Bosnians produced crude chemical weapons during the 1992-1995 war.
Romania: Has research and production facilities and chemical weapons stockpiles and storage facilities. Has large chemical warfare program, and had developed a cheaper method for synthesizing Sarin.
Czechoslovakia: Pilot-plant chemical capabilities that probably included Sarin, Soman, and possibly VX.
France: Has stockpile of chemical weapons, including aerosol bombs.
Bulgaria: Has stockpile of chemical munitions of Soviet origin.
|
