Did Russia Lose Some "Suitcase Nukes"?

The term "suitcase nukes" refers to very small nuclear explosive devices. Small nuclear weapons, such as atomic demolition munitions (ADM's), were produced by the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Some of these types of weapons were designed for use by special forces for sabotage in the event of a war. These devices had very low explosive yields (around 1 kiloton), were portable, and may not have had the same security features as larger nuclear devices.

In 1997, General Alexander Lebed, former Secretary of the Russian Security Council, alleged that some former Soviet suitcase-sized nuclear weapons were unaccounted for, and there was speculation that they had been lost or stolen. Russian officials quickly rejected these allegations, although their rejections were ambiguous. Some Russian government officials claimed that the Soviet Union had never built ADMs, while others admitted that ADMs may have existed but insisted that they were all accounted for and under strict control.

While it is likely that the Soviet Union produced these small, portable nuclear weapons, it is more difficult to determine whether or not any have gone missing. Those who claim that these nuclear weapons were stolen suggest that the thefts took place in the early 1990s. If so, then it is surprising that there have not been any attempts to use these weapons, or to credibly threaten their use. Furthermore, nuclear weapons experts point out that small nuclear weapons require routine maintenance because of the deterioration of nuclear materials and related components. If any nuclear devices were stolen in the early 1990s, it is unlikely that they would still be fully functional. There is, however, no firm evidence of any theft of Russian nuclear weapons. Russian and U.S. policymakers remain watchful, but do not believe any of these devices are in the hands of terrorists today.

Further Reading:

	CNS, Nikolai Sokov, "'Suitcase Nukes': Permanently Lost Luggage"
	CNS, Nikolai Sokov, "'Suitcase Nukes: A Reassessment"
	CNS, Scott Parrish, "Are Suitcase Nukes on the Loose? The Story Behind the Controversy"
	PBS Frontline, "Russian Roulette"
	Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, "Briefing Book on Tactical Nuclear Weapons"