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 anyone’s? We explain how the nuclear weapons systems of the US, Russia, Britain and China work – 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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‘I felt close to nuclear war once’
Duration: 01:44
Broadcasts
- Tue 24 Jan 2017 02:06GMT91Èȱ¬ World Service Americas and the Caribbean
- Tue 24 Jan 2017 03:06GMT91Èȱ¬ World Service Online & UK DAB/Freeview only
- Tue 24 Jan 2017 04:06GMT91Èȱ¬ World Service East Asia
- Tue 24 Jan 2017 05:06GMT91Èȱ¬ World Service Australasia & South Asia only
- Tue 24 Jan 2017 07:06GMT91Èȱ¬ World Service East and Southern Africa
- Tue 24 Jan 2017 09:06GMT91Èȱ¬ World Service Americas and the Caribbean
- Tue 24 Jan 2017 15:06GMT91Èȱ¬ World Service except East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa
- Tue 24 Jan 2017 20:06GMT91Èȱ¬ World Service Online, Americas and the Caribbean, Australasia, Europe and the Middle East & UK DAB/Freeview only
- Tue 24 Jan 2017 21:06GMT91Èȱ¬ World Service East and Southern Africa, East Asia, South Asia & West and Central Africa only
- Sat 28 Jan 2017 22:06GMT91Èȱ¬ World Service except East Asia & News Internet
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