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Topics: Russia, World News, US News, Science
Madison Burgess
A worrying simulation claims to show exactly what would happen if the United States decided to start a nuclear war.
It comes as Russia is offering America a deal that would extend by one year the last remaining nuclear arms treaty between the two countries - essentially, making sure a big old nuclear conflict doesn't happen.
According to the Federation of American Scientists, Russia and the US have estimated military stockpiles of 4,309 and 3,700 nuclear warheads, respectively. And now, a simulation shared by the YouTube channel 'Modern Muscle,' is trying to show what they think would happen if the US decided to launch those weapons.
The description of the terrifying video reads: "In around a period of 30 minutes the United States can launch over 1,000 nuclear weapons against its enemies. This video is a real-time simulation of such an action."
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The animation kicks off with 400 LGM-30 Minuteman III ICMBs being launched via silos - these 400 missiles have a range of over 6,000 miles and have near pinpoint accuracy.
The simulation claims that when launched they travel at speeds of over 15,000 mph, reaching its targets in under 30 minutes.
It explains that 'each Minuteman III missile carries one warhead' and 'each warhead has around 40 times the destructive power of the bombs dropped on Japan in 1945'.
The US operates a fleet of 14 Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines, which were also thrown into the picture, which the simulation describes as the most destructive weapon that the military owns.
They travel at 18,000mph and can travel 7,500 miles, while each sub can apparently launch its entire 20-missile payload, virtually undetected in less than seven minutes.
The video claims that one Trident II missile alone, armed with five warheads, has 154 times the destructive power of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima.
The simulation alleges that Russia has around 126 operational ICBMs ready for launch in four different locations. However, the US would supposedly have a number of missiles targeted towards Russia's arsenal, specifically their Pacific Fleet.
The video claims that communication radars and telecommunication centres would also be targeted, as well as the country's nuclear weapons.
In short, around 30 minutes into the simulation all Russian targets are destroyed, and the land surrounding them becomes uninhabitable. However, as viewers have been keen to point out, the simulation assumes that Russia, or any other country in the world, simply wouldn't retaliate.
This is, of course, a huge element of what would happen, and so some people have branded the simulation as inaccurate.
One YouTube commenter wrote: "The reality is. The exact moment we launch everyone launches."
While a second added: "So, Russia will be sitting there, doing nothing, just waiting the US's missiles?"
And a third penned: "I don't think Russia would just be sitting there waiting for the nukes to hit em."
"It was not nuclear WAR but only nuclear attack. You should show counterattack from Russian side," agreed a fourth.