The Question of Humanity’s Future! Missiles, Nuclear Weapons and a Hungry World

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Research & written by: Khawaja Kabir Ahmed

In recent years, the global political and security landscape has reached a stage where the world is facing two completely different realities at the same time. On one hand, the most destructive weapons in human history have already been developed, while on the other hand millions of people on the same planet are struggling to obtain food and basic necessities. This contradiction is not only moral in nature but has also become a question of civilization and the survival of humanity.
Today, the world possesses missiles, drones and nuclear weapons with the capability to destroy entire cities and millions of people within minutes. At the same time, global food production is sufficient to feed the entire human population comfortably, yet the failure of distribution systems has turned it into a tragedy.
In the race for military technology, ballistic missiles are considered among the most dangerous weapons. These missiles can travel thousands of kilometers and carry nuclear warheads. Information about these weapons and their capabilities is documented in reports by global defense research institutions such as the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
The United States’ Minuteman III can strike targets at a range of approximately 13,000 kilometers, while Russia’s RS-28 Sarmat can reach targets nearly 18,000 kilometers away. China’s DF-41 has a range of about 12,000 kilometers, and North Korea’s Hwasong-17 is believed to have the capability to reach the United States.
In South Asia, Pakistan’s Shaheen-III can strike targets up to approximately 2,750 kilometers away, while India’s Agni-V can reach targets at a distance of about 5,000 to 8,000 kilometers.
One of the most dangerous features of these missiles is that some of them can carry multiple nuclear warheads simultaneously, a technology known as Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicles (MIRV). This means that a single missile can target several cities at the same time.
Alongside ballistic missiles, cruise missiles have also become a major component of modern warfare. Although their speed is relatively lower, their accuracy is extremely high.
The United States’ Tomahawk cruise missile can strike targets up to about 1,600 kilometers away. Russia’s Kalibr missile has a range of approximately 2,500 kilometers, while China’s CJ-10 can accurately hit targets up to around 1,500 kilometers away.
Over the past decade, combat drones have completely transformed the nature of warfare. Previously, drones were primarily used for surveillance, but today they have evolved into direct strike weapons.
The United States’ MQ-9 Reaper is a powerful attack drone, while Turkey’s Bayraktar TB2 has proven effective in several conflicts. Iran’s Shahed-136 is a relatively low-cost yet effective drone capable of striking targets thousands of kilometers away. Israel’s Heron TP is also used for both surveillance and strike missions.
One of the most significant characteristics of drones is that they are comparatively inexpensive and can be deployed in large numbers, making them difficult for defense systems to intercept.
When it comes to nuclear weapons, the total number of nuclear warheads in the world still runs into the thousands. Reliable information about their numbers and distribution is regularly published in reports by institutions such as the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and the Federation of American Scientists (FAS).
Russia possesses approximately 6,000 nuclear warheads, while the United States has around 5,500. China has about 500, France approximately 290, and the United Kingdom around 225 nuclear weapons.
In South Asia, Pakistan is estimated to possess around 170 to 200 nuclear warheads, while India has approximately 160 to 170. North Korea is believed to have around 50 to 60, and Israel is estimated to possess roughly 90 nuclear weapons.
Among the most dangerous delivery systems are Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) and Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs), as they can travel between continents within minutes.
In the modern world, powerful radar and satellite systems are used to detect missile launches in time. One of these systems is the AN/FPS-132 Early Warning Radar, which can detect incoming missiles from thousands of kilometers away.
This radar is a key component of the missile defense system of the United States and its allies and is installed at RAF Fylingdales in the United Kingdom, Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, and Clear Space Force Station in Alaska. Typically, if a ballistic missile is launched, this system can detect it within two to five minutes of launch.
A few countries have developed multi-layered missile defense systems. The technical details of these systems are also documented in reports by international defense research institutions.
Israel possesses systems such as Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow-3. The United States operates THAAD, Patriot PAC-3, and Ground-Based Midcourse Defense systems. Russia has developed S-400 and S-500, while China is working on systems such as HQ-19 and HQ-22.
Despite these advancements, experts agree that no defense system is one hundred percent effective.
A nuclear war does not remain limited to the destruction of a few cities; it can have global consequences. Scientists suggest that large-scale nuclear explosions could release massive amounts of smoke and ash into the atmosphere, blocking sunlight from reaching the Earth. This phenomenon is known as Nuclear Winter.
Because of this threat, several countries have constructed underground bunkers. In the United States, facilities such as Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center and Cheyenne Mountain Complex exist. The United Kingdom has the Burlington Bunker, Russia has the Kosvinsky Mountain Bunker, and China has the Beijing Underground City. These facilities are designed to allow governments to continue operating in the event of a nuclear war.
On a private level, projects such as the Vivos Underground Bunker Network also exist, designed to sustain thousands of people for months or even years.
Interestingly, the amount of food produced globally is theoretically sufficient to provide approximately 4,200 calories per day to every human being, whereas the average human body requires only about 2,100 to 2,500 calories daily.
Despite this, about nine percent of the world’s population suffers from severe food insecurity. The primary cause is not a shortage of food but rather unequal distribution, poverty, wars, and food waste. Global estimates suggest that nearly one-third of the food produced worldwide is wasted.
From an economic perspective, the total value of nuclear and advanced weapons in the world is estimated to be around 20 trillion dollars. In contrast, providing complete food supplies for all eight billion people on Earth for an entire year would require approximately 8.8 trillion dollars.
In other words, the value of the weapons currently existing in the world is roughly equivalent to two years of global food supply.
These numbers raise a fundamental question: Has humanity used its capabilities to improve life, or to make destruction more efficient?
Today, humans possess the power to destroy entire civilizations within minutes, yet millions remain deprived of basic food. This contradiction has become one of the greatest moral tests of our era.
The survival of humanity depends not only on technology but also on wisdom, justice, and global responsibility. If the world fails to prioritize balance, cooperation, and humanity over power, these deadly weapons will not only threaten enemies but the entire human race.
Perhaps at this turning point in history, humanity must make a fundamental decision — will the future belong to weapons, or to human beings?
Note:
All statistics presented in this article are based on available reports and studies from international research institutions such as SIPRI, FAS, CSIS, IISS, the United Nations, and FAO.