From hypersonic intercontinental missiles capable of wiping out entire countries to autonomous nuclear super-torpedoes designed to trigger apocalyptic tsunamis, modern military arsenals contain unprecedented destructive power. Defence analysts measure these systems not just by explosive yield in megatons, but by their speed, stealth and potential casualty figures in a global conflict.
Military simulations estimate that a single launch of the world's most dangerous nuclear delivery systems could instantly kill millions and render entire geographical regions uninhabitable for generations. While some on this list are historical behemoths that served as test beds for the darkest side of human ingenuity, others are actively deployed today, ready to be unleashed at a moment's notice.
The Express has revealed the 10 most powerful weapons ever created, ranked by potential casualty impact in a full-scale strike.
10. FOAB (Father of All Bombs)
Origin: Russia
Type: Aviation Thermobaric Bomb of Increased Power
Yield/Power: 44 tons TNT equivalent
Potential Immediate Casualties: Thousands (localised blast zone)
Status: Active - Deployed in Russia's conventional heavy munitions inventory since its successful test in 2007.
Tested in 2007, the "Father of All Bombs" is widely considered the most powerful non-nuclear weapon in existence. Utilising thermobaric technology, it disperses a cloud of combustible fuel into the air before detonating, creating a massive vacuum and shockwave that vaporises structures and incinerates targets within a 300-meter radius.
9. B61-12 Guided Nuclear Bomb
Origin: United States
Type: Air-dropped tactical/strategic nuclear bomb
Yield/Power: Dial-a-yield (0.3 to 50 kilotons)
Potential Immediate Casualties: ~50k to 150k per strike
Status: Active - Operational since 2022, with guided tail-kits deployed to US and NATO airbases across Europe.
The main air-dropped nuclear gravity bomb in the US arsenal features an advanced tail-kit assembly that transforms a gravity bomb into a high-precision guided weapon. Deployed via stealth fighters like the F-35, its variable yield allows military planners to tailor the nuclear blast to wipe out underground reinforced command bunkers with minimal off-target fallout.
8. DF-17 Hypersonic Glide Vehicle
Origin: China
Type: Medium-range ballistic missile with Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV)
Yield/Power: Conventional or nuclear warhead (~200–300 kilotons)
Potential Immediate Casualties: ~100k to 300k
Status: Active - Enlisted in China's Rocket Force since its public debut in October 2019.
China's DF-17 is engineered specifically to bypass existing Western missile defence systems. Flying at speeds exceeding Mach 5 along unpredictable, low-altitude trajectories, the glide vehicle can manoeuvre mid-flight toward carrier strike groups or land bases, giving target forces virtually zero reaction time before impact.
7. Avangard Hypersonic Glide Vehicle
Origin: Russia
Type: Intercontinental Hypersonic Glide Vehicle
Yield/Power: ~2 megatons
Potential Immediate Casualties: ~500k to 1 million
Status: Active - Deployed atop active ICBMs and officially declared operational by Russia's Strategic Missile Forces in December 2019.
Mounted atop intercontinental ballistic missiles, the Avangard re-enters the atmosphere at speeds up to Mach 27 (roughly 20,000 mph). Russia claims the vehicle can manoeuvre dynamically in dense atmospheric layers, making it immune to current air defence interceptors while delivering a multi-megaton nuclear payload anywhere on Earth within minutes.
