Revealed: US spends more than $52 billion a year on nukes

The United States spends more than $52 billion a year maintaining, upgrading and operating its nuclear weapons arsenal each year, a little-heralded study revealed Monday.

Outside of the hefty price tag, equally significant is the way the money is spent. The US devoted just 1.3 percent — or $700 million — to preparing for the consequences of a nuclear attack.