The Sum of All Fears

In October 1973, the Yom Kippur War erupts as combined Egyptian and Syrian forces launch a surprise attack against Israel. The Israeli military is caught off guard, leading to a precarious situation that endangers their defense.

In a desperate effort to prevent total destruction, Israel deploys a nuclear-armored A-4 Skyhawk. This bold move is intended to protect their ground forces from the overwhelming enemy assault during the war.

The Israeli airplane faces dire consequence as it is engaged by a Syrian missile and crashes into the desert landscape. While debris scatters over the area, a nuclear device remains buried intact in the crater left behind.

Fast-forward to 2002, President J. Robert Fowler conducts a simulated nuclear war drill at Mt. Weather, Virginia. This exercise underscores the serious global nuclear threats faced by the U.S. and highlights the administration's focus on security.

After the drill, President Fowler dispatches CIA Director William Cabot to inspect Russian nuclear sites as part of the START arms treaty agreements. This mission aims to relieve concerns regarding nuclear arms at a global level.

In the Golan Heights, an Arab scrap metal merchant stumbles upon the remains of the crashed aircraft from 1973. Upon examination, he discovers the buried nuclear weapon and mistakenly believes it to be a valuable find.

Jack Ryan receives an emergency call in the early hours of the morning, informing him of Russian President Zorkin's sudden death from a heart attack. This significant event brings political uncertainty as Zorkin's successor Alexander Nemerov swiftly assumes power.

In the desert, arms dealer Olson recognizes the value of the nuclear device unearthed by the scrap dealer. He cunningly deceives the merchant into selling it for a mere $400 before contacting Richard Dressler to sell it for a staggering $50 million.

Jack Ryan and Director Cabot visit a Russian nuclear facility, where they notice the alarming absence of three key nuclear scientists. Concerned about this anomaly, they decide to return to Washington for further investigation.

During a gala attended by President Fowler, aides suddenly whisk him away due to a crisis. Confusion reigns as news breaks that Russian forces may have deployed chemical weapons, raising fears of an escalating conflict in Chechnya.

As Jack Ryan joins CIA operative John Clark in the field, they stumble upon evidence linking the missing nuclear scientists to an underground nuclear weapons operation. Their findings suggest a larger conspiracy that threatens global safety.

With intel indicating a dangerous shipment of nuclear material heading for Baltimore, Jack races against time to avert a catastrophe. The impending threat culminates at an NFL stadium where a nuclear device is concealed.

Despite Jack's frantic efforts to alert his colleagues, a catastrophic explosion rocks Baltimore as the nuclear device detonates. This disaster triggers chaos on Air Force One and heightens tensions between the U.S. and Russia.

In the wake of the explosion, Jack Ryan confirms the innocence of President Nemerov amidst escalating tensions. He urgently relays crucial information to the Russian president to prevent a potential nuclear conflict from erupting.

In a moment of diplomatic relief weeks later, Presidents Fowler and Nemerov come together to sign a new arms treaty. This event signals a new chapter in U.S.-Russia relations, restoring some measure of global security after the near-catastrophe.