UK Had No Jets To Drop Nukes For Almost 20 Years, 12 F-35As From US Will Change That
This move marks a significant change in the UK's nuclear capabilities. For over two decades, the country's nuclear deterrent has been delivered solely by its four Vanguard-class submarines, which carry Trident missiles. The new jets would give Britain an air-based nuclear option for the first time since the late 1990s, when the RAF retired its last nuclear-capable aircraft following the end of the Cold War era.
Britain's shift in nuclear strategy points to growing concerns over Russia and Europe's continued dependence on US weapons to keep Moscow in check. With fears of a more inward-looking Trump presidency, some European countries are now rethinking how to strengthen their own nuclear defences.
The UK's new F-35A fighter jets will be added to NATO's nuclear mission in Europe. Countries like Germany and the Netherlands already fly jets that can carry US nuclear bombs, but any use of these weapons would need approval from both the US president and NATO. For now, the UK does not plan to build its own air-launched nuclear missiles, officials speaking to the Wall Street Journal said.
'This is a robust British contribution to the alliance," NATO's secretary-general Mark Rutte was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
The UK's plan to buy Lockheed Martin's F-35A fighter jets was announced alongside a pledge to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, in coordination with NATO allies. The move is also seen as an attempt to address pressure from former US President Donald Trump, who has long criticised European nations for not doing enough to fund their own security.
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