Latest news with #B61-12
News18
2 days ago
- Politics
- News18
RAF'S Cold War Nuke Base Hosts US B61 Bombs Again? C-17 "High Priority" Flight Fuels Speculation
A suspected US B61-12 nuclear bomb delivery to RAF Lakenheath via a high-priority C-17 flight on July 17 has sparked speculation of renewed nuclear deployment in the UK for the first time since 2008. The UK is acquiring F-35A jets for potential nuclear roles and rejoining NATO's nuclear-sharing mission. Security upgrades at Lakenheath and growing threats from Russia and Iran prompted Britain's 2025 security strategy to warn of potential domestic war. London vows stronger nuclear cooperation with France and Germany. 00:00 - INTRODUCTION01:36 - SPOTLIGHT ON RAF LAKENHEATH04:03 - SECURITY REVIEW FLAGS POTENTIAL 'WARTIME SCENARIO'n18oc_world n18oc_crux
India.com
4 days ago
- India.com
Bad news for Russia, China, Iran as US' F-35 fighter jet becomes more lethal due to..., nuclear weapon...
New Delhi: America's F-35 fighter plane has got a new lethal capability. With this, F-35 will now be able to attack its enemies even more lethally. This fighter plane was already a big threat to America's rivals and big military powers like China and Russia. In such a situation, now this fighter plane has become more powerful as it got new lethal capability. What is the new weapon F-35 is equipped with? American F-35 has been equipped with a new weapon. This has increased the lethal capability of F-35 manifold and now in case of a conflict, the F-35 would prove to be more dangerous for China and Russia. The F-35A Lightning II has now received certification to carry the B61-12 nuclear bomb. According to the F-35 Joint Program Office, it is the first stealth fighter capable of carrying nuclear weapons, giving the US and NATO a new dual-role fighter jet. What is B61-12 nuclear bomb? The B61-12 is a modern nuclear gravity bomb. It will replace the older B61 variants. This bomb can be fired anywhere from the F-35A fighter aircraft. This bomb is designed for both tactical and strategic missions. This bomb has four different capacity settings, including a low-capacity option for use in the battlefield. What are features of F-35 jet? The F-35 is equipped with stealth technology and state-of-the-art sensors that help it to avoid radar. Due to this, enemy's radars are unable to detect the F-35 fighter aircraft. Its advanced sensor fusion system combines data obtained from multiple sensors, giving pilots a complete view of the battlefield. This technology helps the F-35 to strike targets without seeing them. The F-35 can fire both nuclear and conventional weapons with high accuracy. Its targeting systems, including electro-optical targeting systems and advanced radars help to accurately strike high-value enemy targets. This jet can also share targeting data with other aircraft and units. Why is F-35 called a multirole fighter jet? The F-35 is called a multirole fighter jet as it can switch between conventional and nuclear missions. This power is important for NATO and allied air forces, as it allows an aircraft to perform a wide range of tasks, from air defense to strategic deterrence. Countries such as Germany, Belgium, Italy and the United Kingdom are buying the F-35A to join NATO's nuclear mission. The F-35's new role is being considered an important part of NATO's defense plans, as it replaces older jets in the nuclear sharing programme. The F-35's ability to carry nuclear bombs, combined with its stealth and advanced sensors, sets a new standard for combat aircraft and its dual-role capability could shape the future of aerial warfare and nuclear deterrence.
ITV News
25-06-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
Campaigners say east could become 'a target' as a dozen nuclear bomb fighter jets set for RAF Marham
Campaigners have claimed that stationing 12 new fighter jets capable of deploying nuclear weapons in the east of England could make the area a target for the UK's enemies. The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the government's purchase of a dozen American F-35A jets, a variation of the F-35Bs the UK already uses, will be based at RAF Marham in west Norfolk. A spokesperson for the MoD refused to confirm or deny, as is government policy, whether nuclear weapons would also be housed there. The announcement has been welcomed by some as offering job security for the base, but anti-nuclear campaigners said they feared the consequences. Sue Wright, chair of the Norwich and District branch for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, said that with a refuelling station at RAF Mildenhall, the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk may be vulnerable. "I am very concerned about it, it definitely does make us a target," she told ITV News Anglia. "I've heard people say 'if it lands us on, no problem, we'll be destroyed'. There will be a certain area where everyone will die, but the surrounding area many people will die after a very long time. "Nuclear weapons are not the answer, nuclear weapons can destroy the world." Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, speaking at a NATO summit, said it was 'the biggest strengthening of the UK's nuclear posture in a generation' and would see the UK join Nato's airborne nuclear mission. Currently the UK's only nuclear weapons are submarine-based. Defence Secretary John Healey said the decision followed a strategic defence review that 'confirmed we face new nuclear risks, with other states increasing, modernising and diversifying their nuclear arsenals'. The news of the new aircraft and its potential to create more jobs in the area was welcomed by King's Lynn and West Norfolk councillor Pallavi Devulapalli, who said: "I welcome any investment in Marham as an airbase to secure it's sustainability and its future. "It's a very important part of the local area and it provides a great boost to the local economy. We value it." While the aircraft would belong to the UK, the weapons on board would be American B61-12 bombs. The announcement was made at a meeting of NATO members at The Hague, where Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, along with his European counterparts, promised to increased spending on defence to 4.1% of GDP within two years and 5% by 2035. It comes as leaders observe a tentative ceasefire between Israel and Iran in the Middle East after 12 days of intense fighting and the Russian invasion of Ukraine which began in 2022.
Business Insider
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Insider
The UK is bringing nuclear bombs back to its air force, a Cold War-era practice that it shut down in the 1990s
The UK is buying 12 F-35As that can carry nuclear weapons, and it's making it clear that it's buying the American aircraft for that capability. "The purchase represents the biggest strengthening of the UK's nuclear posture in a generation," UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer 's office wrote in a statement on Tuesday evening. The move will bring back the Royal Air Force 's ability to conduct nuclear strikes, a capability that the UK decommissioned in 1998 when it withdrew its own air-dropped nuclear bomb from service. Since then, the UK's only official method of launching a nuclear attack has been from its Vanguard-class submarines. Every other nuclear-armed nation has at least two of the three typical methods of launching an attack: by air, land, or sea. The US, Russia, and China are known to possess all three, what's known as the nuclear triad. In his office's statement, Starmer said his government was re-establishing the air-based leg of its nuclear forces amid an "era of radical uncertainty." "The UK's commitment to NATO is unquestionable, as is the Alliance's contribution to keeping the UK safe and secure, but we must all step up to protect the Euro-Atlantic area for generations to come," he said. Starmer's office said the new fighters will be stationed at RAF Marham in eastern England. The UK is already on schedule to receive 138 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters, and the F-35As announced on Tuesday are coming from the next batch of this order. British forces already have roughly three dozen of the fighter jets, though these are the F-35B, a variant that can land vertically and take off with an extremely short runway. The F-35A, the baseline version of the aircraft, was the only variant to be certified to carry nuclear weapons. In March 2024, the stealth fighter was certified to carry the B61-12, an American 800-pound nuclear bomb. The B61-12 is a gravity weapon, meaning it's dropped from above and has no propulsion system. Starmer's office said it made its decision to purchase the F-35As after a review of UK defenses urged it to boost its deterrence posture. "The Strategic Defence Review recognised that the UK is confronting a new era of threat, including rising nuclear risk," the statement reads. Global fears of a nuclear arms race While the UK and France have their own nuclear programs, Western European nuclear deterrence relies heavily on the US through American missiles stationed on the continent. NATO, which is gathering its leaders at a summit in the Hague on Tuesday and Wednesday, has also been pushing member states to build up the alliance's fleet of dual-capable aircraft, or warplanes that can drop both conventional and nuclear bombs. The UK's decision comes amid fears of a full-blown nuclear arms race between the three largest nuclear powers, and as tensions among them continue to worsen. The US and Russia, which own close to an estimated 83% of the world's nuclear warheads, are both undertaking wide-scale modernizations of their nuclear weapons and launch systems. China has not publicly admitted to an expansion, but international observers say that it's rapidly building up its arsenal by at least 100 warheads a year from 2023 to 2025. By that rate, it could reach 1,550 warheads — the deployment limit kept by the US and Russia — by 2035. The UK has an estimated 225 nuclear warheads, but has said it intends to increase its stockpile to 260. It's also developing a new submarine, the Dreadnought, to replace its four Vanguard-class nuclear submarines.
India Today
25-06-2025
- Business
- India Today
UK to buy F-35 fighter jets capable of carrying US nuclear warheads
The United Kingdom is planning an upgrade to its nuclear defence. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that the UK will buy 12 new F-35A fighter jets from the United States. These jets can carry normal weapons along with powerful US nuclear is one of the biggest changes in Britain's nuclear defence since the Cold War. These US bombs are expected to be kept in the UK, which has not happened since Prime Minister Starmer said, "In an era of radical uncertainty we can no longer take peace for granted. These aircraft will strengthen our armed forces and support communities across the country through our defence industry." The new aircraft will be stationed at Norfolk's RAF Marham. In order to prevent enemy attacks, they will be a part of NATO's program that shares nuclear power amongst its members. The UK will continue to abide by all international agreements and regulations. As in Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Turkey, the United States will continue to control nuclear WILL CARRY STRONG NUCLEAR BOMBSThe F-35A aircraft are capable of carrying the B61-12, a unique kind of bomb. These bombs are extremely powerful. They can detonate at 0.3, 1.5, 10, and 50 kilotons, according to the Federation of American Scientists. In contrast, the bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima during World War II killed up to 140,000 people and had a 15 kiloton UK's Ministry of Defence does not usually share where nuclear weapons are stored. However, there are vaults at RAF Marham where weapons were kept in the past. There are also older nuclear storage sites at nearby RAF Lakenheath, which is used by the US Air stated that they are expected to support more than 20,000 jobs and involve over 100 UK-based businesses. The jets are made by US company Lockheed Martin. The government also says the F-35A is cheaper than the older F-35B model, saving up to 25% on each aircraft. The UK plans to eventually buy up to 138 of these said, "Supporting 100 businesses across the country and more than 20,000 jobs, these F35 dual capable aircraft will herald a new era for our world-leading Royal Air Force and deter hostile threats that threaten the UK and our allies."NATO's secretary general, Mark Rutte, welcomed the announcement. He called it "a robust British contribution to the alliance." UK Defence Secretary John Healey said the decision fits into a "NATO-first" strategy and will also boost the UK comes as the most recent UK defence review issued warnings about the possibility of future attacks on British territory. The review said, "For the first time in many years, we have to actively prepare for the possibility of the UK homeland coming under direct threat, potentially in a wartime scenario."The review also said Russia remains the biggest threat.- EndsMust Watch
