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First Post
29-07-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Did US move nuclear arms to UK in a signal to Putin?
For the first time since 2008, the US is believed to have redeployed nuclear weapons to the UK, reportedly delivering B61-12 bombs to RAF Lakenheath. A tracked flight from Kirtland Air Force Base and major upgrades at the base point to a long-term nuclear mission — a clear message to Russian President Vladimir Putin amid the war in Ukraine read more RAF Lakenheath is primarily used as a United States Air Force (USAF) base. It's the largest US Air Force base in Europe and serves as a hub for combat airpower and support operations. Image/Lakenheath Alliance For Peace For the first time since 2008, the United States is believed to have redeployed nuclear weapons to Britain, a development that could reshape Nato's nuclear posture in Europe. Evidence gathered from open-source flight tracking, defence experts, and Pentagon planning documents suggests that the US delivered B61-12 thermonuclear bombs to RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk earlier this month, reported Bloomberg. On July 16, observers recorded an unusual movement: a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft departed from Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico — the US military's principal nuclear weapons hub — and flew directly to Lakenheath. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What made the mission stand out was that the plane's transponder remained switched on, broadcasting its identity and location for all to see. The aircraft was part of the Prime Nuclear Airlift Force, a specialised unit responsible for moving nuclear weapons. Such missions are typically shrouded in secrecy, but this flight left an unmistakable trail. Speaking to Bloomberg, defence analyst William Alberque, a senior fellow at the Pacific Forum, suggested the flight's visibility was intentional: 'This is a down payment that there's more to come on shifting Nato's deterrence posture toward strengthening. Returning US nuclear weapons to the UK is no small feat.' The flight that raised the alarm Investigation into the aircraft's journey provided critical clues. The C-17 — with the call sign Reach 4574 (RCH4574) — first took off from Lewis–McChord Air Base in Washington state, then crossed the continental US to Kirtland, reported UK Declassified. The base houses the Kirtland Underground Munitions Maintenance and Storage Complex, the world's largest nuclear weapons storage site, containing gravity bombs and warheads for the US arsenal. Read the inside story of how the US Air Force secretly delivered nuclear weapons to Lakenheath Air Base last week: @Cnduk @ScottishCND @EDP24 — Nukewatch (@NukewatchUK) July 22, 2025 Observers from Nukewatch UK, a monitoring group, tracked the mission and reported that the aircraft 'almost certainly loaded up with a cargo of anything up to 20 newly manufactured B61-12 nuclear weapons.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Midway through the trip, the pilot told ground control that the aircraft had 'haz cargo' — hazardous cargo — on board. The flight landed at Lakenheath Air Base on July 17 at 12:50 pm local time. During its time on the ground, the base enforced an unusual security protocol: no other flights took off or landed, and a strict two-and-a-half nautical mile no-fly zone was imposed around the base. 🚨Armed police are patrolling outside RAF Lakenheath as the US air force reportedly transfers more nuclear bombs to British soil with three times the power of Hiroshima. Photo via @NukewatchUK: — Declassified UK (@declassifiedUK) July 24, 2025 Two days later, on July 18, the aircraft departed and returned to Lewis-McChord, its mission complete. Hans Kristensen, who directs the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists, was unequivocal: 'There are strong indications that the US has returned nuclear weapons to the UK.' Why the B61-12 matters At the heart of the reported deployment is the B61-12, the latest version of a nuclear gravity bomb first developed during the Cold War. Unlike earlier models, this modernised version is equipped with a guidance tail kit that significantly improves its accuracy. The weapon has a variable yield ranging from 0.3 kilotonnes to 50 kilotonnes — meaning it can deliver a highly targeted strike or a far more devastating blast, depending on the setting. For comparison, the bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945 had a yield of about 15 kilotonnes, making the B61-12's maximum output more than three times as powerful. These bombs can be carried by several aircraft, including US and Nato jets, and soon by the F-35A fighters that Britain is now acquiring. The UK Ministry of Defence announced in June that it would buy at least 12 new F-35As, specifically citing their ability to carry B61-12 bombs. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD An updated UK Ministry of Defence policy paper reinforced the connection to Nato's broader nuclear strategy, stating that 'Nato's nuclear deterrence also relies on US nuclear weapons deployed in Europe and supporting capabilities and infrastructure provided by Allies.' The same document confirmed a significant shift for the UK Royal Air Force, noting that 'This decision reintroduces a nuclear role for the RAF for the first time since the UK retired its sovereign air-launched nuclear weapons after the Cold War.' Upgrades at RAF Lakenheath point to long-term plans RAF Lakenheath, where the bombs are believed to have been delivered, has a long history with US nuclear weapons, hosting them for more than half a century from 1954 until 2008. Documents from the US Department of Defence show that the base has been undergoing major upgrades for years, hinting at preparations for a renewed nuclear mission. Budget filings revealed multimillion-dollar investments in 'surety' projects — the Pentagon term for measures ensuring nuclear weapon security and reliability. One notable project is a 144-bed 'surety dormitory,' now under construction and expected to be finished by February 2026. The justification cited the 'influx of airmen due to the arrival of the potential Surety mission and the bed down of the two F-35 squadrons,' revealing that additional housing was needed for junior personnel. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Procurement records indicate new equipment orders linked to what the Pentagon itself referred to as a 'nuclear mission' at RAF Lakenheath. A calculated message to Putin The timing of the suspected deployment has raised eyebrows. US President Donald Trump has recently taken a harder stance on Russia, agreeing to send Ukraine additional Patriot missile systems via European intermediaries and threatening to impose secondary tariffs on Moscow if it fails to agree to a ceasefire soon. Just days before the suspected nuclear transfer, Trump warned that he was 'disappointed' in Putin and hinted that the deadline for compliance could be shortened. Defence expert Sidharth Kaushal of the Royal United Services Institute linked the deployment to NATO strategy, telling Bloomberg: 'Capabilities such as the B61 can contribute to limiting the impact of Russia's large advantage in theatre-level nonstrategic nuclear weapons.' Both Washington and London have remained silent on the matter, consistent with their longstanding policy of neither confirming nor denying the presence or location of nuclear arms. Groups such as the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) have urged UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to clarify the situation to Parliament, citing the security implications of having US nuclear bombs back on British soil. Meanwhile, experts point out that control of these weapons remains firmly in American hands. Under established US procedures, only the US president can authorise their use — regardless of where they are stored. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to analysts, the shipment also means the B61-12 is now fully deployed across seven bases in six Nato countries. With inputs from agencies
Saudi Gazette
22-07-2025
- General
- Saudi Gazette
Meme-famous UK fighter jet stuck in India finally departs
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM — A state-of-the-art British fighter jet that became a subject of jokes and memes after being stranded at an Indian airport for more than five weeks has finally left after repairs. The F-35B is now airborne and on its way to Darwin in Australia, an airport spokesman told the BBC. The jet first landed on 14 June at Thiruvananthapuram airport in the southern state of Kerala where it was diverted after it ran into bad weather during a sortie in the Indian Ocean. It then developed a technical snag. Its prolonged presence on Indian soil sparked curiosity and raised questions about how such a modern aircraft could remain stranded in a foreign country for so long. In a statement on Tuesday morning, the British High Commission confirmed the aircraft's departure. "A UK engineering team, deployed since 6 July completed the repairs and safety checks, allowing the aircraft to resume active service." The plane was part of the fleet of HMS Prince of Wales. Officials have not said why it was flying to Darwin, but it's most likely because the Royal Navy's flagship carrier is still in the region. For the past few days, HMS Prince of Wales has been posting updates and photos on X (formerly Twitter) from the joint exercises it has been conducting off the coast of Australia. After the plane was unable to return, engineers from the ship had visited it to fix it. But as they were unable to repair it, the UK ministry of defence said a fortnight back that they had deployed a team of 14 engineers "to Thiruvananthapuram airport to assess and repair the F-35B aircraft". There had been speculation that if the technicians failed to repair the aircraft, it would have to be partially dismantled and carried out in a bigger cargo plane such as a C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft. F-35Bs are highly advanced stealth jets, built by Lockheed Martin, and are prized for their short take-off and vertical landing capability. The case of the stranded $110m (£80m) jet was raised in the House of Commons. In India, images of the "lonely F-35B", parked on the tarmac and soaked by the Kerala monsoon rains, made it a subject of jokes and memes. One viral post joked that the jet had been put up for sale at an online site at a hugely competitive price of $4m. The listing claimed the jet included features like "automatic parking, brand-new tyres, a new battery and an automatic gun to destroy traffic violators". One user on X said the jet deserved Indian citizenship as it had been in the country long enough, while another suggested that India should start charging rent and that the Kohinoor diamond would be the most appropriate payment. Kerala government's tourism department also joined in the fun with a post on X that said "Kerala, the destination you'll never want to leave." The post included an AI-generated photograph of an F-35B standing on the runway with coconut palm trees in the background. The text joked that, like many visitors to the state famously dubbed 'God's Own Country' in tourism brochures, the jet too seemed reluctant to leave its scenic surroundings. On Tuesday, after it took off, X users posted messages saying "adios" to the jet as it left "after enjoying more than one month of holidays at God's Own Country". — BBC
NDTV
14-07-2025
- General
- NDTV
1 Month On, British F-35 Fighter Jet Remains Grounded At Kerala Airport
A British Royal Navy F-35B Lightning II fighter jet that made an emergency landing in Kerala in June after suffering a hydraulic failure has been parked at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport for a month now. On July 6, three weeks after the aircraft made an emergency landing, the fighter jet was towed to a hangar to fix engineering issues and hydraulic snag. The British crew has been trying to get on the bonnet of the aircraft and fix it. However, it appears unlikely that the fighter jet will be able to fly back on its own. Why UK's F-35 Jet Is Staying In Kerala Over the past month, several attempts have been made to repair the hydraulic snag in the jet, but all in vain, extending its stay in Kerala. Last Sunday, a team of 24 people from the UK - 14 technical experts from the British Royal Air Force and 10 crew members - landed in Kerala to check whether the fighter jet can be repaired locally or needs to be dismantled and transported back. Since India doesn't operate F-35, special equipment had to be flown in to move the aircraft into a hangar. For the past week, the aircraft has been inside the repair and maintenance hangar with the British crew trying to get on the bonnet of the aircraft and fix it. However, it appears that the plane might not be able to fly back on its own power. The crew might have to dismantle and bundle the fighter jet into a larger aircraft. British technicians have been considering taking the F-35B home in a C-17 Globemaster military transport aircraft. The first-ever F-35 wing removal and shipment via air transport took place in May 2019. How Did F-35 Reach Kerala On June 14, the F-35B fighter jet, en route from the UK to Australia, made an emergency landing in Kerala's Trivandrum after it encountered a hydraulic failure. The pilot, facing low fuel levels and adverse weather conditions, opted for an emergency landing at the nearest suitable airport, which happened to be in Kerala. The Indian Air Force facilitated the landing and assisted. The 5th-generation stealth fighter is part of the UK's HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group, which is currently operating in the Indo-Pacific and recently completed joint maritime exercises with the Indian Navy. The F-35B fighter jet is valued at over $110 million, and is the most expensive fighter jet in terms of development cost.
News18
07-07-2025
- General
- News18
UK's F-35B Stranded In Kerala: A Comedy Of Errors And Espionage Fears
Last Updated: The hilarious saga of a UK F-35B stranded in Kerala, sparking espionage fears and diplomatic farce On 14 June, a British Royal Navy F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter jet, valued at a cool £85 million, made an unscheduled pit stop at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala, India, after a spot of bother with bad weather and low fuel. Fast forward three weeks, and the jet is still there, grounded by a pesky hydraulic failure, with the UK now planning to airlift it back home using a C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft. What began as a routine emergency landing has spiralled into a farcical saga, complete with whispers of espionage, monsoon-soaked tarmacs and a peculiar British reluctance to accept Indian hospitality. The tale is a masterclass in how to turn a minor mishap into a global spectacle. Social media has been abuzz with memes, including a satirical listing of the jet for sale on OLX for a bargain £3.2 million, boasting 'new tyres" and an 'automatic gun to destroy traffic violators". As the UK scrambles to retrieve its prized aircraft, the episode has become a delightful blend of technical woes, diplomatic dance, and unfounded fears about India pinching the F-35's cutting-edge tech. A monsoon-drenched drama unfolds The F-35B, part of the HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group, was merrily conducting joint exercises with the Indian Navy when it hit a snag on 14 June. Adverse weather and dwindling fuel forced the pilot, Captain Mike (whose full name no media house has disclosed), to issue a distress signal, landing safely at Thiruvananthapuram, a civilian airport not exactly equipped for fifth-generation stealth fighters. Still, the Indian Air Force, ever the gracious host, coordinated the landing and offered refuelling and logistical support. But then came the twist—a hydraulic failure, critical for the jet's short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) capabilities, left it stranded. Initial repair attempts by a small Royal Navy team, airlifted by an AW101 Merlin helicopter, flopped spectacularly. For nearly two weeks, the jet sat on Bay 4 of the airport's general aviation terminal, guarded by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and drenched by Kerala's monsoon rains. The British, wary of their jet's stealth secrets, declined India's offer to move it to Air India's Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) hangar. This decision sparked a flurry of speculation, with some on X suggesting India might be itching to reverse-engineer the jet's radar-evading tech. The reality? India, which doesn't operate F-35s and uses Russia's S-400 air defence system, probably has better things to do than play spy with a soggy fighter jet. And are we that good at reverse engineering? You never know! India today exports the second-highest number of geeks to the technologically advanced West after China. But leave our know-how aside. Chuckle at NATO's paranoia! Espionage fears and a hangar snub The UK's refusal to park the F-35B in a hangar wasn't merely about weathering the monsoon; it was a calculated move to keep prying eyes at bay. The jet, bristling with advanced sensors and stealth coatings, is a technological marvel—forget, for a while, the issues with the F-35, which, among other reasons, dissuaded India from importing it from the US—and the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) wasn't keen on letting it out of sight. The Royal Navy feared 'third parties" might glimpse its 'protected technologies", despite India's assurances of tight security. The 'Indophobia' reached comical heights when posts on X claimed India had 'jammed" the jet and set 12 conditions, including a demand that Indian engineers be present during repairs. Such rumours, entirely unverified, painted a picture of a Bollywood-style standoff, with the Indian Sukhoi Su-30 MKI supposedly intercepting the jet mid-air. In truth, the IAF's Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) simply guided the distressed F-35B to safety, and the UK expressed gratitude for the support. The hangar snub also meant the jet endured Kerala's torrential rains, prompting Kerala Tourism to cheekily post on X that even the F-35B couldn't resist the state's charm, dubbing it 'God's Own Country". After two weeks of stubbornness, the UK relented on 27 June, agreeing to move the jet to the MRO facility once a 40-member team with a special tow vehicle arrived. By then, the jet had become a local celebrity, with memes joking that it deserved Indian citizenship or that the UK should pay rent in the form of the Kohinoor diamond. The great airlift and a rejection of Indian expertise With repairs proving futile, the UK threw in the towel and opted for a dramatic exit strategy: dismantling the F-35B and airlifting it via a C-17 Globemaster, a beast capable of carrying 77.5 tons. This decision followed multiple failed attempts by Royal Navy technicians and a 30-member team, including Lockheed Martin experts, to fix the hydraulic issue. The operation, set to involve a 40-member crew arriving on 5 July, underscores the complexity of handling an £85-million asset in a foreign land. Curiously, the UK also rejected proposals to involve Indian engineers in the repair process, despite India's growing aerospace expertise. This rebuff, coupled with the hangar refusal, fuelled wild speculation about distrust, with some X posts suggesting India might nick the jet's tech for its own fifth-generation fighter programme. In reality, India's offer to assist was likely a gesture of goodwill, not a covert bid to crack open the F-35's secrets. The airlift plan is no small feat. The F-35B's 10.7 m wingspan exceeds the C-17's cargo door width, meaning the wings must be carefully removed—a process previously executed for a damaged South Korean F-35 in 2024. The UK's decision to airlift rather than repair on-site highlights the jet's sensitive systems and the MoD's determination to keep them under wraps. Meanwhile, Thiruvananthapuram airport authorities have confirmed that the UK will foot a yet-to-be-determined 'parking fee" for the jet's extended stay, adding a final comedic touch to this diplomatic debacle. top videos View all As the F-35B saga draws to a close, it leaves behind a trail of memes, diplomatic niceties and a lesson in how not to handle a grounded stealth jet. The British High Commission has repeatedly thanked India for its 'first-class support", yet the episode has dented the F-35 programme's image, already under scrutiny for its high maintenance costs, as noted in a 2024 US Department of Defense report. For now, the jet's Kerala holiday is set to end with a costly airlift, proving that even the world's most advanced fighter can't escape the chaos of a good old British cock-up. First Published: News opinion Opinion | UK's F-35B Stranded In Kerala: A Comedy Of Errors And Espionage Fears
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Time of India
UK's F-35B Jet Moved To Hangar In Kerala After 3 Weeks; Airlift Option Being StudiedF-35 JET
The UK Royal Navy's F-35B stealth fighter jet, stranded in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram airport for three weeks due to a malfunction, has been towed to a hangar for further assessment. A fresh team of engineers from the UK arrived on an Airbus A400M Atlas to decide whether the jet can be fixed locally or dismantled for return via a C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft. The $110 million jet features highly classified stealth technology and requires strict security protocols during any handling. Watch#f35b #stealthjet #ukinindia #keralaairport #thiruvananthapuram #royalnavy #fighterjet #airliftoperation #militarytech #f35malfunction Read More
