Latest news with #V-bombers
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
British fighter jets to carry nuclear weapons in face of ‘new era of threat' of Russia
It comes as the Prime Minister is set to expand the UK's nuclear deterrence across Europe NUKE THREAT British fighter jets to carry nuclear weapons in face of 'new era of threat' of Russia BRITAIN looks set to introduce jets armed with nuclear weapons for the first time as part of the latest defensive expansion against Russia. The government is in talks with US officials over the move, which would be the UK's biggest deterrent development since the Cold War. 6 Britain's tactical nukes and V-bombers were decommissioned after the Cold War Credit: EPA 6 Britain's Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin has called for the move Credit: AP 6 Investment in the aircraft would mean the UK would be able to launch nuclear weapons from both air and sea Credit: Alamy Sir Keir Starmer will launch a strategic defence review on Monday as the government looks to help Europe counter Putin's threat. The review points to the UK expanding its contribution to NATO's nuclear deterrence across the continent. It also recommends that the country's defence industry should be on standby for rearmament. Defence Secretary John Healey and Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, head of the armed forces, are leading talks with the Pentagon. They are looking to purchase fighter jets capable of carrying gravity bombs with lower power than conventional nuclear weapons. Britain's tactical nukes and V-bombers were decommissioned in favour of the Vanguard submarine programme after the Cold War. Investment in the aircraft would mean the UK would be able to launch nuclear weapons from both air and sea. At present, the military is only able to launch from one platform. Whereas US forces possess nuclear launch capabilities from land, air and sea. Britain will be wiped off the map with nukes unless it stops helping Ukraine, warns Putin's guru 'Professor Doomsday' American-built F-35 A Lightning stealth jets look to be the target for the government, with the jets having been recently procured by German military forces. They have a range of almost 900 miles and are capable of carrying a B61 thermonuclear gravity bomb. Radakin is understood to view the move as the UK's number one defence priority. Speaking to The Times, the Defence Secretary admitted that nuclear risks across the globe are rising. He said: "The world is definitely becoming more dangerous. Nuclear risks are rising. "For the first time since the Cold War, we face seriously increasing risks of state-on-state conflict. "The lesson from Ukraine is that a country's armed forces are only as strong as the industry behind them.' It comes as the government insisted it would reach its target to hike defence spending to three per cent GDP by 2034. Writing in The Sun on Sunday, Sir Keir said the time had come to 'transform how we defend these islands'. 6 Sir Keir Starmer will launch a strategic defence review on Monday Credit: AFP 6 Defence Secretary John Healey admitted global nuclear risks are rising Credit: AFP 6 Britain hopes to expand its contribution to NATO's nuclear deterrence against Russia Credit: PA He added: 'We will meet this moment head on — by mounting the kind of response not seen before in most of our lifetimes. "We will restore Britain's war-fighting readiness as the central purpose of our Armed Forces. "We are being directly threatened by states with advanced military forces. 'So we must be ready to fight and win. After all, the best way to prevent conflict is by preparing for it.' Revealing details of the long-awaited Strategic Defence Review, he revealed the UK will move to wartime levels of arms production by building six new munitions factories. The £1.5billion investment will create or support nearly 2,000 jobs across the country.
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
British fighter jets to carry nuclear weapons in face of ‘new era of threat' of Russia
BRITAIN looks set to introduce jets armed with nuclear weapons for the first time as part of the latest defensive expansion against Russia. The government is in talks with US officials over the move, which would be the UK's biggest deterrent development since the Advertisement 6 Britain's tactical nukes and V-bombers were decommissioned after the Cold War Credit: EPA 6 Britain's Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin has called for the move Credit: AP 6 Investment in the aircraft would mean the UK would be able to launch nuclear weapons from both air and sea Credit: Alamy Sir Keir Starmer will launch a strategic defence review on Monday as the government looks to help Europe counter Putin's threat. The review points to the UK expanding its contribution to NATO's nuclear deterrence across the continent. It also recommends that the country's defence industry should be on standby for rearmament. Defence Secretary Advertisement They are looking to purchase fighter jets capable of carrying gravity bombs with lower power than conventional nuclear weapons. Britain's tactical nukes and V-bombers were decommissioned in favour of the Vanguard submarine programme after the Cold War. Investment in the aircraft would mean the UK would be able to launch nuclear weapons from both air and sea. At present, the military is only able to launch from one platform. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Whereas US forces possess nuclear launch capabilities from land, air and sea. Britain will be wiped off the map with nukes unless it stops helping Ukraine, warns Putin's guru 'Professor Doomsday' American-built F-35 A Lightning stealth jets look to be the target for the government, with the jets having been recently procured by German military forces. They have a range of almost 900 miles and are capable of carrying a B61 thermonuclear gravity bomb. Radakin is understood to view the move as the UK's number one defence priority. Advertisement Speaking to The Times, the Defence Secretary admitted that nuclear risks across the globe are rising. He said: "The world is definitely becoming more dangerous. Nuclear risks are rising. "For the first time since the Cold War, we face seriously increasing risks of state-on-state conflict. "The lesson from Ukraine is that a country's armed forces are only as strong as the industry behind them.' Advertisement It comes as the government insisted it would reach its target to hike defence spending to three per cent GDP by 2034. Writing in The Sun on Sunday, Sir Keir said the time had come to 'transform how we defend these islands'. 6 Sir Keir Starmer will launch a strategic defence review on Monday Credit: AFP 6 Defence Secretary John Healey admitted global nuclear risks are rising Credit: AFP Advertisement 6 Britain hopes to expand its contribution to NATO's nuclear deterrence against Russia Credit: PA He added: 'We will meet this moment head on — by mounting the kind of response not seen before in most of our lifetimes. "We will restore Britain's war-fighting readiness as the central purpose of our Armed Forces. "We are being directly threatened by states with advanced military forces. Advertisement 'So we must be ready to fight and win. After all, the best way to prevent conflict is by preparing for it.' Read more on the Irish Sun Revealing details of the long-awaited Strategic Defence Review, he revealed the UK will move to wartime levels of arms production by building six new munitions factories. The £1.5billion investment will create or support nearly 2,000 jobs across the country.
BBC News
19-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
The abseiling cleaners who dust off old RAF planes
BBC The RAF Museum Midlands is home to a vast collection of former war planes set up inside the site's hangars. Among the displays at the museum, based at RAF Cosford in Shropshire, is the National Cold War Exhibition, which gives visitors the chance to learn about threats posed to world peace during the latter half of the 20th Century. The exhibition features the RAF's V-bombers, the Victor, Valiant and Vulcan, some of which are suspended from the ceiling. But the impressive spectacle means cleaning the planes can present somewhat of a challenge. Every year, industrial specialists rig up a rope system that allows brave spring cleaners to access the aircraft from the ceiling. Speaking to BBC Radio Shropshire before this year's operation, which took place on Tuesday, director of Totally Wild Access Alex Picken said workers "basically abseil down and give the planes a dusting". "It's a lot of work for a light dusting," he added. While this year's work primarily focused on the Cold War exhibition, workers were also due to clean World War Two bombers the Wellington and Lincoln. Mr Picken said the main issue was getting above the planes, due to the hangar being "quite a big building". The cleaners had to first climb the structure, before rigging a set of lines to get them down to the planes, he explained. "Some of the war planes in this hangar are very, very big, including the Vulcan and the Valiant," Mr Picken said. "It can take a while to dust them because, after a year of leaving them, there's a lot of dust that gathers on these planes." Mr Picken said he had been working at the site for six years and also helped to inspect lifting systems used to suspend the planes. He described the cleaning operation as a "challenge" that attracted people with a passion for activities like mountaineering or climbing. "It goes hand-in-hand with what we enjoy," he added. "It's definitely physical but it is good fun as well." Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Royal Air Force
BBC News
18-03-2025
- BBC News
RAF Cosford cleaners abseil to dust off old war planes
The RAF Museum Midlands is home to a vast collection of former war planes set up inside the site's the displays at the museum, based at RAF Cosford in Shropshire, is the National Cold War Exhibition, which gives visitors the chance to learn about threats posed to world peace during the latter half of the 20th exhibition features the RAF's V-bombers, the Vickers, Valiant and Vulcan, some of which are suspended from the the impressive spectacle means cleaning the planes can present somewhat of a challenge. Every year, industrial specialists rig up a rope system that allows brave spring cleaners to access the aircraft from the to BBC Radio Shropshire before this year's operation, which took place on Tuesday, director of Totally Wild Access Alex Picken said workers "basically abseil down and give the planes a dusting"."It's a lot of work for a light dusting," he added. While this year's work primarily focused on the Cold War exhibition, workers were also due to clean World War Two bombers the Wellington and Picken said the main issue was getting above the planes, due to the hangar being "quite a big building".The cleaners had to first climb the structure, before rigging a set of lines to get them down to the planes, he explained."Some of the war planes in this hangar are very, very big, including the Vulcan and the Valiant," Mr Picken said."It can take a while to dust them because, after a year of leaving them, there's a lot of dust that gathers on these planes." Mr Picken said he had been working at the site for six years and also helped to inspect lifting systems used to suspend the described the cleaning operation as a "challenge" that attracted people with a passion for activities like mountaineering or climbing."It goes hand-in-hand with what we enjoy," he added. "It's definitely physical but it is good fun as well." Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
