Britain in Talks to Purchase US Fighter Jets Capable of Firing Tactical Nuclear Weapons
Britain is engaged in highly sensitive talks to purchase American fighter jets capable of firing tactical nuclear weapons, a move that would represent the biggest development in the UK’s deterrent since the Cold War. According to a report, the UK Government is pursuing the move as recognition that the world has entered a more dangerous nuclear era, intended to counter the growing threat posed by Vladimir Putin’s Russia.
The discussions, which have reportedly taken place with the Pentagon, involve the potential acquisition of American-made fighter jets capable of launching gravity bombs with lower power than conventional nuclear weapons. Defence Secretary John Healey and Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, head of the armed forces, are said to be leading the efforts to procure the jets. The Prime Minister has given his backing to the talks, which could see the UK acquire Lockheed Martin’s F-35A Lightning stealth fighter jet.
The proposed move would establish a second pillar of Britain’s nuclear deterrent alongside its submarine-based missile system. According to sources, Radakin views the expansion of the nuclear deterrent as the UK’s biggest defence priority and has long argued for air-launched capabilities. The F-35A Lightning stealth fighter jet has a range of 1,400km and can carry the B61 thermonuclear gravity bomb, the United States’s primary air-dropped bomb from its stockpile of 3,708 nuclear weapons.
As GB News reports, the UK would likely carry American nuclear weapons rather than its own as part of Nato’s nuclear-sharing arrangements. The aircraft would form part of a capability the UK does not currently possess, able to be deployed on the battlefield in scenarios below all-out nuclear war. Britain’s military chiefs believe the UK must be able to wield more tactical nuclear capabilities to deter Putin, who has repeatedly threatened nuclear escalation in recent years.
The development comes ahead of the strategic defence review, which the Prime Minister is set to launch on Monday from a UK dockyard. The review is understood to recommend that the UK looks at expanding its contribution to Nato’s shared nuclear deterrence in Europe and seeks to put Britain on a pre-war footing with sweeping proposals for rearmament. As GB News previously reported, Defence Secretary John Healey said: "The world is definitely becoming more dangerous. Nuclear risks are rising. We face now, for the first time since the end of the Cold War, seriously increasing risks of state-on-state conflict."
The Shadow Defence Secretary, James Cartlidge, has welcomed the commitment to reintroduce air-launch capabilities, saying: "I recently called for our deterrent to be strengthened by diversifying how we deliver nuclear weapons, so I welcome the commitment to reintroduce air-launch capabilities." However, he also emphasised that the government should commit to spending three per cent of GDP on defence this parliament and that the priority on nuclear must still be to make the UK’s strategic continuous at-sea deterrent even more resilient.
According to GB News, the F-35A Lightning stealth fighter jet is one of the aircraft being considered by the UK. The German Luftwaffe has recently ordered the jet, which has a range of 1,400km and can carry the B61 thermonuclear gravity bomb. The proposed acquisition of the jets capable of firing tactical nuclear weapons is a significant development in the UK’s deterrent and reflects the growing concerns about the threat posed by Russia. As the strategic defence review is set to be launched, it remains to be seen how the UK’s defence priorities will be reshaped in response to the changing global security landscape.
The development has significant implications for the UK’s defence policy and its role in Nato’s nuclear deterrence. As GB News notes, the UK’s military chiefs believe that the UK must be able to wield more tactical nuclear capabilities to deter Putin, who has repeatedly threatened nuclear escalation in recent years. The proposed acquisition of the jets capable of firing tactical nuclear weapons is a significant development in the UK’s deterrent and reflects the growing concerns about the threat posed by Russia.
In related news, the Prime Minister is preparing to launch the strategic defence review on Monday from a UK dockyard. The review is expected to recommend that the UK looks at expanding its contribution to Nato’s shared nuclear deterrence in Europe and seeks to put Britain on a pre-war footing with sweeping proposals for rearmament. The development comes as the UK seeks to strengthen its defence capabilities in response to the growing threat posed by Russia.
As the UK continues to navigate the complexities of the global security landscape, the proposed acquisition of the jets capable of firing tactical nuclear weapons is a significant development in the UK’s deterrent. The move reflects the growing concerns about the threat posed by Russia and the need for the UK to strengthen its defence capabilities. The strategic defence review is set to be launched on Monday, and it remains to be seen how the UK’s defence priorities will be reshaped in response to the changing global security landscape.
The UK’s proposed acquisition of the jets capable of firing tactical nuclear weapons has significant implications for the country’s defence policy and its role in Nato’s nuclear deterrence. According to GB News, the development reflects the growing concerns about the threat posed by Russia and the need for the UK to strengthen its defence capabilities. The strategic defence review is set to be launched on Monday, and it remains to be seen how the UK’s defence priorities will be reshaped in response to the changing global security landscape.
