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NDTV
3 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
US Has Likely Moved Nuclear Weapons In UK For First Time Since 2008: Report
The US has likely stationed nuclear weapons in the UK for the first time since 2008, in a signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin that it remains committed to European security. On July 16, a US military aircraft flew with its transponder on - making its identification and location publicly visible - from a US nuclear weapons depot at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to an airbase in the UK city of Lakenheath, according to defense analysts and open-source data. The C-17 flight involved the US Air Force's Prime Nuclear Airlift Force, which transports nuclear weapons, and didn't fly over any other nation's territory, according to William Alberque, a Europe-based senior fellow at the Pacific Forum. The US and UK governments have longstanding policies of not commenting on the status or location of their nuclear weapons. US Department of Defense budget documents show that millions of dollars of work on "surety" facilities - the term the Pentagon uses to describe nuclear weapon security - has been in progress at Lakenheath for several years. The weapons the aircraft most likely delivered were the new B61-12 thermonuclear bombs, increasing the number of US tactical nuclear weapons in Europe for the first time since the Cold War. "There are strong indications" that the US has returned nuclear weapons to the UK, said Hans Kristensen, director of the Federation of American Scientists' Nuclear Information Project. Alberque said the decision to leave the flight transponders on indicates the US wants to show Russia that it is not reducing its nuclear capability in Europe. NATO officials declined to immediately comment. "This is a down payment that there's more to come on shifting NATO's deterrence posture toward strengthening," Alberque said. "Returning US nuclear weapons to the UK is no small feat." The move also signals that the US is committing more flexible nuclear capabilities to Europe, creating a wider range of options for its forces, said Sidharth Kaushal, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute. "Capabilities such as the B61 can contribute to limiting the impact of Russia's large advantage in theater-level nonstrategic nuclear weapons," Kaushal said. US President Donald Trump has hardened his approach to Putin in recent weeks, agreeing to send Ukraine more US-made Patriot missiles through European purchases and threatening to hit Russia with secondary tariffs if it doesn't agree to a cease fire within 50 days. On Monday, Trump said that he would reduce that deadline, adding that the was "disappointed" in Putin. The UK announced last month that it would purchase at least a dozen new US-made F-35A fighter jets capable of carrying B61-12 nuclear bombs. This week, its Ministry of Defense stated in an updated policy document that "NATO's nuclear deterrence also relies on US nuclear weapons deployed in Europe and supporting capabilities and infrastructure provided by Allies." The new jets will be available to fly NATO's nuclear mission, according to the document. "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," the MoD said in the document. B61-12 thermonuclear gravity bombs carry a warhead with a yield adjustable between 0.3 kilotons and 50 kilotons, according to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. They can be carried on F-35A fighter jets as well as other US and NATO aircraft. Yield measures the explosive power of a nuclear weapon, measured in the equivalent in tons of conventional explosives. Designed to be much more accurate than previous B61 models, its variable yield means it can be used against small military targets as well as population centers. The apparent shipment to the UK means the bomb is now fully deployed in Europe at seven bases across six NATO countries, Kristensen said. US nuclear weapons, even those on other countries' territory, can only be used after the direct authorization of the US President.
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
US has likely moved nuclear weapons to UK first time since 2008
Find out what's new on ST website and app. This is seen as a signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin that US remains committed to European security. The US has likely stationed nuclear weapons in the UK for the first time since 2008, in a signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin that it remains committed to European security. On July 16, a US military aircraft flew with its transponder on – making its identification and location publicly visible – from a US nuclear weapons depot at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to an airbase in the UK city of Lakenheath, according to defence analysts and open-source data. The C-17 flight involved the US Air Force's Prime Nuclear Airlift Force, which transports nuclear weapons, and did not fly over any other nation's territory, according to Mr William Alberque, a Europe-based senior fellow at the Pacific Forum. The US and UK governments have longstanding policies of not commenting on the status or location of their nuclear weapons. US Department of Defence budget documents show that millions of dollars of work on surety facilities – the term the Pentagon uses to describe nuclear weapon security – has been in progress at Lakenheath for several years. The weapons the aircraft most likely delivered were the new B61-12 thermonuclear bombs, increasing the number of US tactical nuclear weapons in Europe for the first time since the Cold War. 'There are strong indications' that the US has returned nuclear weapons to the UK, said Mr Hans Kristensen, director of the Federation of American Scientists' Nuclear Information Project. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Cambodia, Thailand agree to 'immediate and unconditional ceasefire' to de-escalate border row Singapore Tanjong Katong sinkhole: Road recovery works progressing steadily, tests under way Singapore ST Explains: What we know about the Tanjong Katong sinkhole so far Singapore Foreign workers who rescued woman from sinkhole given tokens of appreciation Asia Gunman kills 5 near Bangkok's Chatuchak market before taking own life Business SIA Q1 profit falls 59%; airline group sees volatile times ahead Singapore Man exposed daughter's identity despite court order after she was removed from his care Singapore Over 6 years' jail for conman who cheated 13 victims of more than $1.2m Mr Alberque said the decision to leave the flight transponders on indicates the US wants to show Russia that it is not reducing its nuclear capability in Europe. Nato officials declined to immediately comment. 'This is a down payment that there's more to come on shifting Nato 's deterrence posture toward strengthening,' M r Alberque said. 'Returning US nuclear weapons to the UK is no small feat.' The move also signals that the US is committing more flexible nuclear capabilities to Europe, creating a wider range of options for its forces, said Dr Sidharth Kaushal, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute. 'Capabilities such as the B61 can contribute to limiting the impact of Russia's large advantage in theater-level nonstrategic nuclear weapons,' Dr Kaushal said. US President Donald Trump has hardened his approach to Mr Putin in recent weeks, agreeing to send Ukraine more US-made Patriot missiles through European purchases and threatening to hit Russia with secondary tariffs if it does not agree to a cease fire within 50 days. On July 28 , Mr Trump said that he would reduce that deadline, adding that the was 'disappointed' in Mr Putin. The UK announced in June that it would purchase at least a dozen new US-made F-35A fighter jets capable of carrying B61-12 nuclear bombs. This week, its Ministry of Defence stated in an updated policy document that ' Nato 's nuclear deterrence also relies on US nuclear weapons deployed in Europe and supporting capabilities and infrastructure provided by allies.' The new jets will be available to fly Nato 's nuclear mission, according to the document. 'This decision reintroduces a nuclear role for the Royal Air Force for the first time since the UK retired its sovereign air-launched nuclear weapons after the Cold War,' the Ministry of Defence said in the document. B61-12 thermonuclear gravity bombs carry a warhead with a yield adjustable between 0.3 kilotons and 50 kilotons, according to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. They can be carried on F-35A fighter jets as well as other US and Nato aircraft. Yield measures the explosive power of a nuclear weapon, measured in the equivalent in tons of conventional explosives. Designed to be much more accurate than previous B61 models, its variable yield means it can used against small military targets as well as population centers. The apparent shipment to the UK means the bomb is now fully deployed in Europe at seven bases across six Nato countries, Mr Kristensen said. US nuclear weapons, even those on other countries' territory, can only be used after the direct authorisation of the US President. BLOOMBERG
Newsweek
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Satellite Images Show Iran's Buried Nuclear Sites That Trump Could Strike
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. In its mission to take out Tehran's nuclear program, two of Iran's major sites are likely out of reach of Israeli weapons. Israel launched what it termed a "preemptive" campaign against Iran's nuclear facilities and scientists, as well as the country's ballistic missile sites and other military assets, on Friday. Iran responded with drone and ballistic missile barrages. Strikes launched by both countries continued into Thursday. Fordow, a major facility roughly 100 miles from the capital, Tehran, is built deep under a mountain. It is widely acknowledged the only real option to take out the site are 30,000-pound bunker-busting American bombs launched from U.S. B-2 Spirit bombers. However, there is another hub, known as Mt. Kolang Gaz La, which sits on the outskirts of the Natanz nuclear site, considered Tehran's main facility for enriching uranium southeast of the capital. The Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) published satellite imagery back in April that it said showed Iran was building a new security perimeter around the base of Mt. Kolang Gaz La. Satellite imagery and annotations published by the Institute for Science and International Security in April 2025. Satellite imagery and annotations published by the Institute for Science and International Security in April 2025. Institute for Science and International Security The United Nations' nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has not visited the site of two nuclear tunnels at Mt. Kolang Gaz La, the organization has said. "The new complex features halls more deeply buried than the Fordow uranium enrichment site," ISIS said in its April assessment. Israel cannot collapse the Fordow, nor Mt. Kolang Gaz La sites, William Alberque told Newsweek. Alberque is a visiting fellow at the Henry L. Stimson Center think tank and a former director of NATO's Arms Control, Disarmament and WMD [Weapons of Mass Destruction] Nonproliferation Center. Iran said in 2020 it had started construction on a new hall in "the heart of the mountain near Natanz," in the center of the country, to make advanced centrifuges. Israel and the U.S. have both insisted it is unacceptable for Iran to gain a nuclear weapon. While Tehran has said its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, officials have publicly discussed the possibility of weapons. U.S. President Donald Trump has kept the world on tenterhooks by refusing to confirm whether American aircraft and munitions would launch offensive action on Iranian sites. The Republican president insists Iran wants to "make a deal," but has privately approved attack plans, according to reports on Thursday, although no final decision has been rubber-stamped. The Israeli military said on Thursday it had struck an "inactive" nuclear reactor in Arak, east of Fordow, and a "nuclear weapons development site near Natanz." "This nuclear reactor in Arak was created for one purpose: to build a nuclear bomb," the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said. Iranian state media confirmed an Israeli strike on the reactor and reported an attack on the Khondab heavy water facility. Satellite imagery and annotations published by the Institute for Science and International Security in April 2025, showing the Natanz nuclear enrichment site and construction to the south of the main complex. Satellite imagery and annotations published by the Institute for Science and International Security in April 2025, showing the Natanz nuclear enrichment site and construction to the south of the main complex. Institute for Science and International Security The IAEA said it had information indicating the half-built Khondab heavy water research reactor was hit, but said it was not operational and had no radiological impact. "With Iran, the facilities that we are most concerned about are the operating power plants, with Bushehr at the top of the list," Nickolas Roth, from the Nuclear Threat Initiative, told the Washington Post. Israel targeted Natanz in its initial strikes last week. Satellite imagery captured by Maxar, a space technology firm, on Saturday showed multiple damaged buildings at the site, while the IAEA said on Friday the aboveground part of the facility had been "destroyed," along with power infrastructure there. The watchdog then assessed on Monday that Israel had "severely damaged if not destroyed" centrifuges at the underground facility in Natanz. The belowground centrifuges were not hit directly, but strikes caused power cuts and "completely destroyed" the aboveground Natanz site, Rafael Grossi, chief of the IAEA, told the BBC. Mohammad Eslami, the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, described the country's facilities on Wednesday as in "good" condition, according to the semiofficial Tasnim news agency. The agency told the U.N. Security Council at the time that Iranian authorities had reported attacks on Isfahan and to Fordow, but could not provide further details. But satellite imagery has indicated no visible damage to Fordow, a site publicly revealed in 2009. Israel struck nuclear-linked sites in Isfahan, south of Fordow, and damaged four buildings at the facility, Grossi said on Sunday. Trump has warned Iran—which has cast the U.S. as already involved—that it would face "the full strength and might" of the U.S. military on "levels you've never seen before" if Iran attacked the U.S. in any way. The country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, threatened the U.S. on Wednesday with "irreparable damage" if Washington became militarily involved. "I may do it, I may not," Trump told reporters at the White House on Wednesday, when asked if he would launch attacks.
