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India Today
3 hours ago
- Business
- India Today
US moved nuclear weapons to UK for first time since 2008: Report
In a bid to send a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin that it stands with Europe, the US, for the first time since 2008, has stationed its nuclear weapons in the UK.A US aircraft flew on July 16 while transmitting its location publicly and blatantly identifying itself, 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 data, as reported by source, a Europe-based senior fellow at the Pacific Forum, added that the flight C-17, used primarily by the US to transport nuclear weapons, and a part of the US Air Force's Prime Nuclear Airlift Force, did not fly over any country's territory. According to the Bloomberg report, the budget documents of the US Department of Defence (DOD)showcase how the country has allocated millions of dollars over the years to the work being done on nuclear weapons safety facilities in suggest that the US transported the new B61-12 thermonuclear bombs into Europe – the first time it has increased its nuclear arsenal in the region since the Cold senior fellow, William Alberque, noted that flying with the transponders on and transmitting the location could be a move to remind Russia that the US still has nuclear capabilities functioning in officials declined to President Donald Trump, in recent weeks, has grown more stern in the face of his Russian counterpart. Trump has agreed to send Ukraine more US-made Patriot missiles and has threatened to hit Russia with secondary tariffs if the nation does not negotiate a ceasefire with Ukraine within 50 days. Notably, the UK announced last month its plan to purchase numerous US-made F-35A fighter jets capable of carrying B61-12 nuclear B61-12 bombs are capable of carrying a warhead with adjustable yield levels and can be carried on F-35A jets and also on NATO aircraft, according to the Bulletin of the Atomic yield level measures the explosive power of a nuclear weapon. The missiles with adjustable yield can now be deployed either on a small army or a big use of nuclear weapons by the US, however, can only occur at the behest of its President and Commander-in-Chief, Donald Trump.- EndsTune InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#United States of America#Russia
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First Post
12 hours ago
- 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
Russia Today
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
US ‘likely' moved nuclear arms to UK
The US has likely deployed nuclear weapons to Britain for the first time in over 15 years, in a potential warning to Russia, Bloomberg reported on Monday, citing open-source data and defense experts. On July 16, a US military transport aircraft flew with its transponder active from Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico – an installation known to house nuclear weapons – to RAF Lakenheath in eastern England, the report says. The aircraft is believed to have carried B61-12 thermonuclear bombs, which would mark the first known US nuclear deployment to the UK since 2008, according to several defense analysts. Former senior NATO arms control official William Alberque said leaving the aircraft's transponder on was intentional and appeared to be aimed at sending a message to Moscow. 'This is a down payment that there's more to come on shifting NATO's deterrence posture toward strengthening,' he said. 'Returning US nuclear weapons to the UK is no small feat.' Neither the US nor the UK has confirmed the move. It is also unclear how many weapons the US may have redeployed. NATO's nuclear posture in Europe has remained largely unchanged since the end of the Cold War, with tactical nuclear weapons currently stationed in Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, and Türkiye. Any movement of nuclear assets closer to Russia would likely be regarded as a major escalation. The Bloomberg report comes after the UK – which has nuclear weapons of its own – confirmed plans in June to acquire at least 12 F-35A fighter jets capable of carrying US B61-12 bombs. London called the move 'the biggest strengthening of the UK's nuclear posture in a generation.' Last year, former NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the bloc was considering deploying more of its nuclear weapons to deter Russia and China – which he described as 'potential adversaries.' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the remarks 'yet another fueling of tensions.'
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'US likely moved N-arms to UK for first time since '08'
T Tired of too many ads? go ad free now he 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 didn't fly over any other nation's territory, according to William Alberque, a Europe-based senior fellow at Pacific Forum. US and UK govts have longstanding policies of not commenting on status or location of their nuclear weapons. 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. 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. "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.
Newsweek
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
US Nuclear Weapons 'Deployed' to UK for First Time in 17 Years
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. The United States military has moved nuclear weapons to British soil for the first time in close to two decades, new analysis indicates. Open-source analysts identified an aircraft taking off from the Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico, bound for the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force (RAF) base at Lakenheath, in the east of England. Kirtland Air Force Base is the headquarters of the U.S. Air Force (USAF) Nuclear Weapons Center, a main storage site for nuclear weapons. A U.S. defense official told Newsweek the U.S. did not comment on the "status or location of strategic weapons." A spokesperson for the British Defense Ministry said: "It remains a long-standing UK and NATO policy to neither confirm nor deny the presence of nuclear weapons at a given location." Why It Matters Speculation has long surrounded whether the East England RAF base could once again host U.S. nuclear weapons. RAF Lakenheath hosted American nuclear weapons for several decades until 2008. The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) said in 2023 that U.S. military budget documents "strongly" implied the Air Force intended to re-establish its nuclear weapons mission in the U.K. RAF Lakenheath—the home of the 48th Fighter Wing, dubbed "Liberty Wing"—has been upgraded in recent years. If Washington moves nuclear weapons back into the U.K., "it would break with decades of policy and planning and reverse the southern focus of the European nuclear deployment that emerged after the end of the Cold War," the FAS said in updated analysis earlier this year. A USAF C-17 Globemaster III from the 97th Air Mobility Wing participates in the Miami Beach Air and Sea Show on May 25, 2024. A USAF C-17 Globemaster III from the 97th Air Mobility Wing participates in the Miami Beach Air and Sea Show on May 25, 2024. AP/NewsBase What To Know Flight tracking data shows that a USAF C-17 cargo plane departed from Albuquerque for a flight of just over 10 hours to Lakenheath on July 16 and left the U.K. two days later. "It looks like it went to England, dropped off those weapons and then it went back to regular operations in the U.S.," William Alberque, a former head of NATO's nuclear non-proliferation center, told Britain's The Times. The U.K. government announced last month it would buy at least 12 F-35A fifth-generation aircraft, which, unlike the F-35B jets the country's RAF already operates, are certified to carry nuclear weapons. The jets will be stationed at RAF Marham, a base north of Lakenheath. The purchase "reintroduces a nuclear role for the Royal Air Force for the first time since the UK retired its sovereign air-launched nuclear weapons following the end of the Cold War," the British government said in a statement. The U.K. has Trident, its own nuclear weapons program made up of four Vanguard-class submarines able to fire nuclear missiles. The U.S. has both strategic and nonstrategic nuclear weapons. Nonstrategic nuclear weapons, which in the U.S. case are variants of the B61 gravity bomb, are also known as tactical nuclear weapons. The U.S. announced at the start of the year that it had completed a long-running program to upgrade the B61 to the B61-12. Strategic nuclear weapons are deployed on intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and those fired from bomber aircraft. They are thought of as the missiles that could level entire cities and threaten major global superpowers. Unlike strategic weapons, tactical nuclear weapons are designed for use on the battlefield or in what is known as a specific theater. They have a smaller yield and are designed to be used against different targets than strategic nuclear weapons, which are limited under the New START Treaty that is due to expire in 2026. The U.S. has an estimated 200 tactical nuclear weapons, with roughly half deployed at European bases. The U.S. is believed to have around 100 tactical bombs deployed in five NATO countries on the continent, including in Turkey, Germany and Belgium. What People Are Saying Sidharth Kaushal, a senior research fellow with the British think tank, the Royal United Services Institute, told The Times that the C-17 flight "could be the transport of B61s for potential use on RAF F-35As in due course. Kaushal added, "It represents a move towards the use of tactical nuclear weapons. It reintroduces a bit of flexibility in terms of how nuclear weapons are used."
