Latest news with #nuclearcapabilities
Washington Post
7 days ago
- Business
- Washington Post
U.K. to buy jets that can carry nuclear bombs as part of military buildup
Britain is embarking on an ambitious military buildup not seen in the country since the end of the Cold War, announcing on Monday that it is buying a dozen F-35A fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear bombs. Earlier this month, London released a defense review that outlined plans to acquire more attack submarines, boost space capabilities, create a new cyber-electromagnetic command, construct more munition factories and enhance its nuclear arsenal. The moves come against the backdrop of what Britain views as a looming threat from Russia and its concerns about the potential for a U.S. military drawdown from Europe in the coming years. 'Russian aggression menaces our continent. Strategic competition is intensifying. Extremist ideologies are on the rise,' British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement outlining his country's new defense posture. 'It is an era of radical uncertainty.' The F-35A jets will expand Britain's nuclear warhead delivery options. Since the Cold War's end in the 1990s, Britain has relied on its nuclear-capable ballistic missile submarines for nuclear deterrence. With the F-35As, which can carry B61 nuclear bombs, Britain's air force is reacquiring nuclear capabilities it lost when it retired its airdropped nuclear bombs in 1998. The F-35As are generally cheaper than the F-35B jets that Britain already operates. A 2022 estimate from the Congressional Budget Office said each F-35A costs as low as $89 million while the F-35Bs cost at least $102 million per unit. The F-35As also offer higher fuel capacity and weapon payloads than the F-35Bs. Lockheed Martin is the lead manufacturer for the F-35A fighter jet, which is operated by 20 countries, including the United States. The jets will participate in NATO's nuclear dual capable aircraft missions, which involve European warplanes trained to operate U.S. nuclear bombs that are forward-deployed to Europe to deter Russia from launching a nuclear attack. Britain plans to acquire a total of 138 F-35 fighters, including the F-35B variant, according to its Defense Ministry. The ministry described the United Kingdom's security environment as the most volatile and uncertain 'at any time in the past 30 years,' in its defense review. It noted Russia's ongoing attack on Ukraine, the possibility of a U.S. military pivot to Asia that could reduce U.S. troop levels and the potential for war to reach the British homeland. This new atmosphere requires Britain to reorient its current force from one that is more optimized 'for conflicts primarily fought against non-state actors,' to one that can mobilize ''whole-of-society' preparations for war,' authors of the defense review, which was led by George Robertson, a former NATO secretary general and British defense secretary, wrote. To meet that goal, Britain pledged to increase national security spending to 5 percent of its GDP by 2035 — which will be the sum of a 3.5 percent defense budget and a 1.5 percent budget that will be considered 'defense-related.' Britain spends 2.3 percent of its GDP on defense today, down from 4.1 percent in 1989. Its military has 136,000 regular personnel, less than half of the 311,000 it had during the Cold War. With the additional funding, Britain aims to expand its nuclear-powered attack submarine fleet from today's nine up to 12, and acquire the ability to manufacture a new submarine every 18 months. It will seek to counter Russia's and China's rising threats in space, according to the review, which noted that the combined operational satellite fleets of the two countries increased by 70 percent in the 2019-2021 period. Britain will also invest 1.5 billion pounds, or around $2 billion, to build a pipeline for munitions as well as at least six new factories for munitions and explosives.
The Independent
24-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Britain to expand nuclear deterrent fleet of new fighter jets
The UK is set to buy a fleet of new fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear weapons, in what Downing Street has called the 'biggest strengthening' of Britain's posture 'in a generation'. Britain will buy 12 F35A jets and join Nato's airborne nuclear mission in the move, which was confirmed while Sir Keir Starmer is at the alliance's summit in The Hague. The jets, a variant of the F35Bs the UK already uses, can carry conventional weapons, but can also be equipped with nuclear bombs. The Prime Minister has said that the UK 'can no longer take peace for granted' and that the move shows ministers are 'investing in our national security'. Sir Keir is gathered with leaders of other Nato nations – including Donald Trump – in the Hague, where they are expected to formally agree a 5% of GDP defence and security spending pledge. The Prime Minister said: 'In an era of radical uncertainty we can no longer take peace for granted, which is why my government is investing in our national security, ensuring our armed forces have the equipment they need and communities up and down the country reap the benefits from our defence dividend.' The decision on the jets represents a victory for the Royal Air Force, which has long pushed for a return of its nuclear capabilities since the last British air-dropped nuclear weapon was withdrawn from service after the end of the Cold War. Since then, the UK's nuclear deterrent has been carried exclusively by the Royal Navy's submarines, which the Government has also promised to invest in renewing with four new vessels. Nato's nuclear mission involves allied aircraft being equipped with American B61 bombs stockpiled in Europe. Seven nations currently contribute so-called 'dual capability aircraft' to Nato's nuclear mission, but the use of nuclear weapons would require the authorisation of the alliance's nuclear planning group as well as the US president and British prime minister. Alongside the nuclear announcement, the UK is set to provide 350 air defence missiles to Ukraine as Sir Keir and Defence Secretary John Healey push for Nato to provide Kyiv with further support. The delivery will be funded by £70 million raised from the interest on seized Russian assets. Sir Keir said: 'Russia, not Ukraine, should pay the price for Putin's barbaric and illegal war, so it is only right we use the proceeds from seized Russian assets to ensure Ukraine has the air defence it needs.' Mr Trump is also among the world leaders at the summit, and told reporters on the way to the Netherlands that it would depend 'on your definition' when asked if he would commit to Nato's Article 5, which requires members to defend each other from attack. Wednesday is expected to see Nato allies formally sign up to the target of spending 5% of the GDP on defence. It is a significant jump from the current 2% Nato target, and details of what counts towards it are due to be set out during this week's summit, but it is likely to include spending on energy and border security as well as intelligence agencies. On Tuesday, Sir Keir said that the UK would stick to its commitment not to raise taxes to reach the new target. 'Clearly we've got commitments in our manifesto about not making tax rises on working people and we will stick to our manifesto commitments,' the Prime Minister told reporters in the Netherlands. Sir Keir spent his first day at the summit in meetings with other world leaders, including Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
The Independent
24-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
UK to buy new fighter jets for RAF's first nuclear role since Cold War
Britain will purchase at least a dozen new F35A fighter jets, reintroducing a nuclear role for the Royal Air Force for the first time since the Cold War. The decision to purchase the jets marks a major ramping up of Britain's nuclear capabilities in the face of escalating global instability and comes alongside the UK's decision to join Nato's dual-capable aircraft nuclear mission - an aircraft sharing agreement among Nato allies. Sir Keir Starmer will use a press conference at Wednesday's Nato summit in the Hague to announce plans to purchase the aircraft, which can carry both nuclear and conventional weapons. The purchase - which has been hailed by ministers as the 'biggest strengthening of the UK's nuclear posture in a generation' - comes just 48 hours after a US attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, before a ceasefire was announced last night. The two warring nations had signed up to a ceasefire deal proposed by the US president, but Israel later claimed Iran had violated the deal by carrying out missile strikes after it came into force. Iran's military chiefs denied this, but faced a fresh onslaught ordered by the Israeli defence minister Israel Katz. The Royal Air Force has not held a nuclear role since the UK retired its sovereign air-launched nuclear weapons following the end of the Cold War. Announcing the purchase of the jets, Sir Keir warned that Britain can 'no longer take peace for granted' in an 'era of radical uncertainty'. 'Supporting 100 businesses across the country and more than 20,000 jobs, these F35 dual-capable aircraft will herald a new era for our world-leading Royal Air Force and deter hostile threats that threaten the UK and our Allies. 'The UK's commitment to Nato is unquestionable, as is the alliance's contribution to keeping the UK safe and secure, but we must all step up to protect the Euro-Atlantic area for generations to come', he added. It comes after a major new government review warned that the UK must prepare for the possibility of a 'wartime scenario' on home soil. The National Security Strategy, published on Tuesday, issued the grim warning as events in the Middle East and Russia's war with Ukraine continue to add to international instability. The government said the purchase of the jets would support 20,000 jobs, noting that 15 per cent of the global supply chain for the aircraft is based in Britain. The new fast jets will be based at RAF Marham, in Norfolk, with the government expected to buy 138 F35s over the lifetime of the programme. The purchase of 12 F-35A rather than 12 F-35B as part of the next procurement package will save taxpayers 25 per cent per aircraft, the Ministry of Defence said. The UK will deploy the jets as part of Nato's nuclear Dual Capable Aircraft mission - an aircraft sharing agreement which Britain was previously not a part of. It comes just a day after Sir Keir announced he intends to commit the UK to 5 per cent of GDP spending on defence and national security. But there are growing questions over how such a pledge will be funded, with experts estimating it will cost more than £30bn. Paul Johnson, director of the influential Institute of Fiscal Studies, warned that the money could only come from tax increases, "because in the end there's nowhere else it can come from". Just three weeks ago, ministers struggled to explain how Britain would reach a target of 3 per cent defence spending by 2034 – casting doubt over the fresh target of 5 per cent. Speaking to journalists on the plane to the Nato summit, the prime minister pointed to current manifesto pledges which commit the government to no tax rises for working people. But any tax hikes to fund the 2035 pledge would be likely to come after the next election in 2029, which will see Labour campaign on an entirely separate manifesto, meaning current commitments will no longer apply. Asked whether he plans to raise taxes to pay for the pledge, Sir Keir said: 'Every time we've set out our defence spending commitments, so when we went to 2.5 per cent in 2027/28, we set out precisely how we would pay for it, that didn't involve tax rises. Clearly, we've got commitments in our manifesto about not making tax rises on working people and we will stick to our manifesto commitments.' The prime minister's remarks also saw him insist that Donald Trump is still a 'close ally' - just minutes before the US president declined to commit to Nato's Article 5, which requires members to defend each other from attack. Asked if he would commit to the mutual defence clause of Nato, Mr Trump responded that it 'depends on your definition' of Article 5. 'There's numerous definitions of Article 5. You know that, right? But I'm committed to being their friends, you know, I've become friends with many of those leaders, and I'm committed to helping them,' the US president told reporters aboard Air Force One on Tuesday.
Free Malaysia Today
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
NZ diplomats say China downplayed nuclear-capable missile test
Beijing's missile launch in September was its first over international waters in more than 40 years. (Chinese People's Liberation Army/AFP pic) SYDNEY : China tried to mislead foreign governments in 2024 by playing down the importance of a nuclear-capable missile test over the Pacific Ocean, New Zealand diplomats privately warned in documents obtained by AFP. Beijing sent shivers through the South Pacific in September 2024, when its elite Rocket Force fired a dummy warhead into the high seas near French Polynesia. A tranche of classified government briefing notes obtained by AFP shows deep concern within the New Zealand government in the wake of the surprise launch, which China shrugged off as 'routine'. It was China's first long-range missile launch over international waters in more than 40 years, the papers confirmed, serving as a blunt reminder of Beijing's potent nuclear-strike capabilities. 'We are concerned that China is characterising this as a 'routine test',' senior diplomats wrote in a memo to New Zealand's foreign affairs minister. 'It is not routine: China has not conducted this type of long-range missile test in over 40 years. 'We do not want to see this test repeated.' China's military played down the test as a 'legitimate and routine arrangement for military training'. Behind the scenes, New Zealand diplomats privately decried China's 'mischaracterisation'. 'As this is the first time that China has undertaken such an action in the Pacific in several decades, it is a significant and concerning development,' they wrote in one of the briefing documents. AFP applied to access the heavily redacted documents – written between September and October last year – under New Zealand's Official Information Act. They were classified as 'Restricted', which protects government information with diplomatic or national security implications. Nuclear scars China has been seeking to cement its presence in the strategically important South Pacific. (AP pic) China has been seeking to cement its presence in the strategically important South Pacific, showering developing island nations with new hospitals, freshly paved roads, and gleaming sports stadiums. But rarely has it so obviously flexed its military might in the region, where the US, Australia and New Zealand have long been the security partners of choice. 'We have again asked China why it conducted the test at this time, and why it chose to terminate the missile test in the South Pacific,' New Zealand diplomats wrote. China's Rocket Force launched the intercontinental ballistic missile with little warning on Sept 25, 2024. Photos released by China showed a projectile streaking into the sky from a secret location atop a billowing plume of smoke. It appeared to be one of China's advanced Dong Feng-31 missiles, analysts said, a weapon capable of delivering a thermonuclear warhead. The long-range missile splashed into a patch of ocean long designated a nuclear-free zone under an international treaty. Pacific island nations remain deeply scarred by the nuclear tests that shook the region in the decades following World War II. 'This is the first time that we are aware of a test of a nuclear-capable missile terminating within the zone since its establishment in 1986,' the New Zealand diplomats wrote. Forceful reminder China alerted the US, the UK, France, Australia and New Zealand before the test. But there was only a vague indication of what it would do, according to a separate batch of Australian government documents obtained by AFP. 'Beijing advised us of a planned activity the evening prior to the launch, but specific details were not forthcoming,' Australian defence officials wrote in November last year. Pacific island nations, however, were not provided with advance notice of the launch, New Zealand diplomats noted. Following the launch, Japan publicly voiced 'serious concern', Australia said the test risked 'destabilising' the South Pacific, and Fiji urged 'respect for our region'. Pacific nation Kiribati, one of China's warmest friends in the region, said the South Pacific Ocean should not be a proving ground for jostling big powers. 'The high seas in the Pacific are not isolated pockets of oceans… we appeal to all countries involved in weapon testing to stop these acts to maintain world peace and stability,' read a government statement at the time. China foreign policy expert Nicholas Khoo said the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test was particularly significant because it took place in the South Pacific. 'Since 1980, China's ICBM tests have taken place within Chinese territory,' he told AFP. 'The test is a reminder to regional states that China is a 'full spectrum' power that has economic and military power. It is a peer with the US.' Harvard University researcher Hui Zhang said it was a forceful reminder of China's nuclear strength. 'The test shows that the Rocket Force has an operational and credible nuclear force that can help ensure China's ability to maintain a strong nuclear deterrent,' he wrote last year for the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. 'The rare public ICBM test seems to have been specifically aimed at dissuading Washington from using nuclear weapons in a potential conflict across the Taiwan Strait.' China's ministry of foreign affairs said that the 'facts are clear and no one has been misled'. 'The missile test is a routine part of annual military training, in compliance with international law and international norms,' it said in a statement.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump Contradicts His Own Vice President On 'Regime Change' In Iran
Shortly after Vice President J.D. Vance disputed the US's interest in 'regime change' in Iran, President Donald Trump signaled openness to a shake-up in the country's leadership. 'It's not politically correct to use the term, 'Regime Change,' but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn't there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!,' Trump wrote in a Sunday evening Truth Social post. Trump's statements come after Vance and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth emphasized that US strikes on Iran were an 'intentionally limited' operation focused on eliminating the country's nuclear capabilities – and not fueling a larger conflict. 'Our view has been very clear that we don't want a regime change,' Vance said in a Sunday NBC News interview. 'This mission was not, and has not, been about regime change,' Hegseth told reporters during a Sunday briefing. Trump's post on Sunday notably muddied the administration's position. Last week, Trump had written that the US knew where Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was hiding, but that 'We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now.' Previously, Trump has also criticized the US's role in wars that spurred 'regime changes' in Iraq and Afghanistan. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, has said that 'regime change' in Iran is not a goal of the attacks his country has launched, though it could be a 'result.'
