US nuclear weapons have returned to British airbase for first time in 16 years - Media
Illustrative photo: US nuclear weapons return to British airbase for the first time in 16 years (flickr.com)
The United States has transferred several B61-12 thermonuclear gravity bombs to the Lakenheath Air Force Base in Suffolk County, United Kingdom, according to the UK Defense Journal.
According to the news agency, the weapons were transported from the US Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico to a newly built secure storage facility on British soil.
So far, the US Department of Defense has not publicly confirmed this transfer. However, if true, this would mark the first time since 2008 that American nuclear weapons have returned to British territory.
What is known about the B61-12
The B61-12 is a modernized low-yield tactical nuclear bomb. It features variable explosive power and precision guidance. It is designed to be compatible with a range of delivery platforms, including the F-35A Lightning II. The 48th Fighter Wing of the US Air Force at Lakenheath includes the 493rd and 495th Fighter Squadrons, which were among the first in Europe to operate the F-35A.
Previously, American nuclear arsenals were stationed at the Royal Air Force Lakenheath base during the Cold War, but the last known removal occurred in 2008 following many years of reductions related to disarmament across Europe.
The outlet suggests that the return of such weapons would represent a significant shift in NATO’s nuclear posture amid worsening relations with Russia and a stronger focus on deterrence.
