NATO Secretary General - Doorstep statement at Defence Ministers Meeting,13 JUN 2024 - YouTube

Deterrence and Defence:F-35As Fully Certified to Carry Out Nuclear Mission

According to Air Force Magazine,the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter is now fully certified to carry out nuclear strike missions with the B61-12 nuclear gravity bomb.The B61-12 has a variable yield ranging from tactical nuclear strike at 0.3 kilotonnes to strategic nuclear strike at 50 kilotonnes,which is several times more powerful than the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs.Included on the B61-12 are a satellite and inertial navigation module,as well as a tail section enabling flight precision.Certification is a two-step process:nuclear design certification and operational certification.The nuclear design certification was completed on 4 October 2021,after completing the first full weapon certification and nuclear design certification.The aim is to ascertain whether the weapon can be credibly delivered.To find that out,two F-35As dropped Joint Test Assemblies (JTAs),or mockups of the B61-12,at the Tonopah Test Range,Nevada.The first operational certification was completed on 12 October 2023.Said Air Combat Command Deputy Director for Strategic Deterrence LTCOL Douglas A. Kabel:It makes our potential adversaries think more about their game plan before enacting it.It can get closer to (referring to the F-35A stealth fighter),further inside,a combat area that may otherwise be impossible for non-stealth assets.*The F-35A is the first stealth fighter to be certified for the nuclear mission.*The operational certification involves training and certification of maintenance and air crews at Wing locations where the F-35A nuclear mission is based.Approval means that the US or NATO Allies have a fighter that can strike targets with tactical nuclear weapons inside hostile territory without being detected.*The B61-12 can also be carried by B-2 Spirit strategic bombers;F-15E Strike Eagle fighters;F-16 C/D Fighting Falcon fighters;and Pannavia Tornado multirole fighters of Germany and Italy.Both Germany and Italy are transitioning to F-35As.F-35As have two special switches to enable the nuclear mission:a nuclear consent switch in the cockpit;and a mission select switch in the F-35A internal weapon bay,which can carry two B61-12s.Now that the F-35A has been fully certified,the aircraft is a Dual-Capable Aircraft (DCA) eligible for both NATO conventional and nuclear strike missions.The nuclear strike capability is overseen by the NATO Nuclear Committee as part of the nuclear sharing programme,which is a dual key arrangement regarding the B61-12 agreed by the US and NATO Allies Belgium,Germany,the Netherlands,Turkey,which have nuclear bomb storage on their air bases,and soon to be the UK once again at RAF Lakenheath,England,once the operational certification is obtained-operational certification is an air base by air base process.The bombs were removed from RAF Lakenheath in 2008 as the Cold War was deemed over.Ironically,Russia invaded the Republic of Georgia that same year,seizing the regions of Ingushetia and South Ossetia by force.Reportedly projects are underway to create a surety dormitory,or B61-12 storage facility,and a ballistic-sheathed facility for Air Force Security Forces.The surety dormitory is slated for completion by February 2026,according to public records.Two US Air Force F-35A squadrons are forward deployed to RAF Lakenheath and would be eligible to carry out the nuclear mission,pending operational certification.*As a matter of policy,air bases will neither confirm or deny the presence of nuclear weapons.Only the F-35A varient of the Lightning II has been certified for the nuclear mission at this point.*Lockheed Martin (LMT)

NATO Secretary General - Doorstep statement at Defence Ministers Meeting 15 JUN 2023

US Air Force and NATO Upgrade Nuclear Readiness

Raytheon Intelligence and Space (RIS),a division of Raytheon Technologies,has installed the first Global Aircrew Strategic Network Terminal (ASNT) system for the US Air Force at Barksdale Air Force Base,Louisiana.Barksdale is home of 2nd Bomb Wing (2BW) and its approximately 44 B-52H Stratofortress strategic bombers,as well as Air Force Global Strike Command.The project modernises existing protected communications systems,while adding new capabilities for both nuclear and non-nuclear Command and Control,the company explained in a news release on 11 April 2022: Global ASNT ensures robust communications to provide protected communications to nuclear bomber,missile and support aircraft crews in austere environments.* The Global ASNT system uses satellite communications to provide Command and Control,linking nuclear forces to national command authorities,operating on both MILSTAR and Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellites.They provide critical data at the tactical edge for smart decision-making in near real-time.The nearly 600 million dollar contract supports the Air Force Global Strike Command (GSC).* RIS will complete three additional base installs to bring GSC up to Initital Operating Capability (IOC).A total of 90 terminals will be fielded in both fixed and transportable configurations by the end of 2023,according to RIS.RIS delivers disruptive technologies for success in any domain,against any challenge.It develops advanced sensors,cyber services and software solutions for a decisive advantage to its military customers,according to RIS.* A communications dish on the command post roof maintains the connection between the Global ASNT and nuclear Command,Control and Communications (C3).The system delIvers assured communications between national command authorities and strategic deterrence forces in a range of environments and circumstances,better connecting warfighters through improved information sharing.Using multiple satellite constellations provides resilience and redundancy in challenging circumstances,such as jamming or while coming under attack.* Along the same lines,NATO,as authorised by the NATO Nuclear Committee,has been upgrading its nuclear deterrence assets from Cold War standards since at least 2015,in the wake of Russia's first invasion of Ukraine.These assets are located on air bases in Belgium,Germany,Italy,the Netherlands,Turkey and,more recently,the UK.For exampe,new nuclear security perimeters for the Protective Aircraft Shelters (PAS) and the underground vaults that contain tactical nuclear weapons (US B61 bombs) that are sited beneath each PAS have been installed at Aviano Air Base,Italy and Incerlik Air Base,Turkey.The upgraded nuclear security perimeters include double fencing;lighting;cameras;intrusion detection;and a vehicle patrol road between the two fences,in accordance with US standards.As well,the B61 bombs are to be serviced in the PAS by the new Secure Transportable Maintenance System (STMS) trailers,and communications are being,or have been,modernised.* The US has recently begun the forward deployment of 24 USAF nuclear-capable Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters to RAF Lakenheath,England.There the extensive underground vaults are to be upgraded after having been removed from service in 2008 during an era of rising hopes for arms control.Now,however,Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the improved accuracy of its cruise missile guidance systems have made NATO rethink its requirements.So the Lakenheath bunkers are once again considered desirable,adding flexibility for tactical nuclear weapons storage in light of the heightened Russian capabilty and aggression near NATO'S Eastern Flank.In the event of a crisis,some of the weapons could be shifted around from the other nuclear air bases to RAF Lakenheath as needed,and the aircraft to deliver them would be readily available at RAF Lakenheath.Although Russian resort to nuclear weapons cannot be dismissed,the Intelligence Community does not assess that there is an acute threat of Russian use of tactical nuclear weapons at this time.* The new B61-12 tactical nucear weapons are considered superior because of lower yield;greater accuracy;and reliability for such missions as nuclear attack;earth-penetrating strikes;above surface detonation;and bunker-buster explosions.* Lockheed Martin (LMT),Raytheon Technologies (RTX)

Germany to Maintain Nuclear Relationship with the Pentagon

Surprising no one, the Federal Republic of Germany has decided to reaffirm its dual key nuclear deterrence relationship with the United States.The German government,led by long-time Chancellor Angela Merkel, will announce in May that it is purchasing 30 Boeing F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet and 15 EA-18G Growler electronic attack/reconnaissance jets for the Luftwaffe​, German media report. The German magazine Der Spiegel reported that German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer told US Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper about the plan.The acquisition is part of a recapitalisation of the Luftwaffe.At the same time, several dozen Eurofighter Typhoon fighters will also be acquired.*

The Super Hornet is notably capable of carrying the new version of the American B61 nuclear bomb, the B61-12; while the Eurofighter is not.Thus the purchase of the Boeing planes will facilitate continuation of the current nuclear deal appoved by NATO'S Nuclear Committee.
Germany is one of five NATO Allies allowing the US to store nuclear weapons on its territory.The others are Belgium,Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey.In the event of a major conflict,both the US and the Ally would have to agree to deliver a nuclear  weapon on an enemy target.*
Two other NATO Allies, France and Great Britain, maintain an independent nuclear deterrent.*
Boeing (BA)