Britain is in highly sensitive talks to purchase American fighter jets capable of firing tactical nuclear weapons, according to a new report, representing the biggest development in the UK’s deterrent since the Cold War.
Sir Keir Starmer’s Government is thought to be pursuing the move as recognition that the world has entered a more dangerous nuclear era, intended to counter the growing threat posed by Vladimir Putin’s Russia.
Defence Secretary John Healey and Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, head of the armed forces, are said to be looking to acquire American-made fighter jets capable of launching gravity bombs with lower power than conventional nuclear weapons.
The Prime Minister has given his backing to the discussions, with talks believed to have taken place with the Pentagon.
Historic Shift in UK Nuclear Policy
According to sources familiar with the discussions, the UK government is in advanced talks with the United States to procure F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter jets capable of carrying the B61 nuclear gravity bomb — a lower-yield tactical weapon seen as vital to NATO’s flexible deterrence strategy in Europe.
The move would mark a dramatic departure from current UK nuclear policy, which has relied solely on submarine-launched Trident missiles since the retirement of the RAF’s WE.177 tactical nuclear bombs in 1998.
Senior government sources said the aircraft would serve as a second pillar to the UK’s current submarine-based nuclear deterrent.
Strategic Defence Review to Unveil Plans
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Defence Secretary John Healey have both expressed support for the initiative, which is part of a broader strategic defence review due to be unveiled this week.
The review emphasizes Britain’s need to adapt to what Healey has called a “new era of threat,” highlighting increasing risks of state-on-state conflict and the importance of nuclear readiness.
Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the outgoing Chief of the Defence Staff, is understood to have long advocated for air-launched nuclear capabilities.
The F-35A and B61-12 Combination
The F-35A Lightning II was certified to carry the new B61-12 gravity bomb in October 2023, marking the first time an American fifth generation fighter has been certified as nuclear capable.
The B61-12 is a refurbished, consolidated version of earlier gravity bombs that offers four blast options measuring from 0.3 to 50 kilotons — more than double the estimated yield of “Fat Man,” the larger of two nuclear bombs the U.S. dropped in Japan in 1945.
Unlike older gravity bombs, the B61-12 can hit coordinates using digital guidance, giving it unprecedented accuracy when paired with the F-35’s stealth capabilities.
RAF Lakenheath: Return of US Nuclear Weapons?
The development comes amid signs that US nuclear weapons may return to British soil for the first time since 2008. RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk has undergone significant upgrades, including:
- Construction of new “surety” dormitories for personnel handling nuclear weapons
- Upgrades to 28 of 33 protective aircraft shelters with underground weapons storage vaults
- Deployment of the first nuclear-capable F-35A squadron in Europe
By the early 2000s, RAF Lakenheath had 110 B61 gravity bombs stored in 33 Weapons Storage and Security Systems vaults, but these were withdrawn by 2008.
‘Biggest Development Since Cold War’
If confirmed, the acquisition would represent the most significant expansion of the UK’s nuclear deterrent capabilities since the Cold War era, when:
- The RAF operated three different aircraft types capable of delivering tactical nuclear weapons
- The Royal Navy deployed nuclear depth bombs from helicopters
- British forces had access to US tactical nuclear weapons under NATO arrangements
The UK currently maintains only the minimum amount of destructive power needed through its four Vanguard-class submarines, with at least one continuously at sea carrying Trident missiles.
Opposition Response
The plan has received conditional backing from the Conservative opposition. Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge welcomed the air-launch commitment but warned that the government’s defence spending targets must rise to 3% of GDP this parliament to match the ambition.
Industrial Strategy
Defence Secretary Healey emphasized the need to strengthen the UK’s industrial base to ensure readiness: “The lesson from Ukraine is that a country’s armed forces are only as strong as the industry that stands behind them.
The Ministry of Defence is also advancing plans to dismantle decommissioned Vanguard-class submarines, potentially at a new site in Teesside, to free up capacity at Devonport for maintenance of the current fleet.
NATO Context
About 150 US B61 nuclear bombs are currently stored at six NATO bases across Europe:
- Kleine Brogel in Belgium
- Büchel Air Base in Germany
- Aviano and Ghedi Air Base in Italy
- Volkel Air Base in the Netherlands
- Incirlik in Turkey
The UK’s potential acquisition of nuclear-capable F-35As would add significant capability to NATO’s nuclear deterrent, providing a fast, stealthy option for getting nuclear weapons past modern air defenses.
‘Third Nuclear Age’
The discussions come after Admiral Sir Tony Radakin warned in December that the world was at the “dawn of a third nuclear age,” highlighting the need for Britain to be “clear-eyed” about the threats it faces.
While Radakin said there was only a “remote chance” of a direct Russian attack on the UK, he emphasized the importance of maintaining credible deterrence in an increasingly dangerous international environment.
The coming days are expected to bring further announcements as the government releases a defence industrial strategy to accompany the strategic review.
