Nukes for NATO

Air Force Magazine ^ | 7/1/2010 | Rebecca Grant

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

For more than 60 years, nuclear-armed fighters have been a key part of the US deterrence calculus, particularly in Europe. Indeed, providing the umbrella of "extended deterrence" to NATO nations has been a mission performed by generations of USAF air crews, maintainers, and security forces.

It now appears that, before long, the iconic nuclear fighter role, performed in recent years by the F-15E and F-16, will pass to a new heavyweight—the F-35 Lightning II.

As the Obama Administration sees it, nuclear weapons delivered by fighters will continue to play an important role in the nation’s international affairs. The 2010 Nuclear Posture Review, released in April, reaffirmed the requirement for tactical nuclear weapons in US defense strategy.

The United States, it said, will "retain the capability to forward deploy US nuclear weapons on tactical fighter-bombers ... and proceed with full scope life extension for the B61 bomb, including enhancing safety, security, and use control." The Air Force, the NPR made clear, will "retain a dual-capable fighter ... as it replaces F-16s with the F-35." The NPR also announced final retirement of the nuclear-capable Tomahawk cruise missile (TLAM-N), a theater-range nuke. The Army long ago eliminated its theater nuclear missiles. Thus, USAF will do all of Washington’s heavy lifting for extended tactical deterrence.

Several NATO countries have the technical capability to deliver US nuclear warheads with nuclear-certified fighters. Each munitions storage site—some were completed as recently as 1998—can securely house a score or more of warheads in NATO’s central and southern regions.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

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