Britain Plans to Add Aircraft-Based Nuclear Capability

The UK government is holding confidential talks with the Pentagon about purchasing American fighter jets capable of carrying tactical nuclear weapons, The Times reported.

The plan would arm the aircraft with nuclear weapons as part of the country’s most significant defense buildup since the Cold War.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Defence Secretary John Healey reportedly support establishing a second pillar of the UK’s nuclear deterrent — an air-based component.

The UK is expected to purchase US-made F-35A Lightning II jets, which are capable of carrying the B61 nuclear bomb — the primary air-dropped nuclear weapon in the US arsenal.

The bomb’s yield ranges from 0.3 to 340 kilotons. By comparison, the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima had a yield of about 15 kilotons.
There has been no official announcement of the talks, but the issue is expected to feature in the UK’s new Strategic Defence Review, which launches on June 3.

While the document does not explicitly mention the air-based component, it recommends expanding the UK’s contribution to NATO’s shared nuclear deterrent in Europe.

Defence Secretary Healey stated that the world is entering a “new era of threats,” with the risk of nuclear weapon use at its highest since the Cold War. “This is a signal to Moscow that we are prepared to respond if necessary,” he said.

The potential reinforcement would involve an additional £6 billion in funding to restock military supplies, including £1.5 billion for constructing six factories expected to create 1,000 jobs.

The UK retired its own WE.177 air-delivered nuclear bombs in 1998 and has since relied solely on its submarine-based deterrent, which uses intercontinental ballistic missiles armed with nuclear warheads.

In 2021, the UK decided to restore its nuclear capabilities for US aircraft stationed in Britain. A NATO document published in 2023 listed the UK among countries where “special weapons” facilities would be modernized.