The UK’s planned air-launched nuclear capability for its F-35A Lightning II aircraft will rely on US-controlled weapons under NATO’s nuclear sharing arrangements, the Ministry of Defence confirmed.
Responding to a parliamentary question from Conservative MP Mike Wood, Minister of State for Defence Luke Pollard reiterated that the nuclear weapons assigned to NATO’s dual capable aircraft mission are United States assets and remain under US control and custody.
“As confirmed when the Ministry of Defence announced our intention to participate in NATO’s nuclear mission, the nuclear weapons allocated to the NATO dual capable aircraft nuclear mission are United States nuclear weapons and the US retains control and custody over them, as the UK does with its own nuclear weapons,” Pollard said in his written response.
He added that any potential UK participation in the NATO mission would be subject to political authorisation.
“The NATO DCA nuclear mission would operate under the orders of NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, when authorised by NATO’s Nuclear Planning Group, through which Allies exercise political control over the mission,” he stated. “The UK would always retain the right to participate, or not participate, according to a political decision by the UK Prime Minister.”
A waste of scarce resources. Nothing more than a political ploy for the benefit of government and the “trade deal”.
Agreed. And for Starmer to announce something to NATO in Paris while in reality continuing to cut the military.
If they were serious, which they are not, order 72 B then announce the intention of buying 60 odd A.
But there is no money, and tens of billions are allocated to Tempest, so, as usual, the military gets on with what it can get.
The idea which has merit is that the F35A is much cheaper and less maintenance intensive but can be used for the OCU squadron. Having an OCU squadron of scarce £100 fighters is a waste of money but this way the OCU can have a war time role without the need for expensive inclusion of a new aircraft type in service.
It makes a lot of sense and is the easiest cheapest way for the UK to get access to tactical nuclear weapons.
If we get to the point of dropping nuclear weapons from F35’s then no one will care about the OCU.
Agreed. Possibly both governments low grip of understanding defence and raf making a play.
So we need our own air launched nuclear weapons! Given the nature of US involvement in NATO under their current regime this capability is perhaps a bit pointless. Let us have more Typhoons instead.
No
No what?
The problem is if we want a seat at the big table we’ll then we need to make a symbolic gesture. A dozen A version of the f35 with US controlled weapons is all it is. A bloody expensive gesture.
We don’t need anything extra to keep a seat at the table! Lets boost conventional capability to lessen the likelihood of only being left with an all or nothing M.A.D. response.
We are one the founding members of NATO, without tactical nukes we have less influence. Its all about politics and prestige.
‘Air launch’ = free fall bombs ( low tech)
Air launched from High Tech 5th gen Stealth Jets though.
How is this news? Obviously US tactical nukes need US authorisation to be used. If we had decided to resume developing our own tactical nukes then that would be news, given that we retired them 30 years ago.