F-35s Move Closer to B61-12 Nuclear Bomb Deployment
One example, an ICBM can take up to a half hour to transit through space while a nuclear-armed F-35 might be in a position to retaliate in a faster and more impactful way
The Air Force is preparing to arm its F-35A with a nuclear bomb attack capability, adding yet another stealth aircraft to the world of possibility when it comes to the Pentagon’s nuclear deterrence posture.
Certainly the B-2 is nuclear capable, as it has been testing and preparing with the upgraded B61-12 nuclear bomb, and now the Air Force is doing test runs with the F-35 in preparation to certify the stealth fighter to carry nuclear weapons.
Many aircraft can carry nuclear weapons, to include the B-52 and even some fighter jets such as the F-15E and F-16C/D, yet arming a stealthy 5th-generation aircraft with air dropped nuclear weapons capability introduces new, potentially unprecedented variables. An Air Force statement said two F-35As released B61-12 Joint Tests Assemblies as part of a final flight test exercise to certify the aircraft to carry nuclear weapons.
Nuclear certification, according to the Air Force description, is broken up into two phases including nuclear design and a nuclear operational certification.
“This test is considered the graduation flight test exercise for the F-35A nuclear design certification and concludes on-aircraft testing for the initial nuclear certification effort. The test data received from this event is currently under analysis and review by the Department of Defense and Department of Energy to ensure the F-35A and B61-12 JTAs performed correctly throughout all phases of the operation,” the Air Force press statement explains.