“The United States probably returned nuclear weapons to the UK for the first time since 2008. Source: Bloomberg with reference to military analysts, Pentagon financial documents and open source data: July 16, US military aircraft C-17 of the first aviation unit of the US Air Force nuclear transportation was moving with the Kirtland Nuclean Abilities Transponder on Nuclean.”, – WRITE: www.pravda.com.ua
Source: Bloomberg with reference to military analysts, Pentagon’s financial documents and open sources data
Details: On July 16, the US military aircraft C-17 of the first aviation unit of the US Air Force nuclear transport made a transponder on Kirtland nuclear weapons storage in New Mexico to the British Air Base in Leukengite.
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The officials of the United States and the United Kingdom do not comment on the movement, as the governments of these countries adhere to the uncertainty policies on nuclear weapons.
However, the financial documents of the Pentagon indicate that for several years on the basis of Leukengitis, there are millions of dollars on reliability objects – the term which the Pentagon uses to refer to the objects of placement of nuclear weapons.
Probably, the aircraft has delivered new B61-12 thermal bombs, which means an increase in the number of US tactical nuclear weapons in Europe for the first time since the Cold War.
“There is convincing evidence that the United States has returned nuclear weapons to the United Kingdom,” says Hans Kristensen, director of the nuclear information of the Federation of American scientists.
The Senior Researcher at the Pacific Forum in Europe, William Alberke, stressed that the decision not to turn off the transponders indicates the desire of the United States to demonstrate Russia that they do not reduce their nuclear presence in Europe.
“This is the first step towards increasing NATO restraint forces. The return of the US nuclear weapons to the UK is not a trifle,” Alberke said.
This step also shows that the US is exacerbated by the use of nuclear forces in Europe, creating a broader range of options for its troops, said Senior Researcher at the Royal Institute of the Joint Armed Forces Sidhart Kausal.
Literally: “Last month, the United Kingdom has announced the purchase of at least ten new F-35A fighters of American production capable of carrying B61-12 nuclear bombs. This week the country’s defense Ministry in the updated program document stated that” NATO’s nuclear restraint is also based on US nuclear weapons. Alliance. ”
According to the document, new planes will be ready to fulfill NATO nuclear mission.
“This decision restores the nuclear role of the royal military-air forces for the first time after the United Kingdom removed the sovereign nuclear weapons of the air base after the Cold War,” the MO said. ”