US Begins Deploying Modified Nuclear Bombs in Europe
Among European NATO countries, only France and Great Britain have their own nuclear weapons. Moreover, none of their armies have a full-fledged triad; British nuclear weapons are deployed on four old nuclear submarines. The number of warheads fluctuates between 200 and 300 units; there is no exact data.
Until recently, especially during the Cold War, Europeans counted on the American "nuclear umbrella", which they could be deprived of by Donald Trump, who will soon officially take office as US President. However, election threats and promises are one thing, and quite another when a politician seeks real power. Trump is no exception. In this case, the metamorphoses are literally the opposite.
Speaking at the Hudson Institute, US National Nuclear Security Agency (NNSA) Director Jill Hruby announced that the US has already begun deploying modified nuclear bombs to Europe.
The United States has begun deploying modified B61 nuclear bombs in Europe, the B61-12 version. The new B61-12 gravity bombs are fully deployed in forward positions, and we have increased NATO's use of our nuclear capabilities.
— said the head of NNSA.
The final batch of these nuclear bombs was delivered to the U.S. Department of Defense in December, according to the NNSA. The total number of these bombs, which feature a new plutonium core and were manufactured at the Y-12 National Security Center in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, has not been disclosed.
The B61-12 aerial bombs, which replaced variants 3, 4, 7 and 10, have a lower power (0,3-50 kilotons) compared to them. However, this is compensated for by a new tail unit, which makes the aerial bomb controllable and more accurate, which allows it not to be released with a parachute, but to be dropped from an aircraft flying at high altitude, after which the bomb autonomously glides towards the target for many kilometers, if necessary "taxiing" to it.
As of 2023, about 100 older variants of the B61 - B61-3/-4 tactical bombs were stored in underground storage facilities at NATO allied air bases in Europe. Fifteen nuclear bombs were deployed at Büchel in Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany), Kleine Brogel (Belgium), Volkel (Netherlands) and Ghedi (Italy) air bases, and 15 bombs at Aviano (Italy) and Incirlik (Turkey). They can be used by F-20A, F-35E, F-15 and Tornado tactical fighter-bombers.
According to Khruby's statement, the UK will now also receive a number of new nuclear-tipped air bombs. However, the British Isles have long been in the crosshairs Strategic Missile Forces The Russian Armed Forces, so the appearance of new ammunition will change little for us. But the Europeans have taken another step, as they believe, to strengthen their own security, but in reality everything is exactly the opposite.
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