According to The Sunday Times, air-launched nuclear capabilities could soon be returning to the Royal Air Force.
Britain is exploring the potential return of air-delivered nuclear weapons, in what officials are describing as a response to a “new era of threat” posed by Russia.
According to an exclusive report in The Sunday Times link here, discussions are underway between the UK and US regarding the acquisition of F-35A Lightning II aircraft capable of carrying tactical gravity nuclear bombs.
The proposal—said to be the most significant shift in the UK’s nuclear posture since the end of the Cold War—has the backing of Defence Secretary John Healey and Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is also understood to support the option, which forms part of the wider Strategic Defence Review to be announced on Monday.
At present, the UK’s nuclear deterrent relies solely on the Trident submarine-based system. Introducing air-launched capabilities would diversify delivery options and align Britain more closely with NATO allies such as the United States, which maintains land, sea, and air-based nuclear platforms.
Speaking to The Times, Healey warned that “the world is definitely becoming more dangerous,” adding that “nuclear risks are rising” and that for the first time in a generation, “we face seriously increasing risks of state-on-state conflict.”
It is understood that the UK government is weighing the benefits of lower-yield, air-delivered nuclear weapons as a potential deterrent response to Russia’s escalatory threats. Tactical nuclear systems would, in theory, provide a flexible option for NATO, offering the ability to respond decisively to a limited nuclear strike without immediate escalation to strategic-level retaliation.
The American-made F-35A variant is designed to carry B61 gravity bombs—a type of low-yield, air-dropped nuclear munition already integrated into US and some NATO air forces. Germany, for instance, recently committed to acquiring the platform for similar nuclear-sharing purposes under NATO’s deterrence umbrella.
Although the Strategic Defence Review is not expected to commit explicitly to air-launched nuclear systems, it will recommend enhancing the UK’s contribution to NATO’s shared deterrent and maintaining industrial readiness for rearmament.
