F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) spokesperson announced that the F-35A model has received operational certification to carry the B61-12 thermonuclear bomb. The F-35A, one of Lockheed Martin’s flagship models, can now carry a nuclear warhead. Here are the details…
F-35A model can carry the B61-12 nuclear bomb
JPO spokesperson Russ Goemaere said the certification was received on October 12th, months ahead of the promised completion date of January 2024 for NATO allies. Some F-35As will now have the official capacity to carry the B61-12 bomb. This move transforms the F35-A into a “dual-capable” aircraft capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear weapons.
In a statement regarding the matter, Goemaere said, “The F-35A has made history as the first 5th generation nuclear-capable aircraft. Additionally, the F35-A is the first new platform to reach fighter and bomber status since the early 1990s. This effort to certify the F-35 for Nuclear Certification is the culmination of over a decade of intense effort across a nuclear enterprise consisting of 16 different government and industry stakeholders. By achieving Nuclear Certification ahead of schedule, the F-35A has provided a critical capability that supports expanded deterrence commitments to both the US and NATO, earlier than anticipated.”
Goemaere said that the US disclosure policy prohibits the sharing of information on dual-capable aircraft among NATO partners. According to an analysis by the American Federation of Scientists, as of 2023, approximately 100 old variants of B61 bombs, which share the nuclear strike mission of the alliance, are hosted by NATO allies Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Turkey. The need for aircraft with nuclear capabilities is cited as the main reason for Germany’s participation in the program.
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The F-35A was certified to carry only the newer B61-12 variant, which will replace older models. The certification does not include the other variant of the stealth jet, the short takeoff and vertical landing F-35B, and the carrier-based F-35C. The delivery schedule for the B61-12s to Europe is unclear, but Politico previously reported that deliveries would begin as early as December 2022.
Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the F-35, stated, “The F-35 is the world’s only 5th Generation multi-role stealth fighter. We continue to make progress by collaborating with our customers to ensure it stays ahead of the threats.”
The F-15E was the first American combat aircraft to be compatible with the B61-12. The other three groups of combat aircraft (F-16A/B, F-16C/D, and PA-200 Tornado used by some NATO countries) also have the authority to carry nuclear weapons.
Dual-capable aircraft are seen as an important part of countering Russian aggression by NATO, alongside the traditional nuclear triad of bombers, submarines, and land-based ICBMs. The nuclear capabilities of NATO-origin aircraft are coming to a critical juncture for NATO, amidst the war in Ukraine and particularly Russian nuclear threats.
