London, United Kingdom – For the first time in over a decade, the United States has once again deployed nuclear weapons on British soil. According to multiple sources, B61-12 thermonuclear gravity bombs were transferred this week to RAF Lakenheath, located in Suffolk, eastern England.
The weapons are believed to have been transported from the US Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, based at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico, to a newly built secure storage facility at Lakenheath.
The US Department of Defense has not officially confirmed the move, and the UK Ministry of Defence maintains its policy of not commenting on the presence or absence of nuclear weapons at specific sites.
B61-12 Bomb: Versatile and Precise
The B61-12 is a modernized, low-yield version of the classic American tactical nuclear bomb. It features variable yield capability and precision guidance systems, and is compatible with multiple delivery platforms, including the F-35A Lightning II.
At RAF Lakenheath, the 48th Fighter Wing operates the 493rd and 495th Squadrons, both equipped with F-35A fighters — the first of their kind to be based in Europe.
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Return After 15 Years and NATO’s Strategic Shift
The last known withdrawal of US nuclear weapons from Lakenheath occurred in 2008, as part of a broader post–Cold War nuclear reduction effort. The renewed presence of these weapons marks a significant shift in NATO’s nuclear posture, amid rising tensions with Russia and efforts to bolster deterrence measures across the European theater.
Plans to reestablish nuclear capabilities at Lakenheath first surfaced in 2022, when US budget documents revealed infrastructure work at the base aligned with nuclear readiness requirements.
So far, neither the US Air Force nor British authorities have issued comments on the reported deployment.
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Source and images: UK Defence Journal | USAF. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
