UK Reintroducing Air-launched Tactical Nuclear Weapons

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has published an article by Ian Stewart that draws on archival materials featured on this site. Since publication, the UK has announced that it will acquire F35As and join NATO nuclear sharing arrangements. 

The United Kingdom’s Strategic Defence Review, published on June 2, announced a substantial investment of more than £15 billion (about $20 billion) in its nuclear forces. The review also opened the door to the deployment of air-launched tactical nuclear weapons by saying that the UK Ministry of Defence “should commence discussions with the United States and NATO on the potential benefits and feasibility of enhanced UK participation in NATO’s nuclear mission.” The need for the United Kingdom to deploy lower-yield, so-called tactical (non-strategic) nuclear weapons will doubtless be hotly debated. Already, the move has raised concerns about a nuclear arms race and the undermining of nonproliferation commitments.

Before making any investment, the United Kingdom should carefully evaluate whether air-launched nuclear weapons are at all required, and whether there is a practical capability to meet this requirement.

Read the full article HERE. A larger collection on UK nuclear deterrence will be added to this site in due course.