F‑35A certified for B61‑12 nuclear bombs: A new era in NATO's defense strategy
According to a report by Breaking Defense, a spokesperson from the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) confirmed the F-35A's certification for B61-12 thermonuclear bombs. This certification was completed on October 12, 2023, well before the January 2024 deadline established by NATO. This marks a significant moment, as the F-35A is the first aircraft of its generation to receive this certification, something that hasn't been achieved since the 1990s. This is the culmination of more than a decade of hard work by 16 entities from both the government and private sectors involved in nuclear technology.
F-35A Lightning II — the successor to the legendary F-16
The F-35A Lightning II is a cutting-edge, multi-role stealth aircraft. Initially envisioned as a strike fighter, it has evolved into a versatile combat aircraft. Yet, for air superiority roles, aircraft like the F-22 Raptor, Eurofighter Typhoon, or Rafale are considered more fitting.
It's important to highlight the F-35A's advanced target detection systems, which leverage radar and optoelectronic sensors along with extensive network connectivity. These technologies help offset certain limitations, such as a somewhat restricted payload capacity and a lower top speed. The aircraft's internal bays can house up to six AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air guided missiles or two B61-12 bombs. The F-35A can reach speeds up to Mach 1.6 but struggles to maintain supersonic speeds without afterburner, a capability known as supercruise.
B61-12 bombs - modernizing a cold war relic
The B61-12 bombs are the result of significant upgrades to the original B-61 gravity bombs that entered service with the US Air Force in the early 1960s. As journalist Łukasz Michalik from Virtual Poland notes, the latest B61-12 version features a thermonuclear warhead with an adjustable yield (from approximately 0.3 to 50 kilotons) and includes a satellite navigation and inertial navigation system, plus a new tail section for flight correction.
Despite these advances, it still operates as a gravity bomb that must be dropped precisely over the target, presenting substantial risk to the aircraft deploying it. However, these bombs are a cornerstone of the Nuclear Sharing program and are stationed in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Turkey.
