The UK government has to buy 12 new fighter jets that can be equipped with atomic bombs, and can join NATO’s airborne nuclear mission.
Downing Street says that this step is “the greatest strong of the UK atomic currency in one generation”.
The new F-35 A jet can still carry traditional weapons, but we have the option to be equipped with America’s atomic bombs.
The decision will be announced by the Prime Minister at the NATO summit to be held in the Netherlands this week.
NATO’s air nuclear missions include affiliated aircraft which are equipped with the US B61 bomb in Europe.
Seven other countries, including the US, Germany and Italy, already use dual-capacity jets.
The use of nuclear weapons will require the NATO’s atomic plan group as well as the authority of the US President and the British Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Sir Kir Stmper said: “In the era of radical uncertainty, we can no longer take peace for peace, which is why my government is investing in our national security”.
He said that the move would support 100 businesses and 20,000 jobs across the country, welcomed the “new era for our world-magazine Royal Air Force”.
NATO general secretary Mark Rute called the announcement “another strong British contribution to NATO”.
The new fast will be based in Raf Marham at Jet Norfolk.
The decision to buy F-35 A jet will be seen as a win for RAF-which has long been advocating for a long-distance fighter that can set a large variety of bombs and missiles on fire.
The F -35B variant operated by RAF and Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm has a small range and can carry less weapons.
The F-35B, with its small take-off and vertical landing, was originally chosen as it could operate two aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy-HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.
The US already has pre-tainted stocks of B61 bombs in Europe. Justin Bronch of the Defense Think Tank Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) says that the US will still control their release and use in the event of war. This can prove to be controversial with the UK being dependent on the US.
The UK currently has only a delivery system for large strategic nuclear weapons – was launched with its pawn class submarines through trident ballistic missiles.
While the trident missiles are built and maintained in the US, the Warheads on missiles are made and maintained in the UK. Civil governments have stressed that their use would not depend on the US – so it is described as the “independent preventive” of Britain.
RAF Jets were capable of carrying small strategic nuclear weapons by 1998-when UK-designed and We177 bombs were retired from service.
Mr. Bronch says that it will take time for RAF to “return to nuclear game”. He says that the most obvious advantage for the UK to buy F -35 will be their long range and the fact that they can carry a wide range of traditional weapons.
The decision follows the strategic defense review, which defense secretary John Heela said, “We confirm that we face new nuclear risks, with growing, modernization and diversification of their nuclear arsenal in other states”.
And on Tuesday, the government published National security strategy In which it has been said that the UK should “be actively prepared for the possibility of the UK’s motherland, which is potentially in a war -time scenario, for directly to danger”.
Sir Keer has promised to meet a new NATO target to spend 5%of the UK GDP on national security by 2035.
At the NATO Summit, 32 member counties are expected to agree on the target, which is going to the 3.5% core defense, with the rest on defense-related areas.
