F-35A Officially Certified to carry nuclear bomb
By MICHAEL MARROW
March 08, 2024
The F-35A Joint Strike Fighter has been operationally certified to carry the B61-12 thermonuclear gravity bomb, marking a significant milestone as it becomes the first 5th generation aircraft, and the first new platform since the early 1990s, to achieve such status. This certification, completed months ahead of the scheduled commitment to NATO allies, designates the F-35A as a “dual-capable” aircraft capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear weapons. The certification effort, spanning over a decade, involved collaboration among 16 different government and industry stakeholders, emphasizing the aircraft’s critical role in supporting US and NATO’s deterrence commitments.
While the F-35A can now carry the newer B61-12 variant of the nuclear bomb, this capability does not extend to the F-35’s other variants, the F-35B and F-35C. Approximately 100 older B61 bombs are currently housed by NATO allies Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Turkey, with these nations, along with the US, preparing to upgrade to the B61-12 variant. This development is seen as a key deterrent against aggression, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and Russian nuclear threats. The B61-12’s introduction is part of a broader nuclear modernization effort, replacing older models through a life extension program estimated to cost $9.6 billion.