F‑35A jets certified to carry key NATO nuclear bombs ahead of schedule

According to a report by the Breaking Defense website, a spokesperson from the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) confirmed that the F-35A is now certified to transport B61-12 thermonuclear bombs. The certification, completed on October 12, 2023, arrived several months before the initial January 2024 deadline set by NATO members.

This certification marks a significant milestone, indicating that some F-35A aircraft are already equipped to carry the B61-12 bombs. It's the first time a fifth-generation fighter jet has received this certification, and the first instance of such a development since the 1990s. This achievement is the culmination of over a decade of dedicated work by 16 different government and private sector entities within the nuclear industry.

The F-35A Lightning II is a cutting-edge, versatile aircraft developed with stealth technology. Initially intended as a strike fighter, it has evolved into a capable multirole aircraft. However, for air dominance, aircraft such as the F-22 Raptor, Eurofighter Typhoon, or Rafale are more adept.

The aircraft's state-of-the-art target detection systems, which utilize radar and optoelectronic sensors coupled with its high level of network-centric capabilities, help overcome certain limitations. These limitations primarily include its restricted weapon carrying capacity and relatively low flight speed. Specifically, its internal bays can hold up to six AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles or two B61-12 bombs. Regarding speed, the F-35A can reach up to Mach 1.6 but struggles to maintain supersonic speeds without using its afterburner, a capability known as supercruise.

The B61-12 bombs are extensively modernized versions of the original B-61 gravity bombs, which the USAF introduced in the early 1960s. As journalist Łukasz Michalik from Virtual Poland explains, the latest iteration of the B61-12 features a thermonuclear warhead with a variable yield (0.3 - 50 kT). It also comes equipped with a satellite and inertial navigation module, plus a new tail section for flight correction.

Despite these enhancements, it remains a gravity bomb that must be dropped directly above the target, posing significant risk to the aircraft carrying it. Nevertheless, these bombs are pivotal to the Nuclear Sharing program and are currently stationed in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Turkey.