US returns nuclear weapons to UK in historic shift since 2008

The United States has likely redeployed nuclear weapons to the United Kingdom for the first time in over 15 years, signalling to Russian President Vladimir Putin that Washington remains firmly committed to European defence.

On July 16, a US military C-17 aircraft flew from Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico — a known US nuclear weapons storage site — to the Royal Air Force base at Lakenheath in the UK. The aircraft had its transponder switched on throughout the journey, making its route and identity publicly traceable, according to defence analysts using open-source tracking data, cited by Bloomberg.

The flight reportedly involved the US Air Force’s Prime Nuclear Airlift Force, a specialised unit responsible for transporting nuclear weapons. Notably, the aircraft avoided flying over other countries, said William Alberque, a senior fellow at the Pacific Forum based in Europe.

Both the US and UK governments continue to adhere to long-standing policies of neither confirming nor denying the presence or movement of nuclear weapons. However, US Department of Defence budget documents reveal that extensive work on nuclear security infrastructure — referred to by the Pentagon as “surety” facilities — has been ongoing for several years at Lakenheath.

Defence experts believe the cargo was most likely B61-12 thermonuclear gravity bombs. If confirmed, this would mark the first increase in the number of US tactical nuclear weapons in Europe since the Cold War era.

Hans Kristensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists, said there are “strong indications” that nuclear arms have indeed been returned to the UK.

Alberque suggested the US intentionally left the aircraft’s transponder on to signal to Moscow that Washington is not drawing down its nuclear footprint in Europe. NATO representatives declined to provide comment on the matter.

“This looks like the opening step in a broader shift in NATO’s deterrence posture,” Alberque said. “Bringing nuclear weapons back to the UK is a significant development.”

Sidharth Kaushal, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, noted that the deployment of B61-12 bombs increases the US's flexible nuclear options in Europe. These weapons help counterbalance Russia’s large stockpile of nonstrategic, or theatre-level, nuclear arms, he said.

The move comes amid a notably tougher stance by US President Donald Trump toward the Kremlin. In recent weeks, Trump has agreed to supply Ukraine with additional Patriot missile systems via European purchases and has warned of imposing secondary tariffs on Russia if it does not accept a ceasefire within 50 days — a deadline he said Monday could be shortened. Trump also expressed his dissatisfaction with Putin, stating he was “disappointed” in the Russian leader.

Meanwhile, the UK has announced plans to acquire at least 12 new US-manufactured F-35A fighter jets, which are capable of carrying the B61-12 nuclear bomb. A newly updated Ministry of Defence policy document released this week reaffirmed that “NATO’s nuclear deterrence also relies on US nuclear weapons deployed in Europe and supporting capabilities and infrastructure provided by Allies.”

The new F-35A jets are expected to participate in NATO’s nuclear-sharing mission. The Ministry of Defence noted that the acquisition would reestablish a nuclear strike capability for the Royal Air Force for the first time since the UK phased out its own air-launched nuclear arsenal following the Cold War.

The B61-12 bomb is a precision-guided thermonuclear gravity bomb with a variable yield ranging from 0.3 kilotons to 50 kilotons, according to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. It can be deployed using F-35A aircraft as well as various other US and NATO jets.

The adjustable yield and enhanced accuracy of the B61-12 give it the capability to strike both hardened military targets and urban areas. With the apparent delivery to the UK, the B61-12 is now believed to be fully deployed across seven bases in six NATO member states, Kristensen said.

Despite their forward deployment in allied nations, US nuclear weapons can only be activated with direct presidential authorisation from Washington.

By Tamilla Hasanova