Why the Pentagon Is Equipping the F-35 With a Thermonuclear Bomb

[Dial H For Hero]

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/why-pentagon-equipping-f-35-181300606.html

The F-35A Joint Strike Fighter is nearly ready to take on a new mission, that of a nuclear-capable bomber.

The Air Force has completed the flight testing to ensure the F-35A can safely—and reliably—drop the B61-12 thermonuclear bomb. The combination of crewed aircraft and nuclear bomb will ensure the U.S. government would have options in the event of a crisis, including one where a nuclear bomb could be literally recalled at the last second.

Nuclear weapons are divided into two categories: strategic and tactical. The two main differences between the two types are explosive yield and range. Tactical nuclear weapons typically range from about .3 kilotons (300 tons of TNT) to about 50 kilotons (50,000 tons of TNT).

Strategic nuclear weapons are in an entirely different class altogether. The yield of strategic nukes can range from 100 kilotons to well into the megaton range, with the U.S. military’s largest weapon having a yield of 1.3 megatons (the equivalent of 1,200,000 tons of TNT). Tactical nuclear weapons are generally shorter range weapons with ranges of 500 miles or less, while strategic nuclear weapons are designed to cross entire oceans to strike targets on the other side of the planet.

(excerpt)

[Shermann]

1. I reject the term "safely" being used in the context of deploying nuclear weapons.

Last edited Fri Nov 5, 2021, 09:26 PM - Edit history (2)

The best you can hope for is the "nonsuicidal" handling of these weapons. I'll accept that.

[magicarpet]

5. trDumpie wanted to nuke the tropical storms and hurricanes out in the Atlantic before they,...

..... reached land. I think every commercial jet should carry two or three nuclear weapons at all times just in the event they should spot inclement weather. Then they could nuke the clouds to bust up a drizzle or rain storm. Then we could always look forward to sunshine and blue skies.

We just have to order more new nuclear bombs.

[TreasonousBastard]

2. Tactical schmactical-- we went through this years ago and NO ONE has he right to expect to...

use nuclear weapons.

(Although plenty have managed to sneak them into battle plans)

[Amishman]

3. shrug, if we already have the planes and the bombs, might as well confirm they can be used together

Would you rather the military throw away 100 billion or so developing a new delivery aircraft?

[soryang]

4. Erosion of the nuclear "firebreak" between conventional and nuclear conflict

The US that has created a pnumbral zone where the boundary between conventional and nuclear strikes is blurred. The
B61-12 is the latest development in the erosion of the so called firebreak. The projected use of the B61-12 as the "bunker buster" in preemptive nuclear attack plans against North Korea as part of so called "decapitation" operations has been discussed openly in the media.

Shin goes a step further in his evaluation suggesting that with the anticipated degradation of GPS guided standoff munitions, that B61-12 tactical nuclear bunker busters would be the weapon system of choice for such a mission. And that the exercise is part of a negotiating strategy of the US, as the projected second summit with Kim Jong Un is extended into next year, and the effect of the maximum pressure campaign of economic sanctions is continued. Sin postulates that the practice of bomb delivery in a degraded ecm environment implies a direct personal threat against Kim's life regardless of the 300m depth of his bunker.

Combat Raider 19-1 Exercise a signal to DPRK? 10.27.2018
https://civilizationdiscontents.blogspot.com/2018/10/us-bombers-practicing-nuclear.html


Contrary to the contentions in the OP about US superiority in conventional power, US reluctance to tolerate substantial losses of high value conventional forces makes it more likely rather than less to resort to the "mini" nuclear option.

[Shermann]

6. Yeah and China has the Dong-Feng 21 "Carrier Killer" nt

[MiniMe]

7. "Lets play a game"