Dutch F‑35A jets take over American nuclear role in Europe
The Dutch have announced that their F-35A aircraft have taken over the role of carrying American nuclear weapons in Europe from the F-16. We present the capabilities of the F-35A in this regard.
According to the portal Janes, citing a statement from a Royal Netherlands Air Force representative, the F-35A aircraft have replaced the F-16 as the nuclear weapon carrier as of June 1, 2024. This is the first instance of a country participating in the Nuclear Sharing program transitioning from F-16s to F-35A.
F-35A as a carrier of weapons of mass destruction — the ideal candidate for this role
The F-35A Lightning II is a modern multi-role aircraft built using stealth technology. Initially designed as a strike fighter, it eventually transformed into a multi-role machine. However, it is worth noting that aircraft such as the F-22 Raptor or the Eurofighter Typhoon are more suitable for gaining air superiority.
The F-35A has an advanced target detection suite that includes an advanced radar with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) and infrared sensors that see the thermal image of the object. This, combined with a high level of network-centric capability, is meant to offset some of the aircraft's limitations.
These limitations mainly include the restricted weapon-carrying capacity and low flight speed. The aircraft's internal bays can hold up to six AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air guided missiles or, for instance, two B61-12 bombs. Moreover, the F-35A reaches a maximum speed of approximately 1,975 km/h and has trouble maintaining supersonic speed without using the afterburner, known as supercruise.
However, thanks to its stealth technology, the F-35A is perfectly suited for conducting attacks on ground targets even in environments with medium-range air defence system activity. A prime example is the flights of the Israeli F-35I Adir all over the Middle East, bombing targets in Syria and Yemen, among other places.
B61-12 bombs - the latest modernization of a Cold War relic
The Netherlands is one of the locations where B61 bombs are deployed under the Nuclear Sharing program. It is worth noting that the F-35A was certified to carry B61-12 thermonuclear bombs in October 2023.
B61-12 bombs are a substantial modernization of the B-61 gravity bombs, introduced into service in the USAF in the early 1960s. This includes adding a satellite and inertial navigation module and a new tail section, enabling flight correction to the old bomb with a variable yield thermonuclear warhead (0.3-50 kT).
