The US is replacing its old nuclear bombs stored in Europe. Politico’s sources claim that this is happening as a matter of urgency. Washington claims that the modernization is planned and has nothing to do with the war in Ukraine, writes Deutsche Welle.
The United States will speed up the delivery of upgraded B61-12 thermonuclear bombs to NATO bases in Europe, the European publication “Politico” reported, citing informed sources. The B61-12 bombs, considered the primary US nuclear weapon, were originally scheduled to be delivered to Europe in the spring of next year, but their delivery has been pushed back to December, according to a cable obtained by Politico sent to officials at the Pentagon and the State Department after the meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels in October.
What nuclear weapons does Russia have?
Two informed sources confirm to the publication that the bombs will be sent as urgent. US Defense Department spokesman Patrick Ryder said in an interview with Politico that the modernization of the thermonuclear arsenal had been underway for years, with the US planning to replace old bombs with new versions. “This has nothing to do with the current events in Ukraine.” and has not been expedited in any way,” the Pentagon spokesman emphasized.
What are these bombs?
The B61 is a family of nuclear bombs first developed in the 1960s. Over the decades, the US has developed 12 versions of these bombs, most of which are now obsolete. The US Department of Energy plans to replace earlier versions of the bombs, including about 100 warheads stored at air bases in Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Turkey, as part of a $10 billion modernization program.
The new version of the B61 bomb is designed to equip US and allied military aircraft.
NATO forces are currently conducting planned nuclear exercises that will continue until October 30 to test the alliance’s nuclear capabilities. About 70 aircraft are participating in the exercise. On October 26, the Russian military conducted a massive nuclear strike drill in response to an enemy nuclear attack.
