American nuclear bombs' quiet return to European bases
In response to changing geopolitical conditions and the increasing importance of tactical weapons on the modern battlefield, the USA is accelerating the production of the new B61-13 nuclear bomb. The production schedule has been reduced by over 25%. It seems that the Americans have not only increased the production rate of new atomic bombs but also their deployment.
The Military Service highlighted recent flights of American C-17 transport aircraft to Europe, tracked on social media by an open-source intelligence researcher using the pseudonym TheIntelFrog. He noted that on 14 April, two U.S. Air Force C-17 military aircraft returned to Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico after completing flights to Europe. This base houses various types of weapons, including B61 nuclear bombs.
New nuclear bombs for Europe?
The American planes had their transponders on, allowing for the tracking of their routes. One aircraft appeared in Belgium at the Kleine Brogel Air Base, and the other was spotted in the Netherlands at the Volkel Air Base. According to the Military Service, the transport of special cargo is partially evidenced by the fact that at the start of the operation, at least one C-17 aircraft was stationed at position No. 5, which is used for loading/unloading ammunition.
The Military Service also pointed out that, considering the routes and nature of the flights, it is highly probable that this was an operation aimed at replacing the old special B61 ammunition with its modernised counterparts in American nuclear weapon storage at the Kleine and Volkel bases. This is especially true since the Americans have officially announced the acceleration of work on the new variant of atomic bombs, the B61-13. The new units may be delivered to the military seven months earlier than initially planned.
The new bomb is structurally based on the B61-7 version, which for many years was the backbone of the American arsenal of gravity nuclear loads. However, the B61-13 has been upgraded with the latest targeting technologies and control systems, previously developed during the B61-12 project. Thanks to guided aerodynamic surfaces and inertial navigation systems supported by GPS, the new bomb can be dropped with great precision.
Notably, the warhead's yield adjustment capability has been retained. According to official data, the B61-13 can achieve a yield of 360 kilotons, making it significantly more powerful than the modern B61-12, whose maximum yield is 50 kilotons. The difference between the B61-13 and its predecessors is not limited to the yield. The key change is compatibility with the latest combat platforms.
Aircraft such as the B-21 Raider bombers, F-35A fighters, and F-15E Strike Eagles can carry this weapon in precision strike operations on strategic enemy targets. Additionally, the B61-13 is intended to serve as a deterrence against parallel nuclear weapon programmes being developed by Russia and China—this includes Russian variable-yield warheads and Chinese underground silos capable of launching DF-41 missiles.
American nuclear weapons in Europe
The history of deploying American nuclear bombs in Europe dates back to the Cold War. As part of the nuclear-sharing programme conducted within NATO, the United States deployed its B61-type bombs in several European countries. Officially, exact numbers have never been confirmed, but it is widely known that American nuclear weapons have been located in Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Turkey. For decades, Büchel in Germany and Aviano in Italy have been elements of NATO's nuclear deterrence strategy.
The deployment of B61 bombs in Europe took place within the framework of a joint NATO policy, which assumes that member states can share nuclear resources, but control over their use remains with the USA. This way, European allies can maintain shared deterrent capabilities without possessing atomic weapons.
For several years, there has been discussion about gradually replacing older B61 bomb versions with the more modern B61-12 models. This modernisation is being carried out under the Life Extension Programme (LEP), which aims to extend the lifespan of the American arsenal without creating entirely new warheads. The appearance of the B61-13 may indicate a further step in this strategy, although there is no official confirmation yet that the new bomb will be sent to European bases.
