US to equip F-35 fighters with nukes

US President Donald Trump's Nuclear Posture Review, which was scheduled for formal release Friday afternoon, calls for strapping nuclear weapons onto stealthy F-35 jets.

“Modernizing our dual-capable fighter bombers with next-generation F-35 fighter aircraft will maintain the strength of NATO’s deterrence posture and maintain our ability to forward deploy nuclear weapons, should the security situation demand it,” the report, compiled by the Office of the Secretary Defense, states.

The F-35 has a long history of technical difficulties and exceeding budgets. The F-35 does not currently have the capability to fire nuclear weapons, but commanders involved with the F-35 Program Office have estimated the capability will be there between 2020 and 2022.

Specifically, the F-35 will take on the F-15E's responsibility for carrying B-61 gravity bombs, the posture review states. "The current non-strategic nuclear force consists exclusively of a relatively small number of B61 gravity bombs carried by F-15E and allied dual capable aircraft (DCA)," the report states, referring to the reliance on F-15 to perform "fighter" and "bomber" missions.

SOURCE: https://sputniknews.com/news/201802021061312371-us-f-35-nuclear/