Future of European Nuclear Capabilities Uncertain: France Considers Sending Nuclear-Armed Rafale Fighters to Germany
North America, Western Europe and Oceania , Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft
The French government is reportedly considering options for the deployment of nuclear armed Rafale fighters to Germany, amid concerns regarding the future of United States’ security guarantees to Europe. The aim of the deployment, according to British press citing an unnamed French official, would be to “send a strong message to Russia.” The German Air Force currently fields a nuclear strike capability due to its ongoing nuclear sharing agreement with the United States, with American B61 nuclear bombs stored at Ramstein Air Base intended for delivery to local forces to equip Tornado fighters in the event of a conflict. Germany’s nuclear-capable Tornados are expected to be replaced by F-35s near the end of the decade. With the United States having provided few indications that it intends to withdraw from its nuclear sharing agreements, the need for French nuclear forces to deploy to Germany is expected to remain limited.
On June 1, 2024, the Royal Netherlands Air Force became the first foreign F-35A operator to equip its F-35As with B61 nuclear warheads, which was a capability that U.S. Air Force’s F-35s were themselves only confirmed to have obtained three months prior on March 9. The F-35’s significantly more advanced avionics and stealth features are expected to continue to revolutionise the nuclear strike capabilities of American nuclear sharing partners including Italy, Belgium, Germany and Turkey, and leave the capabilities of the Rafale as a nuclear delivery system far behind. Nevertheless, should the United States withdraw from its nuclear sharing agreements, European states may struggle to equip the F-35 with nuclear weapons, with the countries lacking the ability to modify the aircraft to carry non-American nuclear weapons - a capability that only Israel currently retains. Amid growing calls from 2024 for an indigenous European offensive nuclear capability, the continent’s nuclear forces are caught between dependance on advanced American fighters and warheads, and reliance on France’s much less capable nuclear umbrella.
It's entirely possible, even likely, that if Russian tanks roll over the border into one of the Baltic States or Poland or Finland, Donald Fuck who is likely a Russian agent will side with the Russians.
ReplyDelete"You guys provoked he Russians, the Russians have a right to their sphere of influence, which is your territory"..
Geopolitically speaking as the Yank used to be!
DeleteYet couldn't apply to the contemporary Russia. But to those indoctrinated Soviet fear mongering freaks, Russia is Soviet Union!