Draft:List of military aircraft capable of nuclear weapons delivery
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This is a list of military aircraft that are or have been certified or designed to carry and deliver nuclear weapons. These aircraft have played a critical role in national nuclear deterrence strategies, both during and after the Cold War.
While many military aircraft are technically capable of carrying a nuclear payload, only a subset have been certified or specifically modified for conducting an air-launched nuclear strike[1]. These include both strategic bombers and multirole combat aircraft that are conventionally employed but can be equipped to deliver nuclear weapons under specific conditions.
Countries capable of nuclear weapons delivery by air
[edit]The following countries are capable of carrying out nuclear strikes by air with nuclear weapons either developed in a nuclear weapons development or obtained through a nuclear sharing agreement.
Nuclear states capable of delivery by air
[edit]States with nuclear sharing agreements capable of delivery by air (past and present)
[edit]- Germany
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Belgium
- Turkey
- Belarus
- Greece (until 2001)[2]
- Canada (until 1984)
List of aircraft
[edit]| Aircraft | Country | Armament | Status | In Service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing B-29 Superfortress | United States | Mark I, Mark III, Mark 4, Mark 6 | Retired | 1942-1960 |
| Boeing B-47 Stratojet | United States | 2 × Mk15, or 4 × B28, or 1 × B41, or 1 × B53 | Retired | 1947-1977 |
| Sud Aviation Vautour IIB | France | 1x AN-11, or 1x AN-22 | Retired | 1956 -1979 |
| Boeing B-52 Stratofortress | United States | AGM-86B armed with W80-1, B61-12[3] | B-52H active in nuclear role | 1961 |
| Xi'an H-6 | China | CJ-10K, CJ-20, KF-21 | Active in nuclear role | 1969 |
| F-15E Strike Eagle | United States, NATO | B61 | Active in nuclear role | 1989 |
| Northrop B-2 Spirit | United States | B83, B61 | Active in nuclear role | 1997 |
| Rafale M F3 | France | ASMP armed with TN 81; ASN4G in development | Active in nuclear role | 2001 |
| F-35A Lightning II | United States, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Turkey | B61-12 | Active in nuclear role | 2015 |
| Sukhoi Su-25 | Russia, Belarus[4] | |||
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Cochran, Thomas B; Arkin, William M; Hoenig, Milton M (1984). "U.S. Nuclear Forces and Capabilities" (PDF). Nuclear weapons databook. 1: 198. Retrieved 26 May 2025 – via Federation of American Scientists (fas.org).
- ^ "Weapons of Mass Debate - Greece: a Key Security Player for both Europe and NATO". Institut Montaigne. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
- ^ "Wayback Machine" (PDF). www.acq.osd.mil. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-04-23. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
- ^ "Russian Foreign Ministry Announces Conversion of Belarusian Su-25 Aircraft to Carry Nuclear Weapons". eurointegration.com. European Pravada. Retrieved 17 October 2022.