Overview

• A US Air Force C-17 flew one-way from Kirtland Air Force Base to RAF Lakenheath with its transponder on, suggesting delivery of B61 tactical nuclear bombs.
• British Ministry of Defence documents confirm that RAF F-35A jets have been prepared and certified for nuclear strike missions.
• The 493rd Fighter Squadron’s new Challenge Coin, featuring a mushroom cloud, signals the unit’s renewed nuclear role at Lakenheath.
• Hans Kristensen of the Federation of American Scientists estimates Europe’s US tactical arsenal has climbed to about 125–130 bombs, the highest level since the Cold War.
• Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov has formally protested the move, warning of a trend toward nuclear escalation as Russia intensively monitors NATO activity.