Two B-52 bombers currently conducting ground targeting training over Denmark. 60-0026 (NOBLE12) and 60-0056 (NOBLE11). The B-52s are 2 of 4 on Bomber Task Force deployment to Moron AB in Spain. Here’s tweet from similar exercise last year:
After Denmark, the two B-52 bombers are heading east over the Baltic Sea and turning southeast over Poland for a display of force and training in the region. The two aircraft 60-0026 (NOBLE12) and 60-0056 (NOBLE11) are both nuclear-capable, but not carrying nukes.
The B-52 operations over Europe are taking place as other B-52s are operating over Northeast Asia.
The B-52s are now circling over northwest Poland. Combined, the two bombers can carry up to 40 long-range cruise missiles and from here would potentially be able to hold at risk facilities throughout all of western Russia with up to 6 Megatons of explosive power.
After apparent refueling over Poland, the B-52s split up: one heading west and the other (60-0057, NOBLE11) flying east over Baltic Sea.
After circling west of Tallinn, a little over 400 km from St Petersburg, the B-52 (60-0056, NOBLE11) is heading back southwest.
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As suspected, deployment of E-6B TACAMO nuclear command, control and communication aircraft to Norway indicated forward operations with nuclear missile submarines.
What I didn't expect was one of them surfacing off Norway in a blunt signal to Russia. 👀
One of the images shows low-level flight of the E-6B over the SSBN, which based on the flight track appears to have been 30-40 km from the Norwegian coast.
The Tennessee (SSBN-734) carries up to 20 Trident II D5LE ballistic missiles, each armed with an average of 4-5 nuclear warheads (W76-1, W76-2, W88). The missiles probably carried about 90 warheads during the photo shoot. tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.10…
1/n Nuke statement by Stoltenberg: "I won't go into operational details about how many nuclear warheads should be operational and which should be stored, but we need to consult on these issues. That's exactly what we're doing."
2/n I don't think this means, as some reactions claim, that the US is planning to put its non-strategic nuclear weapons in Europe on alert or standby. Here are some facts:
2. The bombs are deployed, most in shelters with aircraft, but are not currently on alert or standby for quick delivery. NATO says they "are available for nuclear roles at various levels of readiness." nato.int/cps/en/natohq/…
Russia to hold exercise in southern mil district “to increase the readiness of non-strategic nuclear forces…in response to provocative statements and threats of individual Western officials against” Russia.
Putin has previously used nuclear rhetoric against West during his war in Ukraine but this is to my knowledge the first time he has ordered tac nuke exercise of forces in district off Ukraine with explicit reference to West. Obviously intended as a signal.
Timing is kind of odd after Putin has played down somewhat Western complaints of possible nuke use in Ukraine and given recent military advancements in Ukraine.
Corruption effects on Chinese nuclear buildup: "missiles filled with water instead of fuel and vast fields of missile silos in western China with lids that don’t function in a way that would allow the missiles to launch effectively."
This development is obviously important when assessing the impact of China’s nuclear modernization. Unfortunately, these factors have been absent from the public statements made by STRATCOM and DIA. NSC and DNI have to review what the implications are for threat assessments.
Kudos to NNSA for organizing this NGO expert visit to Nevada National Security Site. It’s was an honor to take part. Access to facilities/officials was impressive. The message was loud a clear: No, the US is not planning a nuclear test explosion. 1/n energy.gov/nnsa/articles/…
2/n We were taken into the P-tunnel where they’re conducting nuclear test verification experiments, 950 feet down into the PULSE (U1a) complex where the labs do subcritical plutonium implosion experiments for nuclear weapons (I saw LLNL’s upcoming NIMBLE device).
3/n Rather than exotic new nuclear warheads, we were told, debate inside is more about how many and new delivery systems. Still, although planned warheads are based on previously tested systems, future designs will be more different than envisioned two decades ago.
1/n - The NATO Vilnius Summit Communique is out. On nuclear issues it largely reiterated existing policy but with a couple of nuances. https://t.co/E0WoXCtZfnnato.int/cps/en/natohq/…
2/n - This includes “strengthen training and exercises that simulate” conv & nuc dimension of a crisis/conflict to get “greater coherence between conventional and nuclear components of NATO’s deterrence and defence posture across all domains and the entire spectrum of conflict.”
3/n - And to “updating planning to increase flexibility and adaptability of the Alliance’s nuclear forces…”