Popular Mechanics: US F-35A fighters will receive thermonuclear bombs for strikes against Russia thermonuclear bombs B61-12 for strikes on Russia, writes Popular Mechanics magazine.
The publication notes that the B61-12 is a tactical nuclear bomb designed for high-precision destruction of protected enemy shelters. The power of the weapon in TNT equivalent, as the magazine assures, does not exceed 50 kilotons.
“For what purposes could the F-35A nuclear bomb be dropped? With America's overwhelming non-nuclear firepower, it is difficult to imagine the United States using nuclear weapons against non-nuclear targets. One of its targets could be a Russian missile control command post, a nuclear strike on which would break the chain of command between Moscow and its tactical nuclear forces, ”the publication says.
It also notes that B61-12 can be used to destroy headquarters units, weapons depots and military gathering points. The publication admits that the use of tactical nuclear weapons can provoke the use of strategic ones.
In October, American F-35A Lightning II fighters tested dropping a B61-12 bomb at the Tonopah range in Nevada.