미국, 2008년 이후 처음으로 영국에 핵무기 배치

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When Computers Went To Sea | 1946년~1998년 - 영국 공군의 핵무장 약사 - Daum 카페

1946년~1998년 - 영국 공군의 핵무장 약사

미국이 2008년 핵무기를 뺐던 영국 Lakenheath 기지에 B61-12 핵폭탄을 다시 갖다놨네요. 이 기지에선 F-35A와 F-15E를 모두 운용중입니다. 

미국 공군의 핵폭탄, 영국 공군기지에 복귀한 명백한 징후

미국이 거의 20년 만에 영국에 핵폭탄을 다시 배치했다는 가장 뚜렷한 증거가 나타났다. 이전부터 예상됐던 이 움직임은 이미 영국 라켄히스(RAF Lakenheath) 기지에서 진행된 건설 공사를 통해 계획이 명확해졌고, 최근 미국 공군 수송기의 대서양 횡단 비행이 실제 폭탄의 이동 가능성을 한층 높였다.

미 공군의 '챌린지 코인'은 이번 변화를 가장 명확히 드러내는 증거다. 챌린지 코인은 부대 상징, 색상, 마스코트, 구호, 역사적 요소 등이 들어가는 군사 문화의 일종이다. 문제의 코인은 라켄히스 48비행단 산하 493 전투생산비행대(FGS) 소속이다. 코인 한 면에는 부대 마스코트인 '그림 리퍼(사신)'와 구호가 있고, 중앙에 B61 핵폭탄의 형태가 뚜렷이 새겨져 있다. 전체 디자인은 핵폭발과 버섯구름을 형상화해 부대 임무의 핵심이 핵전력임을 명백히 보여준다. 뒷면에는 핵폭발 장면이 컬러로 그려져 있다.

493 및 495 FGS는 2023년 6월 창설된 뒤 유럽 내 첫 5세대 전투생산비행대가 됐다. 이 두 부대는 기존 748항공기정비중대를 대체했다. 각 전투비행대는 전담 FGS가 배정되어 있으며, 493·494 전투비행대는 F-35A를 운용한다. 라켄히스는 2021년 미국 본토 이외 공군기지 최초로 F-35A를 운용하기 시작했다. 나머지 두 개 비행대는 현재까지 F-15E를 운용 중이다.

F-15E와 F-35A 모두 B61 계열 핵폭탄 투하가 가능하며, 이는 미군의 유럽 전략태세의 핵심 요소다. 특히 F-35A와 B61-12 조합은 나토(NATO) 내 다른 항공기보다 뛰어난 성능을 보인다.

라켄히스 기지는 과거 핵 임무를 수행했으나, 2008년 마지막 핵무기가 철수된 뒤 한동안 핵전력이 존재하지 않았다. 그러나 최근 관련 인프라가 다시 확충되고 있으며, 실제 핵폭탄 혹은 관련 시설이 이미 기지로 돌아온 정황이 뚜렷하다.

국방부는 특정 지역의 핵무기 보유 여부에 대해 “존재도, 부재도 확인해주지 않는다”는 입장을 고수하고 있다. 그러나 최근 오픈소스 정보(OSINT)는 핵폭탄의 이동과 관련된 수송기 비행을 포착했다. 7월 15일, 미 공군 C-17A 수송기가 워싱턴주 맥코드 공군기지에서 뉴멕시코주 커틀랜드 기지로 이동한 뒤, 7월 17일 영국 라켄히스에 도착했다. 커틀랜드 기지는 핵무기 적재·하역 시설이 있는 곳으로, 해당 비행이 핵폭탄 이동과 관련됐을 가능성이 크다.

이런 움직임은 오래전부터 예견되어 왔다. 2022년부터 위성사진을 통해 라켄히스의 항공기 보호 격납고(PAS)에 핵폭탄 보관용 지하 저장고(WS3)가 업그레이드되고 있는 것이 확인됐다. 2025년 초까지 33개 중 28개 격납고가 개보수됐고, 6곳은 공사가 진행 중이다. 신형 F-35A를 위한 계류장 인프라도 미 유럽 내 다른 핵무기 배치 기지와 유사한 형태로 확충됐다.

이 밖에 미 국방부는 라켄히스 기지 내 "특수 저장소" 개보수 사업 예산을 편성했고, 48경비중대의 "핵임무 준비" 언급, 핵무기 관련 요원 훈련 기록 등도 공식문서에서 확인된다. 이 모든 정황과 챌린지 코인, 최근의 수송기 비행이 맞물려 핵무기가 실제 복귀했음을 강하게 시사한다.

현재 라켄히스에 핵폭탄이 영구적으로 상주할지, 비상시 다른 기지로부터 이동·운용될지 여부는 명확치 않다. 2025년 기준, 유럽 내 미국 소유 B61 핵폭탄 배치기지는 벨기에 클라이네브로겔, 독일 뷔헬, 이탈리아 아비아노·게디, 네덜란드 볼켈, 터키 인저를리크 등 6곳이다. 이 중 네덜란드는 2024년 F-35A가 공식적으로 핵 임무를 맡았다고 밝혔다.

라켄히스가 '백업' 기지로 기능한다면 유사시 유럽 내 다른 기지나 미국 본토에서 핵폭탄이 이동될 수도 있다. 이 경우 유럽 내 핵 임무의 유연성이 일부 증가할 수 있다. 앞으로 추가적인 수송기 이동 등으로 핵폭탄의 영구 배치 여부가 더욱 분명해질 전망이다.

또한, 최근 영국 정부가 F-35A 추가 도입을 결정한 바 있어, 향후 영국 공군 F-35A 역시 미국 소유 B61-12 투하 임무에 투입될 수 있다.

B61-12는 신형 유도장치와 관성항법장치, 스핀안정 로켓이 결합돼 정확성이 대폭 향상됐다. F-35A와 조합 시 전략·전술 양면에서 전례 없는 타격 능력을 발휘할 수 있다.

트럼프 대통령 취임 후 나토 일부 회원국은 미국의 핵공유 축소 혹은 종료 우려로 자체 핵우산 대안 모색 움직임을 보여왔다. 그러나 미군의 유럽 내 핵폭탄 추가 배치가 현실화되면서 이런 우려는 당분간 해소될 가능성이 있다. 다만, 핵무기가 라켄히스에 얼마나 오래 상주할지는 아직 확정되지 않았다.

Major Indications Nuclear Bombs Are Back At USAF Air Base In England

Major Indications Nuclear Bombs Are Back At USAF Air Base In England

New revelations leave little doubt about the return of American B61 bombs and nuclear strike mission to RAF Lakenheath.

Thomas Newdick

Jul 21, 2025 12:15 PM EDT

112

  Senior Airman Seleena Muhammad-Ali

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AU.S. Air Force challenge coin provides us with our best indication so far that the United States has brought nuclear bombs back to the United Kingdom after nearly two decades. As we have written about in the past, the move was long expected, with construction works at RAF Lakenheath in England already providing conclusive evidence that this was planned. More recently, a series of transatlantic flights by U.S. Air Force transport aircraft have also provided further indications of the movement of the bombs themselves to the United Kingdom.

Challenge coins, also known as ‘round metal objects,’ or RMOs, are a major part of military aviation culture and tradition, as you can read about here. Typically, these coins include features such as the unit designation, colors, mascot, nickname, mottos and slogans, symbology, and references to its history and lore. The coin in question is from the 493rd Fighter Generation Squadron (FGS), which is part of Lakenheath’s 48th Fighter Wing, and which was activated on June 9, 2023.

Tony Osborne, European Defense Editor at Aviation Week, photographed an example of the 493rd FGS challenge coin at the Royal International Air Tattoo airshow that took place over the weekend at RAF Fairford in England. On one side, the coin shows the grim reaper mascot of the 493rd Fighter Squadron, with its motto, “Prepare to meet thy maker.” In the center of the coin is the telltale shape of a B61 nuclear gravity bomb.

The entire shape of the coin makes very explicit one key aspect of the 493rd FGS mission, with a nuclear explosion and a mushroom cloud. The reverse of the coin provides a full-color depiction of the same explosion.

U.S. Air Force Omari Miller, 495th Fighter Generation Squadron F-35 avionics technician, replaces his 748th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron patch with the 495th Fighter Generation Squadron patch, signifying the deactivation and activation of the squadrons at RAF Lakenheath, June 9, 2023. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Seleena Muhammad-Ali Airman 1st Class Seleena Muhammad-Ali

According to the Air Force, the 493rd FGS (and the sister 494th FGS) are the first fifth-generation squadrons of their kind in the European theater, replacing the 748th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Lakenheath.

“The idea to break large aircraft maintenance squadrons into smaller FGSs and pairing them up with their respective fighter squadrons aligns with the U.S. Air Force’s Combat Oriented Maintenance Organization (COMO) structure; aimed to foster unity of effort between maintenance and operations as well as enhance readiness of the squadrons,” the Air Force said in an official press release.

48th Wing airmen gather to attend the 748th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron deactivation ceremony and the activation and the assumption of command of the 493rd and 495th Fighter Generation Squadrons at RAF Lakenheath, June 9, 2023. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Seleena Muhammad-Ali Airman 1st Class Seleena Muhammad-Ali

Now, each of the four fighter squadrons within the 48th Fighter Wing has a dedicated FGS assigned to it. In this case, the 493rd and 494th FGS correspond to the 493rd and 494th Fighter Squadrons, both flying the F-35A. In 2021, Lakenheath became the first Air Force wing outside of the United States to operate the F-35A.

The other two fighter squadrons at Lakenheath still operate the F-15E — for now, at least.

Both the F-15E and F-35A are capable of carrying B61 series free-fall thermonuclear bombs and are therefore a critical part of the U.S. military posture in Europe. These aircraft can also make full use of the capabilities of the B61-12 version of the bomb, an advantage that doesn’t extend to all NATO aircraft cleared to carry the weapon, as we have discussed in the past.

A U.S. Air Force F-35A drops a B61-12 during a test at Edwards Air Force Base, California. U.S. Air Force 

Until recently, however, there were no nuclear bombs actually stored at Lakenheath.

Historically, Lakenheath had a nuclear mission, although the last nuclear weapons were removed from the base in 2008.

An aerial photograph of RAF Lakenheath, home of the U.S. Air Force 48th Fighter Wing, in September 2014. Photograph by David Goddard/Getty Images 

But there is no doubt that the weapons — or at the very least the related capabilities and infrastructure — are headed back to the base, if they are not there already.

When asked about the current status of nuclear weapons at Lakenheath, a U.S. Department of Defense official told TWZ: “Consistent with long-standing U.S. policy, we neither confirm‎ nor deny the absence or presence of U.S. nuclear weapons at any specific location.”

Last week, open-source intelligence (OSINT) accounts on social media identified an Air Force C-17A transport flight that might have been connected with the movement of B61 nuclear bombs from the United States to Lakenheath. The callsign RCH4574 “followed the pattern of similar nuclear swaps,” according to the @TheIntelFrog. Of course, the Pentagon does not comment on whether such flights relate to the transport of U.S. nuclear weapons, although the 62nd Airlift Wing, to which the aircraft was assigned, is known to be the only one of its kind certified to ferry routine nuclear weapons shipments.

The mission in question, on July 15, saw the C-17A arrive at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, from McChord Air Force Base, Washington. Once at Kirtland, it was noted in the area where nuclear weapons and loaded and unloaded by the resident Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center. The C-17A departed Kirtland on July 17 and arrived at Lakenheath the following day. Otherwise, the flight was more consistent with a nuclear weapons drop-off than a routine weapons swap.

The arrival of nuclear weapons at Lakenheath at this time wouldn’t be a surprise.

Earlier this year, we discussed the latest report on the subject from the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), which has been monitoring the topic since April 2022, when the first official evidence emerged suggesting the reactivation of the nuclear mission at Lakenheath.

As of February 2025, there was, according to FAS, “no known public indications that nuclear weapons have been deployed to RAF Lakenheath,” although it was abundantly clear that this was mostly a matter of time.

In the last few years, satellite imagery has confirmed upgrades being made to Lakenheath’s Protective Aircraft Shelters, which incorporate underground WS3 vaults for the storage of nuclear bombs. This work began in 2022, and, by early this year, around 28 of the 33 aircraft shelters had been upgraded, with construction continuing on six more.

Satellite imagery shows the upgrades being made to Lakenheath’s Protective Aircraft Shelters, which incorporate underground WS3 vaults for the storage of nuclear bombs. This work began in 2022, and, by early this year, around 28 of the 33 aircraft shelters had been upgraded, with construction continuing on six more. Courtesy FAS/Google Earth

Other infrastructure changes relate to the recently arrived F-35A squadrons. Specifically, the new tarmac infrastructure for these fighters mirrors that found at other air bases in Europe that are known to host U.S. nuclear weapons.

At the same time, there have been various official references in Pentagon documents that connect construction work at the base with the Air Force’s nuclear mission.

For example, the NATO Security Investment Program (NSIP) budget for Fiscal Year 2023 includes the United Kingdom on a list of bases receiving upgrades to their “special storage” sites. The only candidate for this would be Lakenheath.

A U.S. Air Force crew chief stands by in preparation to launch an F-35A at RAF Lakenheath in November 2024. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Seleena Muhammad-Ali

Furthermore, past U.S. Department of Defense procurement contracts describe plans for the “upcoming nuclear mission” for the Lakenheath-based 48th Security Forces Squadron (SFS).

As well as upgrades to facilities, Pentagon documents from 2023 reveal that specific training is now being given to nuclear weapons personnel at Lakenheath.

All of this, combined with the latest developments in terms of the 493rd FGS challenge coin and last week’s C-17A flight from Kirtland, strongly points to nuclear weapons having returned to Lakenheath.

It’s unclear, however, if the plan is for nuclear bombs to be permanently stationed at the base, with some suggestions in the past that the infrastructure there might be intended as a backup to other nuclear bases in Europe.

As of 2025, those other bases are Kleine Brogel in Belgium, Büchel in Germany, Aviano and Ghedi in Italy, Volkel in the Netherlands, and Incirlik in Turkey. Of these, the Netherlands notably declared its F-35As fully responsible for the nuclear strike role as of June 2024. Incirlik is meanwhile notable as the weapons here cannot actually be employed by Turkey, in contrast to the ‘dual-key’ arrangement with other nuclear-sharing nations.

A Weapons Storage and Security System vault of the type used at NATO airbases in Europe, seen here in the raised position holding an older B61 variant. Public Domain/WikiCommons

As a backup base, Lakenheath could potentially receive nuclear weapons from other bases in Europe or even from the United States in a time of crisis. This would, to a limited degree, increase the flexibility of the nuclear mission in Europe. Perhaps, further C-17A flights might help confirm‎ whether the base is intended as a permanent home of nuclear weapons, or if they will be rotated in and out on a temporary basis.

There is also the possibility that Lakenheath’s nuclear role might become more important in the future, should Washington decide on a drawdown of U.S.-owned nuclear weapons elsewhere in Europe, something that TWZ has also previously considered.

Then there is the question of how nuclear weapons at Lakenheath might overlap with the United Kingdom’s recently announced plans to buy F-35As as well as the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) F-35B models it already uses. The U.K. Ministry of Defense has highlighted the F-35A’s nuclear mission, which would see the jets armed with U.S.-owned B61-12 bombs. Potentially, Royal Air Force F-35As could use these bombs too, and small detachments of British aircraft at the base might also be an option.

Regardless, having another base capable of launching strikes involving B61-12 bombs is significant.

FAS estimates that around 100 U.S.-owned B61-12 gravity bombs are available across the aforementioned NATO air bases in Europe.

Courtesy FAS

In the past, we have pointed out the specific new capabilities that the B61-12 brings:

Thanks to its precision-guidance system, which combines a new tail kit with an inertial navigation system package and rockets for spin stabilization, the B61-12 offers increased accuracy over older B61 versions. When combined with the F-35A, the B61-12 is increasingly being viewed as a strategic weapons-delivery system, as well as a tactical strike asset.

An inert B61-12 gravity bomb attached to a U.S. Air Force F-15E. Sandia/Craig Fritz

Since President Donald Trump took office, there has been some uncertainty among NATO’s leading European powers that Washington may dial back or even end the current nuclear-sharing program, something we have recently discussed. This has prompted some of those powers, notably France and the United Kingdom, to start to look at alternatives, including some kind of cooperative nuclear umbrella independent of the United States. All this is being played out against the backdrop of growing tensions between NATO and Russia in recent years.

With U.S.-owned nuclear weapons having arrived (or otherwise very soon to arrive) at an additional European base, those fears might be allayed somewhat, although it remains to be seen whether the bombs will be a permanent fixture at the base.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com