UK To Beef Up Nukes For NATO, Possibly With Fleet Of F-35As

PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB) – UK should deepen its integration of nuclear and conventional deterrence within NATO, enhance long-range strike capabilities, according to UK’s Strategic Defense Review.

This marks the most direct recommendation yet for the UK to explore a closer role in NATO’s tactical nuclear sharing arrangements, a policy area previously dominated by U.S. dual-capable aircraft and continental European host nations.

The review further recommends enhancing NATO and UK-led training and exercises that “address potential escalation and conflict scenarios with nuclear-armed states,” underlining a greater urgency in planning for high-intensity warfare.

As part of this, and for cost reasons, UK may acquire fleet of F-35A nuclear capable strike fighters as part of a broader effort to deepen its contribution to NATO’s nuclear sharing arrangements. UK already possesses F-35Bs capable of short takeoff and vertical landing operations from its two Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.

However, the F-35A is the variant certified for use with the B61 nuclear bomb, making it essential for participation in the air-delivered aspect of NATO’s nuclear deterrent.

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here’s a roundup of today’s other top defense stories ending the week from conservative national security expert PAUL CRESPO.

Not the President’s Daily Brief, but almost as good – PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEFING – the PDB:    

NATIONAL SECURITY

Air Force’s top uniformed leader called Ukraine’s drone attacks against Russian air bases this weekend a “wake-up moment” for militaries around the globe, both for defensive and offensive posture.

No ‘silver bullet’ against a drone attack like Operation Spider’s Web. Ukraine’s audacious drone strike that may have destroyed several Russian strategic bombers has confirmed long-held fears about first-person view drones, or FPVs, being launched from commercial containers for a surprise attack.

HOMELAND SECURITY

What will DOD civilians do at the border? The Pentagon won’t say. But it will send some civilian employees to support DHS with the southern border mission and “internal immigration enforcement.”

Navy deploys West Coast Destroyer USS Sampson in support of operations in U.S. Northern Command.

PENTAGON WOKE WATCH

As we begin Pride Month, Defense Secretary Hegseth has ordered the Navy to rename the replenishment oiler Harvey Milk, a move that will strip the ship of the moniker of a slain gay rights activist and sailor during the Korean War.

Active-duty transgender troops have until June 6 to identify themselves and begin the voluntary separation process or wait and risk involuntary separation later.

POLITICS

So do all leaders. Autocrats don’t act like Hitler or Stalin anymore – instead of governing with violence, they use manipulation. President Trump’s critics often accuse him of harboring authoritarian ambitions.

Ready, slash, aim: USAID-State merger proceeding without key plans. No strategic workforce plan is guiding the Trump administration’s effort to fold the USAID into the State Department, says IG.

Trump taps JSOC Commander, Navy SEAL, Vice Adm. Frank Bradley, to lead SOCOM.

US POWER OVERSEAS

U.S. engagement with sub-Saharan Africa is entering a recalibration phase – less defined by a development lens and increasingly shaped by strategic alignment.

As part of its training rotation in the Philippines, Army’s 2nd Mobile Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division is experimenting with 3D printers to repair parts and build new systems, namely, drones.

RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR

NATO ‘not able’ to defend against Russia in three years. Secretary General Mark Rutte has warned that the Alliance must move beyond its long-held 2% of GDP defense spending benchmark.

UK has announced a tenfold increase in drone deliveries to Ukraine as part of a record $475 million investment this financial year, significantly boosting battlefield support to Kyiv.

Commercial Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite imagery further points to multiple Russian Tu-95 Bear bombers having been damaged or destroyed at Belaya Air Base.

Zelenskyy’s drone card: How Operation Spiderweb impacts Russia’s capabilities going forward.

There is a dispute over the extent of damage to the Kerch Bridge connecting Crimea with Russia after an early morning attack. Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) said it detonated underwater explosives on pillars of the highly defended bridge that “severely damaged” it.

Troop casualties in Ukraine war near 1.4 million. With high casualty figures and the slow pace of Russia’s territorial gains, Vladimir Putin could face years more of a grinding war of attrition in Ukraine.

Russia took weeks to present Ukraine with a “memorandum” setting out its conditions for a ceasefire, and guidelines for a comprehensive peace treaty to end the war. It’s a list of the Kremlin’s longstanding, maximalist demands that Kyiv and NATO allies see as nonstarters.

IRAN THREAT/ISRAEL/MIDEAST

Israel’s military has warned residents of Gaza against travel in areas and roads leading to aid distribution centers.

U.S. will shut down most of its military bases in Syria, consolidating operations to a single location, as part of a policy overhaul.

NORTH KOREA THREAT

North Korea looks to be making progress in recovering the second in its Choi Hyun class of frigates, which rolled over and was partially submerged after an incident at its launch ceremony last month. Imagery indicates that it has now returned to an upright position, although restoring the frigate soon remains dubious.

SPACE THREAT

SpaceX launched nearly 400 Starlink satellites in May.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

Europeans map out Pacific aims as some in U.S. want them to stay home. At the end of Pete Hegseth’s speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s largest defense summit, SECDEF argued some members of the crowd should focus elsewhere.

UN aid convoy carrying critical food supplies to a famine-threatened city in western Sudan has been targeted in an attack that killed five people and injured several others.

US MILITARY

DOD seeks ‘ready-now’ drone systems. In a push to get military kit to the field more quickly, DOD is launching a prize challenge called Project G.I. to help the military services test and scale uncrewed systems.

Army has met its fiscal 2025 recruiting goal four months early, signing 61,000 contracts for new active-duty soldiers.

Army has released a primer for leaders to better understand the Army, how it’s organized and their purpose within the ranks.

How to build back the Navy: Unmanned missile ships teamed with larger ships. Distributed operations with unified impact call for larger numbers of smaller ships armed primarily with missiles.

Nuclear Carrier USS Enterprise Teardown in Mobile, Alabama: U.S. Navy vessel known as CVN 65 has already ceased to be the USS Enterprise. On Mobile’s waterfront it will cease to be a ship, or even a hull.

END of PDB

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.

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