10. World nuclear forces

The decrease is not the result of a recent retirement of weapons but of a reassessment of the number of warheads that are assigned to the bombers. [...] The role of nuclear weapons in US military doctrine According to the 2018 Nuclear Posture Review (NPR), ‘The United States would only consider the employment of nuclear weapons in extreme circumstances to defend the vital interests of the United States, its allies, and partners.’8 The NPR further clarifies that the USA reserves the right to first use of nuclear weapons in a conflict, and could use. [...] The decrease is not the result of a recent retirement of weapons but of a reassessment of the number of warheads that are assigned to the bombers. [...] The USAF is expected to conduct its first flight test of the system in 2023.27 The projected cost of the programme has continued to increase and the absence of competition in the bidding process for the contract may have eliminated any potential to make savings up front.28 In May 2021 the US Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that the cost of acquiring and maintaining the ICBMs would tota. [...] The USAF plans to integrate the B61 12 on seven types of aircraft operated by the USA or its NATO allies: the B 2A, the new B 21, the F 15E, the F 16C/D, the F 16MLU, the F 35A and the PA 200 (Tornado).55 The Tornado’s age prevents it from using the B61 12’s new guided tail kit function, and the aircraft will instead deliver the B61 12 as a ‘dumb’ bomb akin to the older B61 3s and B61 4s.