We have updated our Privacy Policy. Please review to learn more. By continuing to use our services, you agree to these updates.

Nuclear (Page 3)

Latest in Nuclear

KC-707 refueling F15 Baz.
Iran Nuclear Crisis

USAF Denies It Refueled Israel’s Fighters During War With Iran

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Jul 16, 2025

The Pentagon is waiting for comprehensive battle damage assessment to see how well the MOP worked against Iranian nuclear facilities and how it can be improved.
Iran Nuclear Crisis

GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator’s Results From Iran Strike Will Inform Its Future: Defense Officials

By Howard Altman

Updated on Jul 10, 2025

Image of HMS Vengeance returning to HMNB Clyde, after completing Operational Sea Training. The trials were conducted in Scottish exercise areas. HMS Vengeance is the fourth and final Vanguard-class submarine of the Royal Navy. Vengeance carries the Trident ballistic missile, the UK's nuclear deterrent.
Nuclear Policy

UK And France To Join Forces For Nuclear Deterrence

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jul 10, 2025

Los Alamos scientist Gary Stradling gives us his exclusive insights into the Massive Ordnance Penetrator bomb.
Iran Nuclear Crisis

Los Alamos Scientist’s Insights On The GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator

By Howard Altman

Posted on Jul 3, 2025

F-15Is on a mission to Iran.
Iran Nuclear Crisis

Israel Vows To Maintain Air Superiority Over Iran

By Howard Altman

Posted on Jun 27, 2025

The defense of Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar against Iranian ballistic missiles included the largest volley of Patriot air defense interceptors in U.S. military history, the Pentagon's top general told reporters.
Iran Nuclear Crisis

Largest Patriot Missile Salvo In U.S. Military History Launched Defending Al Udeid Air Base Against Iranian Attack

By Howard Altman

Updated on Jun 26, 2025

The Pentagon has shared extensive new information about the use of 30,000-pound GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bunker buster bombs in recent strikes on Iran, a mission it says was 15 years in the making.
Iran Nuclear Crisis

Everything We Just Learned About The GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator Strikes On Iran

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jun 26, 2025

There are conflicting reports about the extent of the damage at Iran's nuclear facilities in the wake of U.S. and Israeli. attacks.
Iran Nuclear Crisis

Claims Swirl Over Extent Of Damage From Attacks On Iranian Nuclear Facilities (Updated)

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Jun 25, 2025

B-2 hawaii diverted during decoy operation
Iran Nuclear Crisis

B-2 Used As Decoy For Iran Strike Mission Is Stuck In Hawaii

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jun 25, 2025

U.K. Royal Air Force F-35B Lightning.
Nuclear Bombs

Royal Air Force Goes Nuclear With F-35A

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 25, 2025

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before boarding the Marine One presidential helicopter and departing the White House on June 24, 2025 in Washington, DC. Less than 12 hours after announcing a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, Trump is traveling to the Netherlands to attend the NATO leaders' summit.
Iran Nuclear Crisis

Turbulent Start To Iran-Israel Ceasefire But It’s Holding, At Least For Now

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 24, 2025

U.S. President Donald Trump said he has engineered a ceasefire between Israel and Iran.
Iran Nuclear Crisis

Israel-Iran Ceasefire Is Now In Effect (Updated)

By Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jun 24, 2025

Satellite imagery shows clear evidence that Iran took steps to seal off its nuclear enrichment facility at Fordow in the days leading up to the U.S. strikes, which would have helped shield it against a potential ground raid.
Iran Nuclear Crisis

Iran’s Fordow Nuclear Site Likely Sealed Up Before B-2 Strikes

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jun 24, 2025

The Israeli military said it had struck command centers belonging to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and other domestic security forces responsible for “maintaining the regime’s stability.”
Iran Nuclear Crisis

Israel Strikes Key Iranian Command And Control Sites In Tehran (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Jun 23, 2025

US base in qatar attacked by iranian ballistic missiles
Iran Nuclear Crisis

Iran Launches Ballistic Missile Revenge Strike On Al Udeid Air Base In Qatar (Updated)

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Jun 23, 2025

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Air Force Gen. Dan "Razin" Caine have now briefed TWZ and other reporters on the historic strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities last night, dubbed Operation Might Hammer.
Iran Nuclear Crisis

B-2 Strikes On Iran: What We Know About Operation Midnight Hammer (Updated)

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway, Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jun 22, 2025

B-2s bombed iran
Iran Nuclear Crisis

U.S. Has Attacked Iran’s Nuclear Facilities (Updated)

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Jun 22, 2025

At least two separate groups of B-2 Spirit stealth bombers are currently heading westward across the Pacific Ocean, but their exact final destination is currently unclear.
Iran Nuclear Crisis

B-2 Bombers Head West Across Pacific Amidst Iran Crisis

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jun 21, 2025

Iran's nuclear scientists were assassinated in their homes using an undisclosed weapon.
Iran Nuclear Crisis

Top Iranian Nuclear Scientists Killed By Secret Israeli Weapon: Report

By Howard Altman

Updated on Jun 20, 2025

At least one Iranian ballistic missile impacted the port city of Haifa in northern Israel.
Iran Nuclear Crisis

Iranian Ballistic Missiles Hit “Strategic Points” In Israeli Port City Of Haifa (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Jun 20, 2025

B-2 bomber
Iran Nuclear Crisis

U.S. Decision On Striking Iran To Be Made In “Next Two Weeks” (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Jun 19, 2025

Iran fired at least one ballistic missile with a warhead containing multiple submunitions as part of a particularly destructive barrage on Israel earlier today.
Iran Nuclear Crisis

Iran Just Used Ballistic Missiles With Cluster Warheads To Strike Israel

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 19, 2025

U.S. President Donald Trump is edging closer to a decision on whether to attack Iran.
Iran Nuclear Crisis

World Waits As Trump Mulls Direct Military Action Against Iran

By Howard Altman

Posted on Jun 19, 2025

C-130 from the IAF dropping material via airdrop.
Iran Nuclear Crisis

Could Israeli C-130s Drop GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator Bunker Busters?

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jun 18, 2025

As Israel's campaign of strikes on Iran continues, a question emerges about whether some level of additional action may be required on the ground to meet the stated goal of preventing the regime in Tehran from being able to acquire nuclear weapons.
Iran Nuclear Crisis

Loose Nukes In Iran Is A Scenario U.S. Special Operators Have Been Training For

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 18, 2025

The Israeli military said on Wednesday that one of its drones had been downed by a surface-to-air missile while operating over Iran, AFP reports. An army statement said the drone “fell in Iran. No injuries were reported and there is no risk of an information breach.”
Iran Nuclear Crisis

Israeli Hermes Drone Shot Down In Iran, Trump Ramps Up Threats To Tehran

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 18, 2025

Israel's air campaign against Iran's missiles and launch systems appears to be having an effect.
Iran Nuclear Crisis

Israeli Airstrikes Blunt Iranian Long-Range Ballistic Missile Threat (Updated)

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Jun 17, 2025

A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft, assigned to the 100th Air Refueling Wing, refuels a U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft during exercise RAMSTEIN FLAG 2024 while flying over the coast of Greece, Oct. 4, 2024. RAFL24 demonstrates NATO unity and strength, as Allies across the Euro-Atlantic area train side by side in defensive and offensive air operations scenarios in support of the enduring commitment to shared values and ability to adapt to the emerging environment.
Iran Nuclear Crisis

U.S. Air Force Fighters Deploy To Reinforce Middle East

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 17, 2025

Spike launcher found in Iran after attacks by Mossad agents.
Iran Nuclear Crisis

Spike Missiles That Destroyed Air Defenses From Inside Iran Were Remotely Operated

By Howard Altman

Posted on Jun 16, 2025

28 tankers were sent out over the Atlantic heading east tonight.
Iran Nuclear Crisis

Armada Of USAF Tankers Just Deployed East Over Atlantic Spurring Speculation (Updated)

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Jun 16, 2025

The aircraf carrier USS Nimitz has recently seen its service life extended, a sign of stress on the fleet.
Iran Nuclear Crisis

Major U.S. Middle East-Focused Buildup Confirmed (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Jun 16, 2025

Israel strikes Iranian F-14 tomcat.
Iran Nuclear Crisis

Iranian F-14 ‘Persian Tomcats’ Obliterated In Israeli Airstrike

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jun 16, 2025

The Israeli military claims it has destroyed one third of Iran’s long-range surface-to-surface missile launchers since the start of the conflict. For now, however, Iran is still launching missile strikes against Israel, with overnight attacks having killed at least eight people, according to Israeli sources.
Iran Nuclear Crisis

One Third Of Iran’s Long-Range Missile Launchers Destroyed, Israel Claims (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick, Howard Altman

Posted on Jun 16, 2025

Iran and Israel continue to trade blows late on Saturday and into Sunday. On the Israeli side, the strikes constitute the latest phase of Operation Rising Lion, a campaign designed to destroy Iran’s nuclear capability and long-range weapons capacity. For its part, Tehran continues to launch barrage of retaliatory missile strikes at Israel, with reportedly killed at least 10 people and injured more than 100 overnight.
Iran Nuclear Crisis

IAF Destroys Iranian Aerial Tanker 1,400 miles From Israel, Farthest Strike Yet (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Jun 15, 2025

Israel is now attacking Iranian energy facilities after warning it would if Iran didn't stop hitting Israeli urban areas.
Iran Nuclear Crisis

Israel Escalates To Attacking Iranian Energy Targets After Ballistic Missiles Hit Tel Aviv (Updated)

By Howard Altman

Updated on Jun 15, 2025

Israeli officials are warning that the strikes that began to be launched against Iran overnight are just the start phase of a wider operation.
Iran Nuclear Crisis

Israel’s Operation To Destroy Iran’s Nuclear Program Enters New Phase (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Jun 13, 2025

Israel strikes Iran's nuclear program.
Iran Nuclear Crisis

Israel Launches Operation Rising Lion To Destroy Iran’s Nuclear Program (Updated)

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway, Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jun 13, 2025

Israel hand commando teams inside Iran attack air defenses
Iran Nuclear Crisis

Israeli Commandos Attacked Iranian Air Defenses With Drones From Inside The Country: Report

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Jun 13, 2025

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has called into question the viability of using the C-130J Hercules cargo aircraft as the basis for a new plane, called the E-130J, to support the U.S. Navy's Take Charge And Move Out (TACAMO) mission.
Nuclear Command And Control

Choice Of C-130 For New Navy ‘Doomsday Plane’ Questioned In Watchdog Report

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jun 12, 2025

An artist's rendering of the Long Range Standoff Weapon is shown.
Long-Range Standoff Weapon (LRSO)

First Glimpse Of Air Force’s New Stealth Nuclear Cruise Missile

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Jun 11, 2025

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said efforts to deter Iranian mining of the Strait of Hormuz are already underway.
Iran Nuclear Crisis

Growing Fears of Massive Strikes On Iran As Nuclear Negotiations Sputter

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 10, 2025

The Submarine Dismantling Project (SDP) finally started at Rosyth in December 2016, around 15 years behind schedule.
Nuclear History

A Royal Navy Nuclear Submarine Is Being Scrapped For The First Time

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 6, 2025

The U.S. Navy has quietly awarded Northrop Grumman a contract to strip useful parts from an ex-Royal Air Force (RAF) E-3D Sentry airborne early warning and control aircraft before disposing of it.
Nuclear Command And Control

Plan To Turn Ex-RAF E-3 AWACS Into E-6B ‘Doomsday’ Jet Trainer Abandoned By Navy

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 5, 2025

Ukraine's Defense Intelligence Directorate (GUR) claims it show down a Russian jet target drone converted to be a weapon.
Ground-Launched Nuclear Cruise Missile

Weaponized Russian Jet-Powered Target Drone Shot Down Over Black Sea: Ukraine

By Howard Altman

Posted on May 30, 2025

Russia is introducing new nuclear-tipped air-to-air missiles as part of an overall expansion of its nuclear forces, according to an assessment from the Pentagon’s Defense Intelligence Agency, or DIA. While nuclear-armed air-to-air missiles were part of the Soviet Union’s armory during the Cold War, their current status within the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS), is little-known, which makes the disclosure from this U.S. intelligence agency all the more intriguing.
Air Launched Nuclear Missles

Russia Fielding New Nuclear-Armed Air-To-Air Missiles: U.S. Intel

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 21, 2025

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 20: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office at the White House on May 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump announced his plans for the "Golden Dome," a national ballistic and cruise missile defense system. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Nuclear Ballistic Missiles

Trump’s Golden Dome Missile Shield: What We Just Learned And Its Implications

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on May 21, 2025

The first production example of the new B61-13 nuclear bomb has been completed roughly a year ahead of schedule, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
Nuclear Bombs

Far More Powerful B61-13 Guided Nuclear Bomb Variant Joins U.S. Stockpile

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 19, 2025

As the dust settles, for now, on the latest clashes between India and Pakistan, it’s clear that the nations’ respective air forces played a very active role in the fighting. At this stage, details of what happened are still extremely hard to come by, with seemingly endless claims and counterclaims, especially around possible shootdowns, and very little in the way of verifiable facts about how the air-to-air engagements played out. However, many observers are already pointing to the potentially significant impact of the Pakistan Air Force’s Chinese-made Chengdu J-10C multirole fighters, as well as their vaunted PL-15 air-to-air missiles.
India-Pakistan Nuclear Standoff

China’s J-10C Fighter: Separating Myth From Reality

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 15, 2025

Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt General Rajiv Ghai with Air Marshal AK Bharti, Vice Admiral AN Pramod during a press conference on 'Operation Sindoor' at National Media Centre, on May 12, 2025 in New Delhi, India. Senior officers from the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force addressed the nation, revealing details of Operation Sindoor, a coordinated military strike carried out on May 7 targeting terror bases in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Punjab province. Officers confirmed that over 100 terrorists were killed during the operation. The strikes were launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people.
India-Pakistan Nuclear Standoff

Claims Swirl As India And Pakistan Assess Results Of Latest Conflict

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on May 13, 2025

Reports of the air war that’s been taking place between India and Pakistan in recent days suggest what may well be the most intense series of aerial engagements for decades. While it’s still very hard to obtain confirmed details of this combat, which some sources state has involved more than a hundred fighters simultaneously, we do, at least, know what kinds of air-to-air missiles (AAMs) are available to the Indian and Pakistan Air Forces.
India-Pakistan Nuclear Standoff

The Air-To-Air Missiles That Equip India And Pakistan’s Fighters

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 8, 2025

The air war currently unfolding between India and Pakistan is exceedingly murky, but one aspect that seems almost certain is the use of the Chinese-made PL-15 active-radar-guided air-to-air missile (AAM) by Pakistan. So far, Pakistan claims to have shot down five Indian aircraft and at least one Indian official has reportedly confirmed the crash of three aircraft but cautioned that the reasons were not clear. Unverified imagery suggests that one of the Indian Air Force’s prized Rafale multirole fighters may have been shot down. Regardless, the fighting between the two nuclear-armed states is the most intense for decades, now with the growing risk of the situation spiraling further out of control.
India-Pakistan Nuclear Standoff

China’s PL-15 Air-To-Air Missile Appears To Have Been Used In Combat For The First Time

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on May 7, 2025

India Strikes, Pakistan Responds, Claims Of Aircraft Losses Mount (Updated)
India-Pakistan Nuclear Standoff

India Strikes, Pakistan Responds, Claims Of Aircraft Losses Mount (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 6, 2025

Imagery has emerged showing North Korea’s heavily armed new frigate, the Choi Hyon, firing a variety of weapons from its huge array of vertical launch system (VLS) cells. The missiles seen appear to include a previously unknown air defense missile and a possible new supersonic cruise missile.
Nuclear Proliferation

North Korea’s New Frigate Tests Its Weapons Days After Commissioning

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Apr 30, 2025

North Korea Frigate
North Korea Nuclear Crisis

North Korea’s New Frigate Has Ballistic Missile Launchers

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Apr 27, 2025

French Air and Space Force Rafale fighters from a nuclear-strike-tasked unit are among the aircraft taking part in a power-projection exercise including operations over Sweden, which joined NATO a little over a year ago. The latest edition of the Pégase (Pegasus) drill comes as European NATO members look at bolstering their nuclear deterrence capabilities independent of the United States, with France very much at the center of these discussions. Notably, the maneuvers are being also accompanied by an exercise in which French military aircraft were rapidly dispersed to alternative airfields, something that would be required in a large-scale conflict with Russia.
Air Launched Nuclear Missles

French Rafale Fighters Project Power Forward To Sweden

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Apr 23, 2025

Northrop Grumman has blamed higher manufacturing costs for its B-21 Raider stealth bomber for a 49 percent drop in first-quarter profit. This is not the first financial hit for the B-21, with the manufacturer having disclosed a loss of nearly $1.2 billion on the program early last year. The latest news comes as U.S. Air Force officials state a need for 145 of the stealth bombers to cope with increasing threats to U.S. security.
Nuclear

Rising B-21 Raider Stealth Bomber Costs Hit Northrop Grumman

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Apr 22, 2025

France's President Emmanuel Macron (C) delivers a speech in front of a Dassault Mirage 2000 (L) and a Dassault Rafale (R) fighter aircrafts during his visit of the French Air and Space Force (Armee de l'air et de l'espace) Luxeuil-Saint-Sauveur Airbase in Saint-Sauveur, north-eastern France on March 18, 2025.
Air Launched Nuclear Missles

France To Expand Its Nuclear Deterrent With New Air Base

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 18, 2025

While it has long been a world-ending threat in science fiction, U.S. Air Force and Space Force officials see artificial intelligence (AI) playing important, if not critical roles in the command and control enterprise at the heart of America's nuclear deterrent capabilities.
Nuclear Command And Control

How The Military Wants AI To Help Control America’s Nuclear Arsenal

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Mar 7, 2025

In this handout image provided by the U.S. Air Force, 492nd FS commander, prepare to taxi their F-15E Strike Eagle prior to their departure from RAF Lakenheath in preparation for Operation Odyssey Dawn missions March 19, 2011 in Lakenheath, United, Kingdom. Approximately 112 cruise missiles fired from U.S. and British ships and submarines targeting about 20 radar and anti-aircraft sites along Libya's Mediterranean coast.
B61-12

USAF Air Base In England Is Nuclear Capable Again: Watchdog Report

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 27, 2025

France is apparently looking at the possibility of deploying air-launched nuclear weapons to Germany, a consideration that’s being made amid growing concerns that the United States will no longer guarantee European security under NATO. Broader discussions about nuclear deterrence among European leaders points very clearly to the deepening crisis in the transatlantic alliance under U.S. President Donald Trump.
B61

France Eyeing Deployment Of Nuclear-Armed Rafale Fighters To Germany: Report

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 25, 2025

Top Ukrainian nuclear experts are concerned that the drone strike on the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant radiation shield could have lasting affects.
Nuclear Power

Hole Blasted By Drone In Chernobyl’s Radiation Shield: What We Know

By Howard Altman

Posted on Feb 14, 2025

A U.S. Air Force Convair B-36B-1-CF Peacemaker (s/n 44-92033) of the 7th Bombardment Wing in flight, in 1949. This aircraft was retired to the MASDC on 19 November 1956.
Nuclear Bombs

America’s First Broken Arrow Incident Happened 75 Years Ago

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Feb 14, 2025

While the 1950s was a time of truly unusual and fast-paced innovation in military aerospace, one of the more bizarre projects was for a nuclear-armed, liquid-fueled development of the Sidewinder air-to-air missile.
Air Launched Nuclear Missles

The Navy Nearly Built A Nuclear Armed “Super Sidewinder” Air-To-Air Missile

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 1, 2025

A detail model has provided what’s likely our best idea of how the U.K. Royal Navy’s new Dreadnought class nuclear ballistic submarine, or SSBN will appear. The four Dreadnought ‘bombers’ represent one of the most important U.K. defense programs for many years and it’s notable to see how many advanced features the design includes, as the Royal Navy seeks to find the optimum balance between speed, stealth, and firepower. The four new SSBNs will replace the Vanguard class that entered service in the 1990s.
UGM-133 Trident II (D5)

Our Best Look Yet At Britain’s New Dreadnought Class Ballistic Missile Submarine Design

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jan 31, 2025