The F-35 is Now a Nuclear Bomber

Advanced, stealthy, single-engine: There is nothing the F-35 Lightning II can’t do. In 2021, two F-35A aircraft successfully released B61-12 Joint Test Assemblies, comprising functional non-nuclear components and simulated nuclear components, from an altitude of 10,500 feet. It took approximately 42 seconds for the bomb to reach and hit the designated target on the range. The tests mimicked a real-world tactical gravity nuclear weapon release at the Tonopah Test Range in Nevada. CHAPTERS 00:00 The F-35 Lightning II is now a Nuclear Bomber 01:15 B61-12 Joint Test Assemblies 02:20 Netherlands’ F-35A jets NATO certified for nuclear deterrence 03:00 A Tactical Nuke 04:14 Stealth and Precision 05:51 F-35 as Bomb Truck 07:58 A Legacy of Innovation Thanks