Non Strategic Nuclear Weapons - Federation of American Scientists

U.S. Non-Strategic Nuclear Weapons
would be purchased, 30 but the financial crisis has forced the Italian government to cut the
program to 90 aircraft. 31
The Netherlands hosts an estimated 10–20 B61 bombs at its Volkel AB (see Figure 6). The
weapons are earmarked for delivery by Dutch F-16A/Bs of the 1st Fighter Wing and are
under custody of the U.S. Air Force 703rd MUNSS. The base has 11 shelters equipped with
underground bomb vaults (for a maximum capacity of 44 weapons). The Dutch F-16s are
scheduled for replacement by the F-35 JSF. In 2012, the first test aircraft is scheduled for
delivery, followed by a second in 2014. Full versions are scheduled to follow through the
mid-2020s for a total of 84 aircraft, but financial constraints and delays are likely to curtail
the program further.
Turkey hosts an estimated 60–70 B61 bombs at Incirlik AB, down from the 2001 level of
90 weapons; however, the posture is unique in NATO. Most of the bombs (approximately
50) are for delivery by U.S. aircraft, but Turkey has denied U.S. requests to deploy a fighter
wing based at Incirlik. In a crisis, U.S. aircraft from other bases would have to first deploy to
Incirlik to pick up the weapons before they could be used.
The remaining 10–20 bombs at Incirlik AB are earmarked for delivery by Turkish F-
16A/Bs. Until 1995, Akinci AB in central Turkey and Balikesir AB in western Turkey
stored these weapons for delivery by the 4th Wing and 9th Wing, respectively, but after the
U.S. MUNSS at each base was withdrawn, the bombs (about 40 at the time) were moved to
Incirlik. Since then, the number of “Turkish” bombs at Incirlik AB has probably been reduced
to 10–20 weapons to match the inventories for "host" country air forces, and one of
the two wings lost its nuclear mission.
There are conflicting reports about the status of the Turkish nuclear mission. Gen. Ergin
Celasin, former commander (until 2001) of the Turkish Air Force, is on record stating that
Turkey’s role in the NATO nuclear strike mission ended in the 1990s with the withdrawal
of weapons from the national Turkish bases. 32 General Celasin, reportedly explained later
that, "no Turkish F-16s had nuclear strike missions to date. Only the F-4, F-100 and F104
aircraft of Turkish Air Force had nuclear strike missions and they have therefore participated
in NATO's exercises in the past." General Celasin apparently also said that, "no nuclear
weapons vaults exist anymore in either Akinci (Murted) or Balikesir air bases." 33
30 U.S. Department of Defense, JSF PSFD MOU, December 2010, p. 88,
http://www.jsf.mil/downloads/documents/JSF_PSFD_MOU_-_Update_4_2010.PDF
31 “Italy cuts order for F-35 combat jets,” BBC News Business, February 15, 2012,
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17042065
32 See: Telephone interview with General Ergin Celasin (ret.), former Commander of the Turkish Air Force, February 15,
2010, Ankara, as cited in Mustafa Kibaroglu, “Turkey and Shared Responsibilities,” in Shared Responsibilities for Nuclear
Disarmament: A Global Debate (American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 2010), p. 27,
http://iis-db.stanford.edu/pubs/22905/GlobalDebate.pdf
33 Email, Dr. Mustafa Kibaroglu to Hans M. Kristensen, April 23, 2010.
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