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SW-Version alpha 0.41
Darstellung: System
Sprache: DE

Accident Record

14. Nuclear Weapons Carrier for Air Policing

Nuclear Certification

The F-35A was certified for the B61-12 tactical nuclear bomb on 12 October 2023 -- as the first fifth-generation fighter aircraft [75]. Five of seven NATO nuclear sharing countries are transitioning to the F-35A [76]. The Netherlands assumed the nuclear stealth role with the F-35A on 1 June 2024 as the first European country [77].

Switzerland's Primary Mission: Air Policing

The Swiss Air Force conducted approximately 305 sorties in 2020: 15 Hot Missions (emergencies, sovereignty violations) and 290 Live Missions (routine checks) [78]. This corresponds to an average of one Hot Mission per week [79]. Since 2020, 24/7 readiness has been maintained with two armed jets [78].

Overqualification

For air policing duties, the following capabilities are not required: stealth, nuclear weapons, deep strike capabilities [78]. The F-35A's nuclear capability is -- for Switzerland, which is not a NATO member, is a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and possesses no nuclear weapons -- entirely irrelevant.

Switzerland is deploying a nuclear weapons carrier with operating costs of USD 46,000 per flight hour for routine checks that a Gripen E could equally perform for USD 22,100 per hour. Based on 305 sorties at 2 hours each, this results in an annual difference of USD 14.6 million for air policing missions alone [69].

Translated from the German version. See the German version for complete references.

Update March 2026: An F-35A crashed during a training sortie near Nellis AFB, Nevada on 31 March 2026. The pilot ejected safely. The aircraft was destroyed. [Source]