Another layer of nuclear deterrence, maybe.
This, or to improve first-strike capability. Small tactical nukes carried by jets can be deployed from aircraft carriers with minimal radar/heat signitures. If a single jet can take out a an entire air base, or flash-weld enemy silo doors shut, they'd probably go a long way reduce the number of ICBMs that would surely be fired in retaliation.
I thought that headline was sensationalist at first, but the implications are actually terrifying. Though its the jet that's the real new threat. The bomb the same bomb everyone has had for decades, just shaped differently.
>Another layer of nuclear deterrence, maybe.
This, or to improve first-strike capability. Small tactical nukes carried by jets can be deployed from aircraft carriers with minimal radar/heat signitures. If a single jet can take out a an entire air base, or flash-weld enemy silo doors shut, they'd probably go a long way reduce the number of ICBMs that would surely be fired in retaliation.
I thought that headline was sensationalist at first, but the implications are actually terrifying. Though its the jet that's the real new threat. The bomb the same bomb everyone has had for decades, just shaped differently.
Using tactical nukes seems almost a further out concept than letting loose with the big bombs. To use them you would have to be in a really bad battle field situation, and then it may well be against a nuclear power, which would then be an excuse for them to use the big ones, and then what?
Another layer of nuclear deterrence, maybe.