Not sure if it’s been covered elsewhere on here, but just spotted this news story after a few weeks of rumours.
Maybe the RAF will be back to dropping “buckets of sun” before we know it…!
BBC News - UK to purchase nuclear-carrying fighter jets
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RAF to get 12 F35a. This will give the RAF a nuclear attack capability. Sec Dec in the BBC now.
Big change for the RAF. didn’t say about whether less F35b. Interviewer didn’t ask.
But what about the Navy? Any change in their capabilities?
I think it is about a more flexible nuclear deterrent. The UK is committed to replacing its 4 boomers with 4 boomers.
Does this mean we have to move Australia again?
We have many more than that. Have you not been on Facebook recently?
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Considering it’s not compatible with Voyager there is a real question here.
Better off buying the F35c version as it is designed for the US navy that use drogue and probe.
Is it rated for B-61 though?
Oh dear
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Not sure, cant find anything either way. Not sure that any USN fixed wing aircraft is currently certified for B61.
Bromsgrove? Is anything rated to survive Bromsgrove?
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F-16 is.
The RAF official statement is a bit better in explaining the plans. It appears that the “A” will be used for training “B” pilots too and used more as of a nod that we have the capability but deterrent is definitely the emphasis
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With a bit of cash for new engines, etc, & associated wherewithal, there are a few nuclear capable aircraft sitting around just raring to go! 
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It would be nice to know how much cost would be needed to get them operational/at least flying especially after the recent project work on the English Electric Lightning too. It would be good to have a “Cold War Memorial Flight” with the V-bombers, Hunter, English Electric Lightning/Canberra and Phantom/Tornado wouldn’t be the cheapest cost but would sound great!
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A fantastic aircraft.
Although the last time I saw one fly was a time of peak stress and emotion. Shoreham air show 2015, after the Hunter crash. The Vulcan was next up to do a display, but because of what had happened, it just did a very low, very slow fly past along the runway line. Felt incredibly emotional and the place went dead silent. All you could hear was the ensemble of sirens from the A27 dealing with the Hunter crash.
But that is getting very off-topic, but I thought it worth sharing.
Someone would have to be willing to take on the role of design authority, there’s heaps of info about what Vulcan to the Sky did to restore theirs to flight. But it was the lack of DA that grounded it in the end.
Be cheaper to drag a few Tonkas out of Cosford. The Luftwaffe did a service extension mod on theirs.
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Do you mean F/A 18?
Given the timescale, pull out the WE177 designs and make enough for the RN to have an anti-submarine capability as well. Would a We 177 fit into Poseidon?
Having B61s leaves the UK without weapon sovereignty, something we had with nuclear QRA in the days of V force and afterwards.