On April 11, 2022, Hans Kristensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project of the Federation of American Scientists, reported on FY23 Biden Administration budget documents that added the UK to the list of “special weapons” storage sites being upgraded as part of a $384 million military construction program underway for the past 13 years. The term “special weapons” is usually used to refer to nuclear bombs, but the document that Kristensen cited said little else. The document did not even name the location in the UK as RAF Lakenheath, which has hosted US fighter jets for decades, and was determined most likely, as it was the last base in the UK to also host US nuclear weapons. Kristensen reported then, that US B61 bombs were withdrawn from Lakenheath in 2008, but the 33 storage vaults for them were maintained in a usable condition.
Yesterday, in a new posting, Kristensen and his colleague, Matt Korda, offered new evidence, in documents and satellite imagery, contending that Lakenheath is being upgraded for a new nuclear mission.
The Air Force’s FY24 budget submission includes justification for construction of a 144-bed dormitory at Lakenheath “as the result of the potential Surety Mission.” The term “surety” is commonly used within the Department of Defense and Department of Energy to refer to the capability to keep nuclear weapons safe, secure, and under positive control. “With the influx of airmen due to the arrival of the potential Surety mission and the bed down of the two F-35 squadrons there is a significant deficiency in the amount of unaccompanied housing available for E4s and below at Royal Air Force Lakenheath,” the document says.
