Retired Gen. James Mattis, President-electe Trump’s nominee to head the Pentagon says he supports deploying America’s most advanced nuclear weapons to Europe.
In written responses provided the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday, Mattis says he favors arming stealthy F-35 fighters based in Europe with upgraded B61 nuclear bombs as part of NATO’s nuclear deterrence posture.
“The U.S. must continue to maintain the capability to forward-deploy strategic bombers and dual-capable aircraft as part of its nuclear and extended nuclear deterrence posture,” Mattis said
The latest versions of the B61 feature an advanced design that allows the bomb to be guided more precisely to a target, and a variable yield feature that can give the capability of being used as tactical weapon.
Mattis says it’s important for the U.S. to maintain aircraft in Europe that can deliver nuclear weapons.
“We must take care to maintain this particular capability, and to modernize it appropriately and in a timely fashion,” Mattis said in his written response.
