February 12, 2026 at 1:39 AM
USAF Ready To Make All B-52s Nuclear-Capable, Load ICBMs With Multiple Warheads If Directed
The end of New START treaty has left the U.S. nuclear arsenal unbounded for the first time in decades. The post USAF Ready To Make All B-52s Nuclear-Capable, Load ICBMs With Multiple Warheads If Directed appeared first...
U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command says it is prepared to load more warheads onto Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) and restore nuclear weapons capability to the entire B-52 bomber fleet, if called upon to do so. Limitations had been imposed on both of those capabilities by the New START arms control treaty between the United States and Russia, which recently expired without a follow-on agreement in place, as you can read more about here.
There are currently 400 Minuteman IIIs, also designated LGM-30Gs, loaded in silos spread across five states. Each one is topped with a single W78 or W87 warhead. Of the Air Force’s 76 B-52H bombers, 30 are currently only capable of employing conventional munitions.