[Rockingham]

I think the article is wrong. The original and more detailed article in the Washington Free Beacon states only that “Defense officials said the bombers tracked over Guam were likely equipped with six Kh-55 or Kh-55SM cruise missiles that can hit targets up to 1,800 miles away with either a high-explosive warhead or a 200-kiloton nuclear warhead.” This describes the capability of the usual cuise missile complement but does not claim that nuclear weapons were carried.

[Tommyjo]

I agree. Neither the US or Russia is running around with live nuclear weapons on such flights these days. Those days of flying airborne alert are long since gone. There have been far too many in-flight and landing incidents whilst carrying nuclear weapons. It would take an increased alert procedure for live nukes to be carried.

This year should see greater confidence boosting between US and Russian strategic air arms. Russian Tu-95MS Bear Hs are scheduled to visit Barksdale and B-52Hs are scheduled to visit Engels on an exchange program.