I agree, why put nukes on a fighter? Bomber maybe.
Besides too much risk in losing the nukes if you fly over other nations.
“I agree, why put nukes on a fighter? Bomber maybe.”
I believe the article said the alleged nukes were on the two attack aircraft, not on the fighters.
“I agree, why put nukes on a fighter? “
Better chance of getting to the target.
That said, how would anyone know what was loaded? The ordnance crew that loaded, and the brass that gave the order.
Quite a few fighters are certified to carry nukes. The F-15 for example.
Whether these Russian fighters were carrying nukes or not, I have no clue.
“I agree, why put nukes on a fighter? Bomber maybe.”
Many US fighters are ‘nuclear capable’. In fact NATO allies are supposed to have nuclear-capable aircraft to deliver US nukes in event that this becomes necessary. One of the diplomatic problems with Germany is the fighter they were considering purchasing was NOT nuclear capable. However, since the Ukraine invasion Germany has announced it’s intention to purchase a few dozen F-35’s so ‘problem solved’.
Bombers generally carry their ordnance internally. If a Russian bomber were to be carrying nukes there would be no way to visually verify it unlike a fighter-bomber which would carry its weapons on external pylons where they can be seen by a Swedish interceptor.
The USA used to out nukes in nearly every fighter plane we had be it Air Force , Navy or Marines. The A4 was designed specifically to carry a single tactical nuke to its target off a carrier. This role.today is filled by the FA18 which has the links for B61s. The F15 and F16 based in NATO counties all carried and still are wired to carry the B61 nuke. The F35 is also wired to carry B61s in all three forms the A,B and Navy C model. The only Air Force planes that are attack capable that lack the PAL links supported pylons are the A10, AC130, and by treaty the B1B. The Russians like the USA have made every aircraft with attack capability nuclear capable.
There was four aircraft that entered Sweden. Two SU27s and two SU24s the SU27 is a multirole figthey comparable in size speed and distance to a F15 it absolutely can carry the Russian equivalent to the B61 plus it also can carry KH55 misales these are the equals to the tomahawk with a 200+KT warhead they are city busters. The SU24 is not a fighter jet at all it is a medium range strategic bomber that was a near carbon copy of the F111 this plane is a first rate nuclear penetration bomber being supersonic capable at sea level. This aircraft can carry the KH15 just like the American F111 carried the SRAM missile the russian version is the KH15. It also is a city killer with a mach 5 top speed and tiny radar cross section with TRF modes the Russians never retired their first line tactical.weapons like the USA foolishly did. The Russians have always had a battle plan to fight and win a nuclear war they are not last resort weapons to them they are bigger boom weapons when and if they need to go big or.go home they have always ALWAYS believed in a first use policy. This is why they have subways with blast doors in most major.cities with supplies to be fallout shelters. Moscow and St Petersburg both have enough space in their subway shelters for every single citizen of those cities. They fully plan to ride out a nuclear exchange and with a land mass that spans 12 time.zones they know that the fall out can’t and won’t make all their farm lands unsuitable for use. If they are flying nukes around they plan to use them if they need them.