The picture shows a F-35A fighter carrying a B61-12 tactical nuclear bomb (left).
F-35A战斗机携带B61-12战术核弹（左）。
By Liu Leina
刘磊娜
Recently, several European media outlets reported that as the global nuclear security situation is escalating, Europe's nuclear armament is showing new trends. These reports pointed out that under the framework of the US-led NATO's extended deterrence policy and the EU's strategic autonomy in defense, Europe's nuclear armament and nuclear strategy are becoming increasingly active. In particular, the stockpile expansion and technological upgrading of tactical nuclear weapons may lower the threshold for using nuclear weapons and disrupt the original balance of nuclear forces, thus triggering a new round of arms race.
近日，欧洲多家媒体报道称，全球核安全态势正面临升级，欧洲核军备也呈现新动态。报道指出，在美国主导的北约“延伸威慑”和欧盟“防务自主”战略框架下，欧洲的核武装及核策略日趋活跃。尤其是战术核武器库的扩充与技术升级，可能降低核武器使用门槛，打破原有的核力量平衡，掀起新一轮军备竞赛。
According to NATO's alliance agreement, its member states adopt a nuclear-sharing mechanism to build a "nuclear umbrella" for European countries. Among them, the UK's nuclear assets rank among the top in Europe, and its strategic weapon platform includes four Vanguard-class strategic nuclear submarines, each carrying 16 Trident submarine-launched ballistic missiles. The UK Royal Navy plans to replace its Vanguard-class strategic nuclear submarines with four Dreadnought-class ones in the future. Each Dreadnought-class submarine will be equipped with 12 upgraded Trident submarine-launched ballistic missiles, which will enhance the vessel's multi-warhead penetration, covert launching and tactical nuclear strike capabilities.
根据北约的联盟协定，成员国采用核共享机制，为欧洲国家构筑“核保护伞”。其中，英国的核资产在欧洲位居前列，其战略武器平台包括4艘前卫级战略核潜艇，每艘搭载16枚“三叉戟”潜射弹道导弹。英国海军计划未来用4艘无畏级潜艇取代前卫级战略核潜艇。无畏级潜艇将搭载12枚升级版“三叉戟”潜射弹道导弹，其多弹头突防、隐蔽发射和战术核打击能力均得到提升。
In addition to the UK, the US has deployed more than 100 tactical nuclear bombs of the B61 family at six military bases in five NATO member countries. It is worth mentioning that the US has equipped two air bases in Italy with the latest B61-12 tactical nuclear bombs. According to reports, the development of the B61-12 tactical nuclear bomb and its deployment in Europe may lower the threshold for using nuclear weapons. In terms of nuclear weapon use mechanism and authority, NATO's Nuclear Planning Group is responsible for authorizing nuclear strike missions, and the NATO Military Committee is responsible for issuing strike orders, according to which airborne nuclear strike forces of the deployed countries act to implement relevant strikes. Currently, F-16 fighters of Belgium and the Netherlands and Panavia Tornado fighters of Italy and Germany, as well asUSF-15E fighters deployed at European military bases, are designated as aircraft carrying nuclear bombs.
除英国外，美国在北约5个成员国的6个基地部署了约100多枚B61系列战术核弹。值得一提的是，美国已在意大利的两处空军基地换装最新的B61-12战术核弹。报道指出，B61-12战术核弹的研发及其在欧洲的部署，可能降低核武器使用门槛。在使用机制和权限方面，北约“核计划小组”负责为核打击任务授权，北约军事委员负责下达执行指令，各部署国的空中核打击力量依令行动。目前，比利时和荷兰的F-16战斗机、意大利和德国的“狂风”战斗机，以及美国在欧洲基地部署的F-15E战斗机被指定为核弹载机。
As the initiator of "European strategic autonomy in defense", France is also the only EU member state with nuclear deterrence capabilities. At present, it has about 300 strategic nuclear bombs and 60 tactical nuclear bombs. France's ASMP-A air-launched cruise missile features a range of more than 500 kilometers and a flight speed of up to 3,000 kilometers per hour, and is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead yield equivalent to 300,000 tons of TNT.
法国作为“欧洲防务自主”战略的倡议国，也是欧盟成员国中唯一具备核威慑能力的国家。法国拥有约300枚战略核弹和60枚战术核弹。法国的空基ASMP-A核巡航导弹射程超过500千米，飞行速度可达3000千米/小时，能够搭载30万吨当量的核弹头。
As planned by the French Navy, the latest model of the M51 submarine-launched ballistic missile series, the M51.3, will complete testing and verification before the end of this year, which is set to equip Le Triomphant-class strategic nuclear submarines by 2028. It is expected that by 2035, France's four new-generation strategic nuclear submarines will all be commissioned. According to media reports, whether it is the M51.3 missile or future new-type strike weapons, they will all have the ability to carry low-yield nuclear warheads similar to the US W76-1 submarine-launched ballistic missile.
按照法国海军规划，M51型潜射弹道导弹的最新型号M51.3将于今年底前完成测试和验证，计划在2028年前与凯旋级战略核潜艇搭配使用，预计到2035年，法国的4艘新一代战略核潜艇将全部入列。报道称，无论是M51.3型导弹，还是未来的新型打击武器，都将具备搭载类似美国W76-1潜射版低当量核弹头的能力。
With the escalation of regional bloc confrontation and the continuation of conflicts in Eastern Europe, the nuclear armament in Europe has shown a tendency to expansion.
随着地区阵营化趋势加剧和东欧冲突持续，欧洲的核军备态势出现扩大效应。
On the one hand, Poland and the Baltic countries have asked NATO to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in their territories, and countries including Germany and Italy have called for expanding the authority to use tactical nuclear weapons deployed in Europe to support the region's defense capacity building.
一方面，波兰和波罗的海国家主动要求北约在其领土上部署战术核武器；德国、意大利等国则呼吁扩大在欧洲地区部署的战术核武器的使用权限，以支持欧洲的防务建设。
On the other hand, as the F-35A fighter becomes a universal air combat platform for most European countries, these countries will have the ability to deliver tactical nuclear bombs. This will not only promote the iterative upgrading of tactical nuclear weapons technology, but also exacerbate the risk of nuclear confrontation and may spread the concept of "war economy" across Europe.
另一方面，随着F-35A战斗机成为欧洲多数国家的通用型空中作战平台，这些国家将具备战术核弹投放能力，不仅将推动战术核武技术的迭代升级，也将加剧核武对峙的风险，并可能推动“战争经济”理念在欧洲的扩散。
Analysts noted that the above-mentioned expansion effect may further lower the threshold for using nuclear weapons and even blur the definition of nuclear weapons, which has aroused public dissatisfaction in relevant countries. In fact, rallies protesting against the deployment of nuclear weapons have broken out in countries like Germany and the Netherlands.
分析人士指出，上述扩大效应可能进一步降低核武器使用门槛，甚至模糊核武的界限，已引发相关国家民众的不满，德国、荷兰等国已出现反对核武部署的集会。
