Congress is planning to restore nuclear weapon capabilities on 30 B-52H Stratofortress bombers following the expiration of the New START arms control treaty with Russia in 2026. Lawmakers are pushing for the restoration due to concerns about Russia’s suspension of the treaty and China’s expanding strategic warhead production. The House and Senate defense bills for fiscal 2025 include provisions requiring the bombers to be part of the nuclear triad once again.
Opponents of the measure argue that it will complicate negotiations for a new treaty and hinder efforts to extend the lifespan of the B-52 bomber fleet. The Senate Armed Services Committee voted 22-3 to advance its bill with a similar provision directing the restoration of nuclear capabilities across the entire B-52 fleet. The Air Force’s 76 B-52s are the oldest bombers in its fleet and have been in service since the early 1960s.
Pranay Vaddi, President Joe Biden’s arms control adviser, stated that the United States has reached out to Russia about negotiating a follow-on agreement to New START, but Russia has been unwilling to engage. The U.S. currently deploys about 1,770 strategic nuclear warheads, while Russia deploys around 1,822. China has around 500 operational warheads and is expected to reach 1,500 by 2035.
Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, believes that measures in the defense bill could make negotiating a follow-up treaty with Russia more difficult and unnecessary. Sen. Deb Fischer’s provision in the Senate defense bill would require a plan to develop an additional 50 Sentinel Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, on top of the 400 ICBMs already deployed. Maintaining bombers that can be re-equipped with appropriate nuclear weapons components serves as a hedge against future uncertainties in the current geopolitical landscape.
