British fighter jets 'to carry nuclear bombs for first time' over Russia threat

British fighter jets could soon carry bombs for the first time in history as the threat from mounts. The UK government is reportedly in talks to purchase jets with the ability to fire weapons, stepping up its deterrents against and its increasing hostility.

This weapons move could be the biggest progression in the UK's nuclear deterrents since the . The aircraft the government has allegedly set its eyes on are American-made fighter jets that are able to launch gravity bombs, which use up less power and energy than standard nukes and are more popular with the .

Defence Secretary John Healey and the head of the , Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, are looking to grow the UK's military capability by purchasing these jets. Sir has reportedly also thrown his support behind the idea.

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Talks with the Pentagon over purchasing these combat aircrafts are believed to have taken place, according to . The government has not confirmed these talks but Healey said the UK had to adjust for the "new era of threat" posed to the country.

He told The Sunday Times: "The is definitely becoming more dangerous. Nuclear risks are rising. We face now, for the first time since the end of the Cold War, seriously increasing risks of state-on-state conflict."

These combat jets could work with the B61, which is a nuclear air-dropped bomb used by the US. The slim and long bomb can slot under fighter jets and be dropped when needed, rather than launched like a missile.

This potentially imminent nuclear military development comes after issued a series of threats to the UK in recent weeks. Russia has reportedly put together a secret list of places on dictator Putin's "hit list", supposedly including several UK towns and cities.

revealed Russia's nuclear hit list has 32 targets across NATO, including a shipyard in Cumbria, a factory in Hull and a site near Edinburgh. Russia's main target was said to be the Royal Navy's nuclear submarine shipyard at Barrow-in-Furness.

Another report suggested other potential locations on the list include Aldershot, Colchester, Portsmouth, Chatham, Tidworth and Salisbury. Putin has previously threatened the UK and other countries but has failed to follow through on any attacks, other than on .

Despite this, the threats and hostility from Moscow have continued to grow. One of Putin's mouthpieces recently said Russia should in a chilling threat.

Sergei Karaganov, one of the dictator's leading military experts, said Britain "won't exist" following a nuclear attack. Karaganov added: "We need to strengthen nuclear deterrence by any means."