The extent of former President Donald Trump’s plans to potentially use the United Kingdom as a nuclear launch site has come into focus.

A significant $264 million project aims to revamp a Royal Air Force base located in the English countryside. This transformation involves demolishing at least six existing structures, establishing secure intelligence facilities, safeguarding the area from potential enemy electronic pulse attacks, and deploying over 200 American personnel, as outlined in Pentagon funding documents.

This initiative signals the return of American nuclear weapons to British soil, marking the first such instance since President Barack Obama ordered their removal 17 years ago.

Despite ongoing speculation that U.S. nuclear weapons have already been stationed in the U.K., the documents clarify that this move is not expected to occur for several years.

Rumors of an early arrival gained traction on July 17 when a sizable U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft touched down at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk.

The aircraft had been tracked by flight data sites traveling 10 hours from Kirtland Air Force base in New Mexico, where America stores its nuclear arsenal.

Experts speculated that it may have been carrying B61-12 nuclear gravity bombs, each with a potential power bigger than the weapon dropped on Hiroshima in 1945.

Lakenheath is home to the U.S Air Force’s 48th Fighter Wing, known as Liberty Wing, which flies F-35A aircraft capable of being fitted with B61-12s.

However, detailed Pentagon assessments of Lakenheath’s suitability as a nuclear base, reviewed by the Daily Mail, make clear that it is far from ready.

Bizarrely, one of the reasons given was that some of those involved in the U.S. nuclear operation would not have quick access to a toilet during an Armageddon-style scenario.

A U.S. Airforce Boeing C-17A Globemaster III strategic transport plane would be involved in transporting nuclear weapons

Budget documents reveal the full scale of the plan to store U.S tactical nuclear weapons in the U.K.

The existing building that would be used as the primary command post is in ‘adequate condition but beyond its useful life,’ the documents said.

It said controllers within the ‘Emergency Action Cell’ would ‘not have direct, restricted access to a restroom’ in the current facility.

In addition, ‘cooling and air filtration’ was not good enough to support a SCIF – a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility – which is a high-security room used by the U.S. government and military to discuss extremely sensitive classified intelligence.

The Lakenheath operation is described as a ‘Surety’ mission, which is a term the Pentagon uses when discussing the security and safety of nuclear weapons and associated facilities.

The Air Force’s budget estimates for the 2026 financial year suggests $104 million will be needed for a ‘Surety command post.’

It would house facilities including a control center for Air Force Nuclear Command, Control and Communications.

The money was also needed to protect the base and surrounding area from ‘High Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse’ attacks.

‘Specific hardening measures capabilities will be required to support strategic national missions and provide protection against the collateral effects,’ the proposal says.

‘If this project is not provided, Royal Air Force Lakenheath will not be able to accommodate the Surety Beddown mission. Without a properly sized and located Primary Command Post, Command staff will not be able to implement the minimum command and control requirements at Royal Air Force Lakenheath.

President Donald Trump advocates ‘peace through strength’  

‘This limitation will impede mission capability, readiness, and contingency support to ongoing and future operations within the European area of responsibility.’

Funding figures were set out in detailed military construction program budget estimates for the 2026 fiscal year and submitted by the Air Force to Congress in June.

The U.S., rather than NATO, is expected to pay for developments at Lakenheath because it is ‘necessary to complete the project in the timeframe required by United States military commanders.’

Construction of the command post is expected to start in August 2027 and be completed by July 2031.

A separate operations compound is priced at $149 million and will involve demolishing half a dozen existing buildings and creating an armory with massively thick concrete walls, and possible storage for anti-tank weapons.

‘This project is required to provide enhanced security capabilities supporting the potential stationing of specialized weapons at Royal Air Force Lakenheath,’ the project outline said.

‘Specialized weapons surety includes materiel, personnel, and procedures, contributing to the safeguarding and reliability of specialized weapons, and to the assurance that there will be no specialized weapon accidents, incidents, unauthorized weapon detonation, or degradation in performance at the target.’

An United States Airforce F-35A jet in an ‘unrestricted climb’ at RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk

The budget also details the addition of over 200 U.S. security personnel at the base.

A current building to be used by the first security personnel is said to be in ‘deteriorated condition.’

It ‘cannot accommodate the additional weapons, ammunition, and equipment associated with the increase in manpower required for the potential Surety Beddown mission.’

The problems include asbestos, lead based paint, poor ventilation, and ‘improper sanitary sewer drainage.’

Improvements are needed to ‘accommodate the potential Surety mission beddown’ and without them, security forces personnel would not be able to implement the minimum response times, safeguarding, and assurance procedures required for specialized weapons.’

Construction of the second compound is not expected to start until 2028 and finish in 2031.

An aerial view of RAF Lakenheath which will undergo large scale renovations to accommodate the U.S. nuclear mission 

Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump met in Alaska in August

An earlier budget document described how there was ‘no permanent and comprehensive security system’ surrounding Lakenheath’s 58 aircraft shelters.

It detailed how there was no dedicated lighting, surveillance, or alarm systems installed

‘Collectively, Royal Air Force Lakenheath lacks the physical security measures needed to protect Surety assets within the

Protective Aircraft Shelters from unauthorized access, theft, damage, sabotage, or unauthorized use,’ it said.

According to the funding documents a protective barrier system will be built around 22 shelters.

However, military planners emphasized that there were ‘high cost uncertainties in the UK construction industry’ due to ‘Brexit, COVID, and Ukraine.’

Construction of the barrier system to protect the weapons storage areas was only expected to start next year and be completed in October 2029.

However, recent satellite images show building of fencing ion some of the area has already begun.

Funding documents show an additional $11 million is expected to be spent on electronic security systems, bringing the total for the nuclear mission at Lakenheath to $264 million.

B61-12 nuclear bombs, which are 12ft long and weight about 800 pounds – are a staple of the U.S. arsenal.

They are unguided ‘gravity bombs’ dropped over targets and are equipped with four fins to increase accuracy to within 30 meters of the target.

They are ‘tactical’ nuclear weapons intended for use against specific military targets, such as wiping out battlefield units or bases, rather than for leveling cities.

However, their power can still be three times the size of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

The warhead used in B61-12s has a variety of options for how much explosive power it can yield with the minimum being 0.3 kilotons and the maximum 50 kilotons

The bomb that destroyed Hiroshima in 1945 hade a yield of roughly 15 kilotons.

B61-13 nuclear weapons, similar to those the U.S. is sending to Britain

Sir Keir Starmer said the U.K, will buy nuclear capable jets from the U.S.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed this month that the U.K. is set to buy 12 F-35A fighter jets from the U.S.

The U.K. will receive its jets at the end of this decade and it will be the first time it has had an air-launched tactical nuclear weapon since 1998.

While it will own the jets, the U.S. will retain ownership of the nuclear weapons they come with.

It means the U.K. will not be able to deliver a nuclear strike with those bombs without explicit approval from Washington.

Britain’s current nuclear deterrent is entirely reliant on the sea-based Trident program.

A submarine stocked with strategic nuclear missiles is always at sea and ready to launch.