Armed Ministry of Defence police on patrol outside Lakenheath air base on 24 July 2025. Image: Nukewatch UK.
Following a delivery of nuclear weapons to Lakenheath US air base in Suffolk on 17-18 July 2025, a second Prime Nuclear Airlift force flew to Lakenheath on 24-25 July to delivery a high priority hazardous cargo.
The mission in many ways replicated the previous week’s delivery, with the same aircraft used to delivery the cargo to Lakenheath; a similar schedule; and another spare aircraft on standby at Ramstein US base in Germany. During the primary mission a C-17 aircraft from 62nd Airlift Wing flew to Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico, where it loaded a cargo on Pad 5 – the section of the airbase designated for handing hazardous cargoes. The aircraft then flew on to Lakenheath to deliver its cargo, remaining there overnight before returning directly to its home base at McChord Air Force Base in Washington state. Please see below for flight details.
Nukewatch was again able to observe the delivery and unloading at Lakenheath on 24 July, although as a result of poor weather and visibility our deductions are qualified. On this occasion, unlike the previous delivery to Lakenheath, armed Ministry of Defence police were on patrol around the outside of the base. The aircraft again unloaded on the Victor Ramp hazardous cargo area. Static security vehicle pickets were located inside the base fence, but in fewer numbers when compared with the previous week, and not in a pronounced semi-circle around the aircraft as before.
US Air Force C-17 aircraft 08-8200 taxiing towards Victor Ramp at Lakenheath air base on 24 July 2025. Image: Nukewatch UK.
The aircraft unloading procedure took around two hours, following a period of around one hour after the aircraft landed while it taxied to the ramp and personnel and vehicles assembled before unloading began in earnest. Unloading operations appeared to follow a different format to the previous week. Loads appeared to have been transferred from the aircraft by four to six small convoys consisting of two or three larger vehicles (different to those observed last week) accompanied by a smaller vehicle. A separate vehicle / vehicles regularly shuttled between the aircraft and unloading vehicles throughout the unloading operation.
On the second day (Friday 25 July) security arrangements at the base and around the aircraft were noticeably more relaxed. Activities continued around the aircraft, including possibly some unloading or loading, and also refuelling before the aircraft departed early in the afternoon.
Nukewatch concludes the following:
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A high security unloading operation for hazardous materials took place at Lakenheath.
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The operation seemed to follow slightly different procedures to the one observed the previous week.
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Nevertheless, the degree of security and general circumstances of the flight seem to indicate that a nuclear-related load was probably delivered in the aircraft. This may have been components and equipment related to nuclear weapons, or possibly weapons themselves.
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Between four to six loads seemed to be transported away from the aircraft in small convoys to a location on the airbase nearby.
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Assuming two or three transporting vehicles in each convoy, and each convoy carried one nuclear bomb, this suggests that between around 8 and 18 ‘units’ of cargo were delivered by this flight.
Flight schedules
(all times British Summer Time)
Main aircraft: C-17 08-8200, flight number RCH4574
Tuesday 22 July:
15.45: Departure from McChord Air Force Base.
18:14: Arrival at Kirtland Air Force Base and cargo loading.
Wednesday 23 July:
23:48: Departure from Kirtland Air Force Base followed by refuelling over West Atlantic.
Thursday 24 July:
10:08: Arrival at Lakenheath Air Base and cargo unloading.
Friday 25 July:
13:39: Departure from Lakenheath Air Base.
23:54: Arrival at McChord Air Force Base.
Standby aircraft: C-17 09-9211, flight number RCH4134
22 July 2025:
22.03: Departure from McChord Air Force Base.
23 July 2024:
08:03: Arrival at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
24 July 2025:
15:45: Departure from Ramstein Air Base.
25 July 2025:
02:23: Arrival at McChord AFB.
Images
Flight path of C-17 08-8200 across the UK on Thursday 24 July. Image: Screengrab from ADS-B Exchange.
Personnel and vehicles mustering around the aircraft before unloading on 24 July 2025. Image: Nukewatch UK.
Vehicles unloading aircraft on 24 July 2025. Image: Nukewatch UK.
Security vehicle on patrol at Lakenheath air base, 24 July 2025. Image: Nukewatch UK.
