The nuclear weapons ban treaty proposed by the United Nations is “just not realistic,” Army Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti told Congress Tuesday. In testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, the commander of US forces in Europe said that North Korea’s nuclear activities are repeatedly in “violation of UN sanctions and resolutions” and that Russia is “aggressively improving their modernization of their nuclear weapons.” In such a global security environment, the US cannot consider giving up its nuclear deterrent, though he said “it’s something we would all like to see.” His comments came the day after US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley told repo?rters that the US would join nearly 40 other countries, including Britain and France, who are not attending talks on the nuclear weapons ban treaty at the UN this week.
The Air Force is spending heavily on F-22 improvements through the end of the decade, suggesting it may not retire the jet in 2030 as it previously planned. New sensors, fuel tanks, communications, and electronic warfare systems are among the upgrades that comprise the package.