Would nuclear sharing provide a controlled tactical response?

Would joining NATO nuclear sharing let Britain respond to a tactical nuclear attack without escalating?

The argument meets the objection that other NATO members already provide a possible response, while any British capability would still need shared doctrine and certified aircraft and units.

A follow-up proposal asks whether joining nuclear sharing would let Britain answer a tactical nuclear attack without moving immediately to a larger response. The objection is that another NATO member could already provide that response in the kind of allied war being considered. A shared pool of warheads also raises the requirement for a common doctrine among participating countries. Eurofighter is suggested as a possible successor to nuclear-capable F-16s, with Britain joining a wider certification effort. Carrying a bomb is distinguished from certifying the aircraft and the units responsible for carrying, storing and servicing it. Clarke also recounts conversations with RAF and Ministry of Defence personnel who regarded buying F-35As as a threat to Tempest.