Alex, the tsar bomb was larger, but this is not a nuclear bomb.
ECA, you do not need air superiority to drop bombs, just the ability to get to your intended target, though the US does have superior air capabilities.
Also when you are dropping something from several thousand feet those little tail fins can make a lot of difference. You are also overestimating the ability to destroy a object in flight "which MEANS you can probably shoot ANYTHING down that takes off ANYWAY", it's really not that easy.
Finally from the story it looks like we would try to target where they make the nuclear material and not missile silos.
ECA, you do not need air superiority to drop bombs, just the ability to get to your intended target, though the US does have superior air capabilities.
Also when you are dropping something from several thousand feet those little tail fins can make a lot of difference. You are also overestimating the ability to destroy a object in flight "which MEANS you can probably shoot ANYTHING down that takes off ANYWAY", it's really not that easy.
Finally from the story it looks like we would try to target where they make the nuclear material and not missile silos.