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9h ago

First B61-13 Nuclear Bomb Completed Ahead of Schedule

The United States accelerates nuclear modernization with the B61-13, a high-yield gravity bomb exclusively for strategic bombers, while maintaining stockpile parity.

Leaders from across the Nuclear Security Enterprise join Secretary Wright to celebrate the completion of the first B61-13 unit.
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Overview

  • The Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) confirmed the completion of the first B61-13 gravity bomb on May 19, nearly a year ahead of schedule.
  • The B61-13 combines the 360-kiloton yield of the Cold War-era B61-7 with modern safety and precision-guidance systems from the B61-12.
  • Designed for deployment on B-2 Spirit and future B-21 Raider bombers, the bomb enhances U.S. capabilities against hardened and underground targets.
  • Production of the B61-13 will not increase the overall U.S. nuclear stockpile, as it is offset by reduced output of the B61-12.
  • While the bomb strengthens deterrence, concerns remain over its gravity-based delivery method, which limits standoff capability and raises risks for launch aircraft.