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Nuclear tension is growing.
The US Department of Defense has announced the start of development of a new version of the B61 nuclear gravity bomb, which will receive the designation B61-13. This bomb will have a similar power output to the B61-7 and will replace some of the older gravity bombs.
The decision to create a new weapon was made in connection with the changing security situation, according to the 2022 Nuclear Strategy Review. The document points out the need to modernize nuclear forces to deter major nuclear competitors.
The B61-13 will use state-of-the-art safety and accuracy systems similar to the B61-12. This will give more options for hitting large and fortified military targets, while the agency plans to disable obsolete bombs such as the B61-7 and B83-1.
A nuclear weapons expert from the Federation of American Scientists, Hans Christensen, said the new bomb will use warheads from the B61-7s of the 1980s and 1990s, but in a new casing similar to the B61-12.
Christensen also noted that the creation of this bomb is probably intended to resolve a long dispute between Democrats and Republicans regarding the fate of the old B83-1 bomb.
The maximum power of the B61-7 is 360 kilotons, while the B61-12 has 50 kilotons.
The Pentagon stressed that the creation of this bomb will not lead to an increase in the total number of nuclear weapons in the US arsenal. It is planned to reduce the production of B61-12 by the same amount as B61-13 will be produced.
If B61-13 receives approval and funding, it will be produced by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Safety Administration. The Pentagon also said that modern aircraft will be able to deliver this bomb, including the B-21 Raider stealth bomber, which is currently being developed jointly with Northrop Grumman.
B61 is a family of American thermonuclear aircraft bombs. This bomb was developed in the 1960s and has since undergone many upgrades. The B61 is one of the main elements of the US nuclear arsenal and can be carried by various types of aircraft, including tactical fighters. Currently, there are several modifications of this bomb with different power and purposes of use.
The US Department of Defense has announced the start of development of a new version of the B61 nuclear gravity bomb, which will receive the designation B61-13. This bomb will have a similar power output to the B61-7 and will replace some of the older gravity bombs.
The decision to create a new weapon was made in connection with the changing security situation, according to the 2022 Nuclear Strategy Review. The document points out the need to modernize nuclear forces to deter major nuclear competitors.
The B61-13 will use state-of-the-art safety and accuracy systems similar to the B61-12. This will give more options for hitting large and fortified military targets, while the agency plans to disable obsolete bombs such as the B61-7 and B83-1.
A nuclear weapons expert from the Federation of American Scientists, Hans Christensen, said the new bomb will use warheads from the B61-7s of the 1980s and 1990s, but in a new casing similar to the B61-12.
Christensen also noted that the creation of this bomb is probably intended to resolve a long dispute between Democrats and Republicans regarding the fate of the old B83-1 bomb.
The maximum power of the B61-7 is 360 kilotons, while the B61-12 has 50 kilotons.
The Pentagon stressed that the creation of this bomb will not lead to an increase in the total number of nuclear weapons in the US arsenal. It is planned to reduce the production of B61-12 by the same amount as B61-13 will be produced.
If B61-13 receives approval and funding, it will be produced by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Safety Administration. The Pentagon also said that modern aircraft will be able to deliver this bomb, including the B-21 Raider stealth bomber, which is currently being developed jointly with Northrop Grumman.
B61 is a family of American thermonuclear aircraft bombs. This bomb was developed in the 1960s and has since undergone many upgrades. The B61 is one of the main elements of the US nuclear arsenal and can be carried by various types of aircraft, including tactical fighters. Currently, there are several modifications of this bomb with different power and purposes of use.
