B61-12 is the latest variant of the B61 family of air-launched nuclear bombs (2024)

B61-12 is the latest variant of the B61 family of air-launched nuclear bombs (1)

Compatibility tests of the B61-12 bomb were conducted at Sandia’s Tonopah test range in Nevada in March 2020.

B61-12 is the latest variant of the B61 family of air-launched nuclear gravity bombs, which have been operational with the US military since 1968. The new variant is intended to improve nuclear capabilities of the US Air Force and allied nations. The bomb can be air-launched by the aircraft platforms such as B-2A, F-15E, F-16C/D, F-16 MLU, PA-200, F-35, and B-21.

The first production unit of the B61-12 nuclear bomb is expected to be completed in 2022.

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B61-12 nuclear bomb development and flight testing

The new variant development is part of the B61-12 life extension programme (LEP), which is a joint effort between the US Air Force and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).

The programme will overhaul and replace the ageing non-nuclear components such as fuses and batteries of the existing B61 bomb variants B61-3, B61-4, B61-7, and B61-10. A total of 400 bombs are expected to be refitted at an estimated cost of $7.6bn.

Scheduled to be completed by 2025, the programme will extend the B61 bomb’s service life by 20 years, while increasing safety, security and reliability.

The development engineering of the B61-12 LEP began in February 2012. The first development flight test of the bomb was conducted by F-15E Strike Eagle multirole fighter in July 2015 and the baseline design review was completed in January 2016.

The weapon entered its production engineering phase in June 2016 and its first system qualification test flight was conducted from the US Air Force’s F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft in March 2017.

Two non-nuclear system qualification flight tests of the bomb were completed in July 2018. The B61-12 non-nuclear test bomb assembly was released by a B-2A Spirit Bomber during the tests.

The B61-12 nuclear bomb completed its successful flight tests with the US Air Force’s F-15E in June 2020. It was dropped from above 25,000ft and was in the air for approximately 55 seconds before hitting the target.

B61-12 nuclear bomb design and features

The B61-12 nuclear weapon has a length of 12ft and weighs approximately 825lb. It can be fired at the target in either ballistic gravity or guided drop modes.

The weapon is based on the B61-4 warhead and boasts two main assemblies, bomb assembly, and tail kit guidance assembly. The bomb assembly comprises reused, refurbished, and the latest nuclear and non-nuclear components.

The new tail kit guidance assembly combines new guided freefall capability with the existing ballistic (unguided) delivery capability of the B61 bomb. Equipped with four manoeuvrable fins, the tail section offers high levels of accuracy and limited stand-off capability over the previous variants.

Warhead and guidance

The B61-12 air-launched tactical bomb will carry a low-yield nuclear warhead to destroy military targets with minimum collateral damage. Located in the bomb’s middle section, the warhead will have four yield options, including 0.3kt, 1.5kt, 10kt, and 50kt.

The bomb uses an inertial navigation system (INS) to achieve high kill probability, while improving the survivability of the launch platform. The weapon is expected to have an accuracy of approximately 30m.

Key players involved with B61-12 LEP development

Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories are responsible to provide design and engineering for the bomb. Los Alamos produced detonators and other classified components, while Sandia National Laboratories produced custom electronics, including neutron generators, for the bomb.

The tail kit assembly for the B61-12 bomb was developed by Boeing under a $178m contract with the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center (AFNWC), which is responsible for technical integration and system qualification of the tail kit assembly.

Kansas City National Security Campus oversees manufacturing 39 non-nuclear component assemblies covering firing, safing, and use control components.

The reproduction of components made of uranium and other materials was performed by Y-12 National Security Campus, whereas the Pantex Plant was responsible to produce high explosives, requalify B61 pit, and perform final assembly of the bomb.

The testing, evaluation and replenishment of the gas transfer system will be performed at Savannah River Site.

B61-12 is the latest variant of the B61 family of air-launched nuclear bombs (2024)

FAQs

What does B61 stand for? ›

The B61 is a tactical thermonuclear gravity bomb which can be carried aboard a variety of strategic and tactical aircraft (including the B-52 and B-2A bombers and the F-16 fighter).

What is the yield of the B61-12 bomb? ›

"The Hiroshima bomb was of about 15 kilotons – that is, of 15 thousand tonnes (or kilotons) of TNT equivalent – and that at Nagasaki was of 25 kilotons (ca. 65 and 105 GJ respectively),” according to the World Nuclear Association. According to a report, the maximum yield of the B61-12 is 50 kilotons.

What is the newest nuclear bomb in the US? ›

The U.S. Defense Department unexpectedly announced its intention to develop an additional variant of the B61 nuclear gravity bomb, to be known as the B61-13.

What are the variants of the B61 nuclear bomb? ›

The first B61-12 bomb was produced in November 2021. The weapon replaces the B61 mod 3, mod 4 and mod 7 bombs while the B61-11 will be retained in the stockpile. It is expected that the LEP will extend the B61's life by at least 20 years.

What year was the B61? ›

Numerous modifications have been made to improve the B61's safety, security, and reliability since the first B61 entered service in 1968, and four B61 variants remain in the stockpile: the 3, 4, 7, and 11.

How much does the B61-12 nuclear bomb weigh? ›

The B61-12 LEP is critical to sustaining the nation's strategic and non-strategic air-delivered nuclear deterrent capability. The B61-12 first production unit will occur in FY 2020. The bomb will be approximately 12 feet long and weigh approximately 825 pounds.

What is the most powerful bomb in the world? ›

Tsar Bomba, Soviet thermonuclear bomb that was detonated in a test over Novaya Zemlya island in the Arctic Ocean on October 30, 1961. The largest nuclear weapon ever set off, it produced the most powerful human-made explosion ever recorded.

Can F-35 carry nukes? ›

WASHINGTON — The F-35A Joint Strike Fighter has been operationally certified to carry the B61-12 thermonuclear gravity bomb, a spokesman for the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) tells Breaking Defense.

How much does a B61 nuclear bomb cost? ›

A new Energy Department assessment of the program to rebuild the B61 nuclear gravity bomb projects the cost at about $8.3 billion, but an independent department estimate identified risk factors that could lead to cost increases and schedule delays.

How likely is nuclear war? ›

We think the chance of a nuclear war in the next 100 years is something like 20–50%. Estimates of the existential risk from nuclear war within the next 100 years range from 0.005–1%. We think the existential risk from nuclear war is around 0.01%.

What is the strongest bomb the US has? ›

With its retirement, the largest bomb currently in service in the U.S. nuclear arsenal is the B83, with a maximum yield of 1.2 megatons. The B53 was replaced in the bunker-busting role by the B61 Mod 11.

What is the most advanced missile in the world? ›

The RS-28 Sarmat made its first test flight on 20 April 2022. On 16 August 2022, a state contract was signed for the manufacture and supply of the Sarmat strategic missile system. The missile officially entered operational service in September 2023, as the world's longest range and most powerful extant ICBM system.

What is a mega nuke? ›

Description. The Mega Nuke is a nuclear missile that is launched from the Nuke Silo of the Nuke Base for. 25,000,000 Cash. You can't decide to launch it on other player's bases, It only targets the city.

What aircraft carry B61? ›

F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters will now be considered “dual-capable” platforms useable in both conventional and nuclear warfare. The U.S. Air Force's F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters are now certified for delivery of B61-12 nuclear gravity bombs—and, in fact, have been since October 12, 2023.

What is the most powerful bomb that is not nuclear? ›

The MOAB is the most powerful conventional bomb ever used in combat as measured by the weight of its explosive material.

What does the H bomb stand for? ›

Thermonuclear weapons, sometimes referred to as Hydrogen, or “H-bombs,” utilize both atomic fission and nuclear fusion to create an explosion.

What does the B in B 29 stand for? ›

Ex: B-29 is a bomber.

What is the largest nuclear weapon in the United States Arsenal called? ›

With its retirement, the largest bomb currently in service in the U.S. nuclear arsenal is the B83, with a maximum yield of 1.2 megatons.

What does JDAM missile stand for? ›

The Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) is a guidance kit that converts unguided bombs, or "dumb bombs", into all-weather precision-guided munitions (PGMs).

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