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U.S. Completes $9B B61-12 Nuclear Bomb Upgrade, Prepares for B61-13 Production

Jan 9, 2025, 01:00 PM

The United States has completed the $9 billion upgrade of its B61-12 nuclear gravity bombs, marking a significant milestone in the modernization of the country's nuclear arsenal. The B61-12 Life Extension Program, which began 17 years ago, consolidates and modernizes older variants, including the B61-3, -4, -7, and -10. The upgraded bomb features enhanced safety, security, and accuracy, with a new precision-guidance tail kit assembly. The modifications extend the bomb's service life by at least 20 years while maintaining its role in U.S. and NATO nuclear deterrence. The final production unit was completed on December 18, 2024, and the announcement was made in January 2025. Pantex played a key role in the production process. The B61-12 has a variable yield range of 0.3 to 50 kilotons and can be deployed on various aircraft, including the F-35A, F-15E, B-2 Spirit, and others. The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is now shifting focus to the production of the B61-13, a higher-yield variant with a yield of up to 360 kilotons, designed to address evolving strategic threats. The B61-11, a specialized bunker-busting variant, remains operational but lacks a replacement program. The B61 family, in service for over 50 years, is the oldest and most versatile in the U.S. nuclear arsenal.