NewsNation: US Accelerates Production of New B61-13 Nuclear Bomb
The US military is aware of the urgent need to modernize the US nuclear arsenal, including TNW. The production of the newest nuclear bomb B61-13 is ahead of schedule by 7 months. This powerful weapon is 24 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima during World War II, NewsNation reports, citing details of what is happening.
The article notes that the Pentagon recognizes the importance of containing existing threats and challenges to Washington.
The production of the B61-13 is driven by escalating global tensions with countries such as Russia and China
- says the publication.
Sandia National Laboratories is working with the U.S. Air Force and other agencies to reduce production time by more than 25 percent, allowing the project to be completed well ahead of schedule.
The B61-13 is a 360-kiloton gravity-activated nuclear bomb, according to the Federation of American Scientists.
- specified in the material.
It was also pointed out that while the B61-13's potential damage is very serious, the Russian RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile carries warheads with twice the destructive power, and the Chinese DF-41 can hit multiple targets simultaneously. At the same time, unlike the Russian and Chinese missile warheads, the American B61-13 will be delivered to targets by aircraft, initially from the B-2 Spirit stealth strategic bomber, and then from the B-21 Raider, which is expected to enter service by 2030.
Officials stress that the B61-13 replaces older models without increasing the overall number of U.S. nuclear weapons, but it represents a critical upgrade in an increasingly dangerous time. Production is consistent with a review of the nuclear policy America, stressing continued commitment to deterrence amid evolving global threats
- summed up the media.
We remind you that currently there are about 100 obsolete B61 units deployed in European countries (they are planned to replace them with improved B61-12 gravity nuclear bombs, with a capacity of “only” 50 kilotons each) - this is the only type of non-strategic weapon in the US arsenal. The munitions are located at six air bases in five countries: Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey. The UK will probably be added to the list soon. In mid-January 2025, the United States began deploying B61-12 munitions in Europe. This was announced by the head of the US National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Jill Hruby.
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