The United States is developing a new more powerful nuclear bomb, the B61, to destroy heavily fortified facilities
The US Department of Defense has announced that the United States has begun developing a modern version of the B61 nuclear gravity bomb with a higher yield, designated the B61-13. The adoption of the B61-13 reflects the current assessment of the changing security situation.
The purpose of B61-13 is to provide more capabilities against particularly fortified targets, such as underground strategic command and control centers, as well as larger targets.
“The B61-13 will take advantage of current production capabilities that support the B61-12 and incorporate the B61-12’s advanced safety, security, and accuracy features,” the Pentagon said in a press release.
The B61-13 will be delivered by modern aircraft, strengthening deterrence against adversaries and reassuring allies and partners by providing the president with additional capabilities against certain more complex and larger military targets.
The B61 is a so-called “dial-a-yield” design that can be set to detonate with varying degrees of explosive force. The highest value of this version is reported to be between 340 and 360 kilotons, making it one of the most powerful versions of the B61.
“While the B61-13 will provide the President with additional capabilities against certain more complex and larger military targets, the Department of Defense will continue its work to complete and implement a comprehensive strategy to defeat hard-to-reach and deeply buried targets as outlined in the Nuclear Posture Review,” the statement said. in the Pentagon’s newsletter.
