The capacity of B61–13 is 360 kiloton – this is one of the most powerful warheads in the US nuclear arsenal, the report said.
In May, the US Minister of Energy Chris Wright said that the NNSA completed the production of the first B61–13 serial bomb, the last modification of the B61 nuclear weapon family, and noted that “the modernization of the nuclear arsenal of America is important” for the implementation of the US President Donald Trump – “Peace through force”.
NNSA noted that B61–13 bombs “provide the US President with additional opportunities to defeat more complex and greater military goals.”
The production process of modernized nuclear bombs is planned to be completed in 2027, the press service writes. It is noted that the cost of each is estimated at approximately $ 30 million. Warling modifications are carried out in six NNSA centers, the final assembly of air bombs is carried out at Pantex Plant enterprises in the city of Amarillo (Texas), the national science notes.
In the modified version, the plutonium core of the combat part is replaced, and the air bomb is equipped with a new tail, which makes it controlled and more accurate, which allows you not to lower it with a parachute, but to discard the charge from an airplane flying at a considerable height, after which the bomb is autonomously planning a goal for many kilometers, if necessary, adjusting the course to the target, the agency notes.
These nuclear bombs, the weight of which reaches 320 kg and which will be stored in the United States, plan to equip the B-2 strategic bombers and developed by the B-21, said NNSA.
According to the US military, the production of B61-13 bombs will not lead to an increase in the total number of nuclear bombs in the American arsenal, only the old options will be replaced. According to experts of the Federation of American scientists, since the actual number of goals that need to be used by such a powerful nuclear bomb is small, it is likely that the number of B61–13 made is quite limited – approximately 50 units.
Context
In the world, nuclear weapons have nine states-the USA, an aggressor country of Russia, Great Britain, France, China, India, Pakistan, Severn Korea and Israel. Almost 90% of the total nuclear weapons – in the Russian Federation (5580 nuclear warheads) and the USA (3748 warheads).
