The B61-12 nuclear bomb was certified on an F-15E in June 2020. (DVIDS/Santos Torres).
WASHINGTON: America’s newest nuclear bomb warhead has entered production.
The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) on Thursday announced that it had completed the first production unit of the B61-12, an updated version of the warhead used on weapons dropped from fighters and bombers.
The NNSA is a semi-autonomous agency located within the Department of Energy. While the Defense Department has oversight of developing the delivery systems for America’s nuclear arsenal — the planes, ships and missiles — the NNSA is in charge of producing the actual nuclear payload.
Currently there are four B61 variants in the nuclear stockpile: the 3, 4, 7, and 11. The B61-12 design will replace all four of those. While not technically a “new” warhead, the design replaces or refurbishes all the bomb’s nuclear and non-nuclear parts. The upgraded variant will be carried by America’s F-15, F-16 and B-2 aircraft, as well as on aircraft for NATO member nations.
The NNSA anticipates full-scale production starting in May 2022, with production completed sometime in fiscal 2026. The total cost of the program is estimated [PDF] to be $8.4 billion.
The agency is involved in a total overhaul of America’s nuclear warhead stockpile. The B61-12 represents the second warhead to have its first production unit roll out in the last six months. In July, the W88 Alt 370, used on Trident II D5 submarine launched missile, entered production. Both designs were delayed because of an issue with off-the-shelf electrode capacitors used in both warheads.
Other first production unit timelines for the modernized arsenal are slated as fiscal 2025 for the W80-4 cruise missile warhead and FY30 for the W87-1 ICBM warhead.
“With this [B61-12] program, we’re delivering a system to the Department of Defense that improves accuracy and reduces yield with no change in military characteristics, while also improving safety, security and reliability,” NNSA administrator Jill Hruby said in a statement. “The work on the B61-12 will also ensure the warhead can be air-delivered on both current and future platforms to meet Department of Defense requirements.”
