The Department of Defense has officially announced its pursuit of a nuclear bomb, the B61-13, which is anticipated to be 24 times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima during World War II. The Pentagon’s request for congressional approval and funding to develop this modern variant of the B61 nuclear gravity bomb is driven by the changing security landscape and the evolving threats from potential adversaries.
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy, John Plumb, emphasized the United States’ responsibility to assess and field the capabilities necessary for credible deterrence and the ability to respond to strategic attacks. The B61-13 is expected to have a yield similar to the B61-7, with a maximum yield of 360 kilotons, making it significantly more potent than the historic Hiroshima bomb, which had a yield of about 15 kilotons. It would also surpass the Nagasaki bomb, which had a 25-kiloton yield.
The B61-13 will incorporate modern safety, security, and accuracy features from the B61-12. This announcement occurs against a backdrop of increased global tensions, as the U.S. conducted a high-explosive experiment at a nuclear test site in Nevada, aimed at advancing technology in support of nuclear nonproliferation goals.
The release noted that the new bomb would be deliverable by modern aircraft and would provide the President with options to strike hard and large-area military targets. If approved, the B61-13 would replace some of the existing B61-7s in the U.S. nuclear stockpile without increasing the overall number of weapons. This move is seen as a reasonable step to address the challenges posed by a dynamic security environment.
The development of the B61-13 underscores the evolving landscape of global security and the United States’ commitment to maintaining credible deterrence in the face of emerging threats.
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Source: Fox 9
