The United States launches the B61-13 gravity nuclear bomb

The United States is launching the latest B61-13 gravity nuclear bomb

The American Sandia National Laboratory (SNL) has unveiled the latest gravitational nuclear bomb B61-13, the serial production of which started 7 months ahead of schedule. It was developed as part of a 2023 project by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Safety Administration.

The B61-13 is a continuation of the concept of the previous B61—7 and B61-12 models, but with updated security systems that exclude outside interference in the actuation mechanism. In addition, the B61-13 is equipped with a power-controlled warhead, which allows its power to be programmed from 10 to 360 kt.

This makes it possible to use it both against conventional targets with minimal damage, and to destroy large buried objects. The bomb will be equipped with a tail unit, which will turn it into a homing precision weapon launched from an aircraft before it enters the enemy's air defense zone. The carrier of the B61-13 will initially be the B-2 Spirit bomber. In the future, it will be replaced by the promising stealth bomber B-21 "Raider".