B61-12 Nuclear Bomb Life Extension Program Completed
On January 7, NNSA reported the completion of the mid-life modernization of the B61-12 nuclear bomb.
On December 18, 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) completed the Last Production Unit (LPU) of the B61-12 nuclear bomb Life Extension Program (LEP).
The B61-12 is the latest modification of the B61 family of tactical nuclear gravity bombs, which are deployed from U.S. Air Force (USAF) and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) bases. The B61 family of bombs has more than 50 years of service, making it the oldest and most versatile weapon in the U.S. nuclear weapons arsenal. The B61-12 LEP, which is critical to maintaining the U.S. aerial nuclear deterrent capability, extends the service life by at least 20 years by refurbishing, reusing or replacing all nuclear and non-nuclear components of the bomb.
“Completing the B61-12 on schedule is the latest example of what we’ve been saying for several years now: NNSA is delivering capabilities at the pace and scale needed by our Department of Defense partners and our deterrence requirements,” said Under Secretary of Energy for Nuclear Security and NNSA Administrator Jill Hruby.
The LEP modernization, initiated in 2008, will continue to ensure the safety, security and effectiveness of the bomb by consolidating and replacing the B61-3, -4, -7 and -10 variants. The B61-12 combines increased accuracy, thanks to the advanced tail kit assembly, with a significant reduction in warhead yield, which now features a new plutonium core of variable yield between 0.3 and 50 kilotons, without altering the overall military characteristics.
See also: F-35 now certified to carry tactical nuclear bombs
The Nuclear Security Enterprise, working closely with the USAF, succeeded in delivering the B61-12 LPU three years after reaching First Production Unit in November 2021, and 17 years after the start of design and development activities. NNSA program managers, along with experts from Los Alamos National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, Pantex Plant, Savannah River Site, Y-12 National Security Complex, and Kansas City National Security Campus, worked in a coordinated manner on component design, development, qualification, and production.
Now, NNSA will focus on production of the B61-13 bomb, using the capabilities established for the B61-12, with the first production unit planned for FY 2026. In addition, it is continuing six additional warhead modernization programs, modernizing production capabilities to address evolving nuclear deterrence goals.
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