Pentagon: US to improve its main thermonuclear bomb B61
The United States intends to upgrade the B61 nuclear gravity bomb to the B61-13 variant – according to a Pentagon press release, RIA Novosti reports
The updated bomb will have to replace part of the B61-7 stockpile. It will have similar power with higher safety and accuracy indicators, which the most modern modification B61-12 has.
The Defence Ministry noted that the decision to modernise the projectile is not a reaction to any particular international events, but ‘reflects an assessment of the changing security situation in the world’.
The B61 bomb has been a mainstay in the US Army arsenal since 1968. Its modification – B61-12 – can be used in free-fall and adjustable modes from the B2 strategic bomber, F-15, F-16, PA-200 Tornado fighter-bombers, as well as ‘future aviation platforms F-35, B-21, F/A-18F’.
