In a significant demonstration of its strategic capabilities, the United States government has announced the successful completion of a series of flight tests for its upgraded B61-12 nuclear gravity bomb. The tests, which were carried out using the advanced F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter jet, took place at the Tonopah Test Range in Nevada.
Capstone Achievement in Nuclear Readiness
According to a statement from the US Department of Energy's Sandia National Laboratories cited by ANI, the critical stockpile flight tests were conducted from August 19 to 21. The operation received support from Hill Air Force Base located in Utah. Jeffrey Boyd, the surveillance lead for the B61-12 and B61-13 programs at Sandia, hailed the tests as a "capstone accomplishment" resulting from extensive planning and cross-agency effort.
Boyd further emphasized the scale of the achievement, stating, "These B61-12 stockpile flight tests represent the completion of the most B61-12 flight testing surveillance scope in a year to date and the most in a given year for the foreseeable future."
Validating Performance and Compatibility
During the trials, inert units of the B61-12 were successfully released from the F-35A aircraft. This process confirmed the end-to-end performance of the weapon system, including the aircraft, its aircrew, and the bomb itself, under realistic operational conditions. The US National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), in collaboration with Sandia, described these as the only B61-12 stockpile flight tests using joint test assemblies on the F-35 platform for the entire year.
A key highlight of the test series was the first-ever thermal preconditioning of a joint test assembly for carriage on the F-35. This process involved subjecting the bomb to extreme environmental conditions before its release, ensuring it meets the rigorous standards required for real-world deployment scenarios.
The Refurbished B61-12: A Modernized Deterrent
The B61-12 is a crucial component of the US nuclear arsenal and has recently undergone a multiyear life extension program. The NNSA completed this program in late 2024, effectively extending the weapon's service life by at least 20 years.
This comprehensive refurbishment addressed all known age-related concerns within the existing stockpile of B61 weapons. Key upgrades included:
- Improved encryption algorithms
- Modernized safety and use-control features
- Enhanced compatibility with future aircraft designs
Full-scale production of the refurbished B61-12 commenced in May, with project completion anticipated by 2026. As an advancement of the B61 nuclear gravity bomb, which has been deployed since 1968, the B61-12 ensures the continued reliability and effectiveness of this strategic deterrent for decades to come.
