New B61-13 Nuclear Bomb Holds Deeply “Buried” Targets At Risk
Department of Energy has completed the first B61-13 gravity bomb
Kris Osborn · May 22, 2025
B61-Mod 13
Many nuclear nations have likely built and buried heavily fortified bunkers, weapons, living areas and command and control centers beneath the surface of the earth, for the specific purpose of enabling a certain population to “survive” a massive global nuclear war. How fortified are these bunkers and, are there weapons which could now hold them at risk. The answer is likely unavailable for security reasons, yet the Department of Energy and Pentagon do continue to modernize nuclear weapons for the purpose of strengthening the United States’ overall deterrence posture.
Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) has completed the manufacture of the first B61-13 gravity bomb, a major technological, tactical and strategic step forward for the Pentagon’s strategic deterrence posture. An interesting essay from the DOE’s NNSA explains how the development and production was successfully completed ahead of schedule to ensure the nuclear arsenal remains as technological advanced and capable as possible.
As a classic air-dropped nuclear bomb, the B-61 has existed for decades, as a weapon that can arm the B-52 and B-2 air platforms; the B-61 Mod 12 is also slated to arm the Air Force’s F-35A as well, a move which brings strategic and tactical nuclear deterrence posture. The B61-13 is especially configured to destroy deeply buried and hardened targets, a capability which can hold additional, previously unreachable targets at risk.
https://warriormaven.com/global-security/new-b61-13-nuclear-bomb-holds-buried-targets-at-risk
