B-61-13?
The B61-13 is a new high-yield nuclear gravity bomb variant added to the U.S. stockpile, announced in October 2023 and with the first production unit completed in May 2025 ahead of schedule. It combines the 360-kiloton warhead from the older B61-7 with the modern safety, security, and guided tail kit features of the B61-12, making it significantly more powerful than the standard B61-12.
Key Specifications and Purpose
1. Yield: Maximum yield of 360 kilotons, approximately 24 times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb, compared to the B61-12's maximum of 50 kilotons.
2. Delivery: Designed exclusively for strategic bombers like the B-2 Spirit and the upcoming B-21 Raider, and will be stored within the continental United States.
3. Strategic Goal: Intended to provide the President with additional options against hardened and large-area military targets while facilitating the retirement of the legacy B83-1 megaton bomb.
The development of the B61-13 represents a compromise to address political disagreements over retiring older high-yield weapons, with production accelerated by 25% to meet urgent national security requirements.
While the total number of nuclear bombs in the inventory remains unchanged, the B61-13 will replace some existing B61-7 units, with the number of B61-12s produced adjusted accordingly.