The United States has started producing its new nuclear bomb – six months earlier than planned.
The B61-13 weapon has a maximum yield of 360 kilotons — this is 24 times stronger than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945.
Nuclear weapon engineers at Sandia National Laboratories have demonstrated the assembly of the B61-13 component and mentioned implementing "a rigorous series of strategies" to speed up the initiative.
They stated: "In response to a crucial challenge and immediate requirement, the B61-13 initiative employed inventive project management which led to an anticipated delivery schedule advanced by seven months, slashing over 25% off the total time needed for the initial production unit."
The B61-13 team realigned their qualification efforts, coordinated scheduled tests with representatives from the U.S. Air Force, and collaboratively fulfilled requirements alongside personnel at Los Alamos National Laboratory and the NNSA.
In 2023, when the announcement about the new bomb was made, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy John Plumb stated: "It is essential for the United States to keep evaluating and deploying the technologies required to convincingly discourage potential strategic assaults and, should it be needed, counter them effectively while also reassuring our allied nations."
The NNSA committed $92 million over four years for development, with initial production anticipated to start in fiscal year 2026.
The bomb will be capable of being deployed by strategic airplanes like the forthcoming B-21 Raider stealth bomber and potentially the retiring B-2 Spirit.