Quick Hit:

The U.S. is fast-tracking production of a new nuclear gravity bomb, the B61-13, which is 24 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Officials say the accelerated timeline responds to rising global threats and will help modernize the country’s nuclear deterrent.

Key Details:

• The B61-13 is now entering production seven months ahead of schedule, with a yield of up to 360 kilotons.
• Developed by Sandia National Laboratories, it will be deployed on America’s next-generation B-21 stealth bombers.
• The bomb’s variable yield allows for flexibility in targeting while aiming to limit collateral damage.

Diving Deeper:

The United States is ramping up efforts to bolster its nuclear arsenal in response to increasing global instability. A new variable-yield gravity bomb, the B61-13, is being pushed into production well ahead of schedule amid what federal scientists describe as an “urgent” and “critical” security environment.

According to Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) in New Mexico, the B61-13 program has cut over 25% from its initial timeline. “Responding to a critical challenge and urgent need, the B61-13 program used innovative program planning that resulted in projected delivery seven months earlier than expected,” the lab announced this week.

The B61-13 is a formidable upgrade to America’s nuclear capabilities. With a maximum yield of 360 kilotons — equivalent to 361,000 tons of TNT — it dwarfs the 15-kiloton “Little Boy” bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945. Engineers say the payload can be adjusted down to 10 kilotons, offering mission flexibility while minimizing collateral damage in precision strikes.

Unlike modern guided munitions, the B61-13 is a gravity bomb, relying solely on being dropped from a plane to reach its target. But its integration with the cutting-edge B-21 Raider stealth bomber gives it new relevance on the modern battlefield, especially against “harder and large-area military targets,” according to the Department of Energy.