Washington, DC [US], October 31 (ANI): The United States Department of Defence has introduced that it’s going to pursue a contemporary variant of the B61 nuclear gravity bomb, designated the B61-13, pending Congressional authorization and appropriation.
According to a Fox News report, the nuclear bomb is claimed to be 24 occasions extra highly effective than one of many bombs dropped on Japan throughout World War II.
“Today, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced that the United States will pursue a modern variant of the B61 nuclear gravity bomb, designated the B61-13, pending Congressional authorization and appropriation. The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) would produce the B61-13,” the Department of Defence launch mentioned.
“The decision to pursue this capability, which was undertaken in close collaboration with the NNSA, responds to the demands of a rapidly evolving security environment as described in the 2022 Nuclear Posture Review,” the assertion learn.
The B61-13 will yield equally to the B61-7, which has a most output of 360 kilotons, in line with Fox News citing the Pentagon assertion, which had a reality sheet that was included with the discharge.
The bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, throughout World War II, which was round a 15 kiloton bomb, is 24 occasions smaller than the load. Additionally, the B61-13 could be virtually 14 occasions larger than the 25-kiloton bomb that was dropped on Nagasaki.
“…announcement is reflective of a changing security environment and growing threats from potential adversaries,” mentioned Assistant Secretary of Defence for Space Policy John Plumb. “The United States has a responsibility to continue to assess and field the capabilities we need to credibly deter and, if necessary, respond to strategic attacks, and assure our allies.””The B61-13 represents a reasonable step to manage the challenges of a highly dynamic security environment,” Plumb added.
“While it provides us with additional flexibility, production of the B61-13 will not increase the overall number of weapons in our nuclear stockpile,” he famous.
According to the actual fact sheet, the highly effective new bomb can even “include the modern safety, security, and accuracy features of the B61-12,” Fox News reported.
Notably, the announcement coincides with escalating worldwide tensions following the US’ high-explosive experiment earlier this month at a nuclear check website in Nevada.
“This initiative follows several months of review and consideration. The fielding of the B61-13 is not in response to any specific current event; it reflects an ongoing assessment of a changing security environment,” the US Department of Defence added. (ANI)