2023-11-01 17:04:38
The United States plans to further develop the B61 nuclear gravity bomb, according to a statement from the US Department of Defense. The new bomb will be 24 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima in World War II. The new weapon, called the B61-13, is designed to strengthen deterrence and the assurance of allies and partners by giving the president additional options once morest certain more difficult and large-area military targets. Gravity bombs do not contain a guidance system, so they fall uncontrollably along the ballistic trajectory due to gravity. Such bombs were in general service from World War II until the late 1980s. According to the Pentagon, development of the weapon is planned subject to authorization by Congress. The American nuclear strategy The 2022 nuclear posture review (Nuclear Posture Review, NPR) outlining the country’s current nuclear deterrence strategy and policy was detailed. The United States looks to nuclear weapons as a potential deterrent to strategic attacks. “As long as nuclear weapons exist, the primary role of American nuclear weapons is to deter nuclear attacks once morest the United States and our allies and partners. The United States would only consider using nuclear weapons under extreme circumstances.” NPR’s declarative policy states. The Russian-Ukrainian war and the latest Israel-Hamas conflict force all players in world politics to adapt and think strategically. The biggest nuclear threat to America right now is the existing nuclear bomb capability of the Russians. However, the dangers continue to increase as China recently announced plans to double its nuclear arsenal by 2030. 1. B61 thermonuclear bomb Despite the great developments, the Ministry of Defense only plans to modernize the American arsenal with the B61-13 bombs, which means replacing the B61-7 bombs that have been in stock since the end of the Cold War. There are no plans to expand the nuclear stockpile. Warheads from the nuclear arsenal are also found in several of the USA’s European allies. You can read regarding the fact that America has also installed around 100 of the current B61s in Europe in our previous article. The latest nuclear bomb The modernized version, with the same explosive power as its predecessor, is expected to differ only in that it includes new safety and protection functions, as well as new tools to improve the accuracy of the B61-13’s targeting. Older systems, including the B61-7 and B83-1, will be retired in the coming years. The Pentagon also said Sunday that the production of the B61-13 will not increase the production of weapons currently in the US stockpile, and that the number of B61-12 explosives will be proportionally reduced to facilitate the production of the new B61-13s. 2. The Latest B-21 Raider Stealth Strategic Heavy Bomber The announcement also states that modern aircraft will be able to carry and deliver this bomb. And a Pentagon spokesman said that includes the high-tech B-21 Raider stealth strategic heavy bomber under development. However, the United States currently has no plans to allow the F-35 Joint Strike fighter jets to carry the nuclear weapon.
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