As WWIII talks heat up, the Pentagon has announced plans to create a new nuclear bomb that is 24 times more powerful than the one dropped in Hiroshima during WWII.
The Department of Defense new nuclear bomb is called the B61-13 nuclear gravity bomb.
So, what’s different about it?
Besides it’s immense amount of power the gravity bomb would be dropped from a B-21 Raider stealth bomber, which is also currently in development.
As of now, the Pentagon is waiting for Congress to approve funding for the new project.
Today, the @DeptofDefense said it will pursue a modern variant of the B61 nuclear gravity bomb. Pending Congressional authorization & appropriation, it will provide the President enhanced capabilities to respond to a rapidly evolving security environment.https://t.co/MLtu4kVZud
— United States Strategic Command (@US_STRATCOM) October 27, 2023
Pentagon looks to produce nuclear gravity bomb 24 times larger than bomb dropped on Japan | Just The News https://t.co/ujsfKqPgNB
— John Solomon (@jsolomonReports) October 30, 2023
Here’s what The Daily Mail reported:
The Pentagon has announced plans for a new nuclear bomb 24 times as powerful as the one dropped on Hiroshima in 1945.
It comes days after it emerged China plans to double its arsenal of nuclear warheads to over 1,000 by 2030.
America’s proposed new B61-13 nuclear gravity bomb would be dropped from aircraft including the $692 million B-21 Raider stealth bomber, which is currently in development.
Gravity bombs are unguided but the new one would have a tail kit helping with targeting and making it more accurate.
The new weapon has to be signed off by Congress but met with immediate signs of approval from Republican hawks.
The Pentagon said: ‘The B61-13 will strengthen deterrence of adversaries and assurance of allies and partners by providing the President with additional options against certain harder and large-area military targets.’
BREAKING: The Pentagon is seeking congressional approval and funding to develop a modern variant of the B61 nuclear gravity bomb, which will be designated the B61-13. pic.twitter.com/HcNhGNkJww
— The General (@GeneralMCNews) October 30, 2023
Per The DoD:
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 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.
“Today’s announcement is reflective of a changing security environment and growing threats from potential adversaries,” said Assistant Secretary of Defense 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 would be deliverable by modern aircraft, strengthening deterrence of adversaries and assurance of allies and partners by providing the President with additional options against certain harder and large-area military targets. It would replace some of the B61-7s in the current nuclear stockpile and have a yield similar to the B61-7, which is higher than that of the B61-12.
“The B61-13 represents a reasonable step to manage the challenges of a highly dynamic security environment,” said Plumb. “While it provides us with additional flexibility, production of the B61-13 will not increase the overall number of weapons in our nuclear stockpile.”
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