Latest news with #B61-13
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Sandia Labs help complete new gravity bomb a year ahead of schedule
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) — Sandia National Labs is marking a major milestone for the US nuclear security enterprise, and they're doing so earlier than expected. The first production unit of the B61-13 is officially complete about a year ahead of schedule. Story continues below New Mexico News Insiders: The Crew Behind Swift Water & Arroyo Rescues Film: These productions were filmed at Rail Yards. Have you seen them? Trending: New video shows fight before teen was shot and killed in Albuquerque News: VIDEO: Canoeing accident in northern NM leads to dramatic rescue operation Sandia says they served as the lead system integrator and the design agency for the unit's non-nuclear components. Scientists say the newly completed bomb that relies on gravity to reach its target comes with increased yield compared to its previous version. In May, Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright 'diamond stamped' the B61-13, signifying the unit's readiness for deployment to the US nuclear stockpile. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Pantex completes first B61-13 nuclear bomb unit after B61-12 finale
Just four months after finalizing production on the B61-12, the Pantex Plant has completed the first production unit (FPU) of the B61-13 nuclear gravity bomb, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announced this week. The milestone, achieved in partnership with PanTeXas Deterrence LLC, marks the latest advance in the United States' nuclear modernization efforts. "In this geopolitical environment, the Nuclear Security Enterprise performs work that saves the world every day,' said Jason Armstrong, manager of the NNSA's Pantex Field Office. 'Through meticulous planning, strong partnerships, and exceptional execution, Pantex and the rest of the enterprise continue to fulfill our mission of protecting America and its allies to help ensure global security.' The B61 nuclear bomb has been in service since 1968. Over the past decade, it underwent an extensive Life Extension Program (LEP) to replace aging components and extend its service life by at least 20 years. That effort culminated in the B61-12, the largest weapons modification ever executed by the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE). Now, the B61-13 builds on that groundwork with updated features and streamlined production processes. 'The FPU is just the start,' said Kelly Beierschmitt, president and general manager of Pantex. 'With every unit comes progress and an enhanced ability for the NSE to deliver if or when the need arises. We do this work to protect our nation, our families, and our communities.' According to Pantex Program Manager Taylor Massey, the B61-13 was developed using a phased approach, allowing engineers to move quickly from design to testing and assembly by leveraging the established design of the B61-12. 'Modernization programs typically follow a detailed product realization process,' Massey said. 'We tailored our approach to accelerate readiness, developing procedures, tooling and testers that allowed us to produce an FPU within a year.' Six NNSA sites contributed to the development and production of the B61-13: Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Kansas City National Security Campus, Y-12 National Security Complex, Savannah River Site, and Pantex. The program reached full authorization in March and is scheduled to enter full-scale production this summer, with completion targeted for fiscal year 2027. 'There are over 200 parts involved in a single unit of the B61-13,' said Mickey Brown, B61 technical lead at Pantex. 'Almost all of those parts are produced by external partners within the NSE, then shipped to us for final assembly.' Massey added that the team's ability to meet aggressive timelines underscores Pantex's capacity for agility and performance. 'Following NNSA guidance to be more agile and flexible has shown we can meet designated production targets,' he said. 'That flexibility extends across everything from engineering and safety evaluations to the technicians on the floor meeting demanding schedules.' This achievement, Massey said, demonstrates that Pantex remains at the forefront of the nation's nuclear production efforts, driven by a skilled and collaborative workforce dedicated to national defense. This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Pantex finishes first B61-13 nuclear gravity bomb, begins new production phase
Miami Herald
21-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
US announces $175 billion ‘Golden Dome' missile defense shield
By Dean Murray Donald Trump has announced the $175 billion "Golden Dome" missile defense system, a space- and ground-based shield intended to intercept missiles fired at the United States from anywhere in the world. The system, inspired by Israel's Iron Dome but vastly larger in scale, will combine ground and space-based sensors and interceptors, marking the first time the U.S. would deploy weapons in space. The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) released an unclassified assessment titled "Golden Dome for America: Current and Future Missile Threats to the U.S. Homeland" on May 13. Depicting threats a sophisticated missile defense system for the United States would defend against, the DIA said "the product presents the agency's unclassified intelligence on adversary missile threats and capabilities." The document profiles the missile threat and inventories in six categories: intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, two types of hypersonic weapons, land attack cruise missiles, and fractional orbital bombardment systems. The DIA said: "In the coming decade, missile threats to the U.S. Homeland from more advanced conventional- and nuclear-capable delivery systems will expand in scale and sophistication." During a press conference on Tuesday (May 20), President Trump said the Golden Dome system would be operational within three years, before the end of his term, and appointed Gen. Michael Guetlein, vice chief of space operations, to lead the project. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said in a statement: "The Golden Dome will progressively protect our nation from aerial attacks from any foe. Within the last four decades, our adversaries have developed more advanced and lethal long-range weapons than ever before, including ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles capable of striking the homeland with either conventional or nuclear warheads. "Golden Dome is designed to leverage some past investments but will also use next-generation technology to defend against the evolving and complex threat landscape." Major defense and technology firms, including SpaceX, are competing for contracts, with the administration already allocating $25 billion in the next defense budget. It comes in the week, the United States announced it completed its new nuclear bomb, nearly a year ahead of schedule. The B61-13 weapon features a maximum yield of 360 kilotons - 24 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945. The first unit was unveiled on Monday (May) in Amarillo, Texas, by U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. The post US announces $175 billion 'Golden Dome' missile defense shield appeared first on Talker. Copyright Talker News. All Rights Reserved.
Miami Herald
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
US completes new nuclear bomb year ahead of schedule
By Dean Murray The United States has completed its new nuclear bomb, nearly a year ahead of schedule. The B61-13 weapon features a maximum yield of 360 kilotons - 24 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945. The first unit was unveiled on Monday (May 19) in Amarillo, Texas, by U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. He said: "Modernising America's nuclear stockpile is essential to delivering President Trump's peace through strength agenda. "The remarkable speed of the B61-13's production is a testament to the ingenuity of our scientists and engineers and the urgency we face to fortify deterrence in a volatile new age. "This achievement signals American strength to our adversaries and allies alike." The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) said: "The B61-13 will provide the President with additional nuclear options against certain harder and large-area military targets; separately, the Department of Defense will coordinate with NNSA to complete and implement a comprehensive strategy for the defeat of hard and deeply buried targets." The B61-13 is one of the most rapidly developed and fielded weapons since the Cold War. The NNSA allocated $92 million over four years for development, with original production expected to begin in fiscal year 2026. The bomb will be deployable by strategic aircraft such as the upcoming B-21 Raider stealth bomber and possibly the retiring B-2 Spirit. The post US completes new nuclear bomb year ahead of schedule appeared first on Talker. Copyright Talker News. All Rights Reserved.
Newsweek
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
What Is B61-13? US Unveils New Nuclear Gravity Bomb Ahead of Schedule
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The U.S. has completed the assembly of its new-generation B61-13 nuclear aerial bomb nearly a year ahead of schedule, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced. The B61-13 is the latest variant of the Cold War-era B61 gravity bomb, featuring a higher maximum yield than its predecessor, the B61-12. Proposed in 2023 during the Biden administration, the upgrade is part of the Pentagon's broader push to modernize the nation's aging nuclear arsenal. Why It Matters Secretary of Energy Chris Wright hailed the achievement, saying it signals to Washington's adversaries that the U.S. is ready to confront today's global challenges from a position of strength and security. What To Know The B61-13 is a tactical guided bomb designed to destroy hardened, deeply buried military targets. It is part of the B61 series, a key part of the existing U.S. stockpile, designed to be air-dropped and detonated at or near the target. The bomb can only be delivered by strategic bomber aircraft, with deployment planned from bases within the continental U.S, the DOE said. Assembly of the first unit of the B61-13 was completed almost a year ahead of target, and less than two years after the program was first announced, making it "one of the most rapidly developed and fielded weapons since the Cold War," the DOE said. The B61-13 incorporates the safety, security, and accuracy features of the B61-12 but with a higher yield "oriented to the defeat of certain harder and large-area military targets." "The B61-13 will provide the President with additional nuclear options against certain harder and large-area military targets; separately, the Department of Defense will coordinate with NNSA to complete and implement a comprehensive strategy for the defeat of hard and deeply buried targets," the DOE said. In 2023, the Pentagon said the weapon would "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." The B61-13 would have an explosive yield comparable to the B61-7 variant, which has maximum yield of 360 kilotons—more than 22 times the explosive force of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima during Word War II. However, it still falls short of the nation's most powerful nuclear weapon, the 1.2-megaton B83, Newsweek previously reported. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said in a statement that modernizing America's nuclear stockpile "is essential to delivering President Trump's peace through strength agenda." "The remarkable speed of the B61-13's production is a testament to the ingenuity of our scientists and engineers and the urgency we face to fortify deterrence in a volatile new age," he added. What People Are Saying Representative Ronny Jackson, a Texas Republican, said on X (formerly Twitter): "It's a privilege to represent Amarillo, home to the Pantex Plant, in Congress. "Under President Trump, we're strengthening America's nuclear arsenal. I'm glad the B61-13 Life Extension Program is ahead of schedule—despite the Biden administration's attempt to cut hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for Pantex! "Thanks to Energy Secretary Chris Wright for helping stamp the first production unit!" U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said on X: "It was my honor today to stamp the first completed B61-13 unit at the @PantexPlant! This achievement signals to our adversaries and allies alike that the U.S. is prepared to meet the challenges of today's environment from a position of strength and security." The DOE's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) said on X: "NNSA has completed the First Production Unit of the B61-13 nuclear gravity bomb @PantexPlant. This is a major accomplishment for stockpile modernization. Thanks to the entire NNSA team who worked to achieve this milestone nearly a year ahead of schedule." What Happens Next The DOE's NNSA is working on six other warhead modernization programs "to ensure the reliability and effectiveness of the nuclear stockpile."
