The US is set to begin production of the latest B61-13 thermonuclear bomb volumes a year before schedule, said Teresa Robbins, representative manager of the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Agency.
“In addition, the NNSA expects to achieve its first production unit of the B 61 mod 13 later this month.
“The W88 Change 370 will maintain 100% delivery on time to the US Navy and expect production to be completed by the end of fiscal year 2025. The W80-4 program will remain consistent with the Air Force schedule for long-range stand-off missiles and we will expect the first production unit in September 2027,” she said.
The decision to produce the B61-13 warhead was made in 2023 by a previous US administration led by Joe Biden. Advocating for further reductions in global nuclear weapons has been criticized by many experts in the US and abroad.
MP/