What makes the B61-12 particularly impressive is the bomb’s ability to adjust its destructive yield depending on the operational conditions and demands.
By Stavros Atlamazoglou, National Interest | March 26, 2025 nationalinterest.org
Over the past months, the U.S. Air Force added another potent weapon to its arsenal: a new nuclear bomb, having recently completed production at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The B61-12 nuclear gravity bomb achieved full system production recently and is now fully operational. The nuclear bomb is one of the most versatile munitions of its type in the world, and a useful addition to the U.S. military’s nuclear deterrent capabilities.
The B61-12’s Unique Variable Yield Design
Sandia, one of the three main research and development laboratories for nuclear munitions, completed the production of the B61-12 nuclear gravity bomb. The nuclear munition is now fully operational.
What makes the B61-12 particularly impressive is the bomb’s ability to adjust its destructive yield depending on the operational conditions and demands. Put simply, the B61-12 is four bombs in one. The nuclear munition can be adjusted to four different yields—0.3, 1.5, 10, or 50 kilotons. The difference in yields means that the B61-12 has tactical, operational, and potentially even strategic utility.
For example, a version of the B61-12 with a 0.3 kiloton yield could be used in a tactical setting to prevent the capture of a certain piece of land on the battlefield; it would annihilate a local target, but would not significantly damage the surrounding area. A version with a 1.5 kiloton yield would help achieve an operational breakthrough. And a version with a 50 kiloton yield could take out an entire enemy city. For comparison, the “Little Boy” and “Fat Man” bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki had a destructive yield of 13 and 23 kilotons, respectively.
“It’s a tremendous accomplishment,” Rich Otten, a Sandia senior manager involved in the design and production aspects of the B61-12 Life Extension Program, said in a press release. “For more than a decade, people have poured their time, effort and careers into making this a reality.”
Now that the full system production of the B61-12 is complete, the Air Force considers the munition a stockpile system that can be used operationally. Indeed, some of the munitions have already been forward-deployed to Europe, presumably to counter Russia’s threat.
“We want to take time to recognize and celebrate the last production unit,” Scott Klenke, a Sandia senior manager overseeing stockpile sustainment, said. “This is just the beginning of our efforts at Sandia to make sure the B61-12 is sustained and maintained appropriately. It’s a critical element to ensure we have a strong and viable deterrent.”
New Upgrades to an Old Bomb
The B61 first entered service with the U.S. military almost 60 years ago. Successive life extension programs have ensured that the nuclear munition remained operational. The latest program extended the service life of the gravity bomb by at least 20 years, meaning that it will not need another refit until the mid-2040s.
Thankfully, the B61 nuclear bomb has never been used in anger since entering service in 1968.
Extending the life of a nuclear munition that is almost 60 years old is not an easy feat. It requires teamwork and good coordination. In addition to Sandia, the Los Alamos national laboratories, the Kansas City National Security Campus, Pantex Plant, Y-12 National Security Complex, Savannah River Site, National Nuclear Security Agency (NNSA), and U.S. Air Force all worked together to complete the project.
About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
