The US has completed a qualification flight test of the newest modification of the B61, part of a life-extension program that has been described as the most ambitious nuclear warhead refurbishment in history.
The Air Force carried out the non-nuclear test along with the Department of Energy in early June in Nevada, according to a press release published Friday.
“These qualification flight tests demonstrate the B61-12 design meets system requirements and illustrate the continued progress of the B61-12 life extension program to meet national security requirements” said Brigadier General Michael Lutton, an official with the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
“The tests involved releasing a B61-12 non-nuclear test assembly, which includes the NNSA designed bomb assembly and US Air Force acquired tail-kit, from a B-2A Spirit Bomber operated by the 419th Test & Evaluation Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base in California,” the statement said.
The tests are the first such end-to-end qualification tests on a B-2A Spirit Bomber for the new modification.
The B61-12 will consolidate and replace the existing B61 bomb variants in the nuclear stockpile, according the NNSA, with the first production unit on schedule for completion in 2020.
This round of tests is part of efforts to demonstrate the B-2 bombers capacity to deliver the weapon.
An initiative to integrate the B61-12 into the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jet is also ongoing, and the B61-12 conducted its third and final development test flight on F-15E in 2015, according to Military.com.
Mr Young you are right in some other way, but it is not only the US which is doing that thing. In 2015 until this year, all countries in the world spend more money on thier defense and thier military. The US has many allied countries in the five continent of the world which are all relying on USA for defense in case of external invasion or war. All those countries are all with in the US shoulders.
Fear sells, frighteningly well.
How about the tsekwang? Bully, so be ready young. You won’t reach your adulthood.
It beats being conquered and sublimated to other idiot Powers who do not know how to live correctly!
What price freedom?
Another step towards human destruction.
Jairo Fishfarms Your words are reflective of your personality. You can convince politely. Cursing some one whosoever he is, is neither justified nor serves the purpose.
My friends, even if the US will not develop this weapons, others will do, so for me its better that this advance weapons be owned by countries who can handle them better meaning who follow rules and laws of modern times. We really need somebody to police the world now adays who dont overlap their territories from their own…. Everybody owns this world so share it equally!!!
Spies and Intelligence Officers commenting … He he he he …
It’s easier to say teach … You cannot teach China, Russia, USA, even your friends. You cannot teach them.
that is why the US army is the most battle tested in the world..The PLA is zero.
sorry they dont police the modern world they make caos and then come in killing innocent civilians look wat happen to syria and iraq..US will just run away wen they cant solve the problem let them handle their country and let US let handle there country….
look on the other side, russia, china, iran, north korea…