The US has completed a $9 billion plan to upgrade its B61 nuclear air-dropped gravity bombs to the latest variant, known as the B61-12, The Defense Post reported on Wednesday.
Under NATO’s nuclear sharing program, the US has B61 bombs deployed to US Air Force bases as well as bases in European NATO countries. Under NATO’s nuclear sharing program, B61 bombs are deployed in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, and Turkey.
POLITICO reported back in 2022 that the US had accelerated the upgrade of the B61 bombs in Europe amid heightened tensions with Russia.
The Energy Department’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) said in a press release on Tuesday that the “B61-12 Life Extension Program” was completed on December 18, 2024. The NNSA said the upgrade “extends the service life by at least 20 years through refurbishing, reusing, or replacing all the bomb’s nuclear and non-nuclear components.”
The B61-12 is said to be lighter and more accurate than the previous variant. “The B61 family of bombs has over 50 years of service, making it the oldest and most versatile weapon in the enduring US nuclear weapon stockpile,” the NNSA said.
The upgrade of the B61 is part of the US’s modernization of its nuclear triad, a project that has a huge price tag. According to Arms Control Today, the NNSA will spend an estimated $650 billion over the next 25 years, and modernizing all of the US’s nuclear forces will cost a total of $1.5 trillion.
The US is already in the process of developing its next B61 variant, the B61-13. “With production of the B61-12 LEP now complete, NNSA will transition to producing the B61-13 bomb, which will leverage the current, established production capabilities supporting the B61-12,” the NNSA said.
I'm European and I'd much rather have a de-nuclearized (and de-NATO-ized) Europe. Definitely one without foreign weapon stockpiles and foreign troops at every other corner.
So you want to separate from your history?
You cannot separate from History: for what they were we are, for what we are they will be. What do you even mean? England has always tried to destroy any semblance of European unity, now it's the USA, that's our history, one of oppression by the English for their own benefit.
The ultimate terrorist weapon is aimed at innocent civilians as well s military.
It doesn't mention the base in Israel. Did they upgrade Israel's B61 's ?
Not hard to guess this one.
Close only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades, and…. Wait a minute it doesn't matter even a little that these nukes are more accurate. A trillion bucks or so would be better spent paying a million people to bury fiber optic cables digging with only teaspoons and toothbrushes. Good exercise, careful archeology.
Yay!! Thanks for fixing roads and bridges, fixing homelessness and healthcare…wait.
!!!
"Under NATO’s nuclear sharing program, B61 bombs are deployed in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, and Turkey."
Truly insane to have American nuclear weapons in the hands of other countries NO matter who they are!
According to Arms Control Today, the NNSA will spend an estimated $650 billion over the next 25 years, and modernizing all of the US’s nuclear forces will cost a total of $1.5 trillion.
US Taxpayer should wake up to this massive 1.5 trillion spending over the next 25 year and protest to US government… US hegemony will Not last 25 years…! So they're spending money for Nothing…!
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ed9655905fc1c88b0473f78e8115a459df4ed923d86426f93e73d7dffa3ec8c9.jpg times change!??!
https://www.rt.com/business/610603-jim-rogers-russian-economic-boom/
Jim Rogers?
THe same Jim Rogers who predicts an economic crash every other week?
The same Jim Rogers like 5 people have heard of?
The same Jim Rogers who makes wildly inaccurate claims (See point 1)
More graft and corruption in the final days of the criminally insane Joey Biden administration.
Recent news articles mentioned that Zelensky and his criminal gang have increased their net worth by $100 Billion in the past 5 years.
IF the Big Guy received 10% that makes his estate worth at least $10 Billion if not $20 Billion.
Perhaps Hunter Biden can get a contract to upgrade the US free fall nuclear weapons. HE knows as much about energy for his dealing in Ukraine as he does about nuclear weapons.