The US has completed a production milestone on B61-13 nuclear gravity bomb components three months ahead of schedule at the Y-12 National Security Complex.
The canned subassemblies — sealed assemblies containing one of the bomb’s key nuclear components — completed what the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) calls “diamond stamping.”
This means the subassemblies successfully passed the NNSA’s certification process and were approved as meeting war reserve quality standards for deployment to the US nuclear stockpile.
“This milestone directly supports our goals to modernize our nuclear deterrent and sends a message to our adversaries that our national defense remains agile, secure, and effective,” said NNSA Administrator Brandon Williams.
B61-13 Nuclear Gravity Bomb
In May 2025, the NNSA produced the first B61-13 bomb nearly a year ahead of schedule.
The B61-13 is a variant of the B61 nuclear bomb — America’s longest-serving nuclear weapon in active stockpile — developed to improve the ability to strike hardened and deeply buried military targets.
It incorporates the same features as the B61-12, although with a higher nuclear yield.
Unlike other B61 variants, the B61-13 is intended for delivery by US strategic bomber aircraft.
These include the B-2 Spirit and the next-generation B-21 Raider, which are primarily expected to conduct long-range strike missions from the continental US.
