F-35s Armed with B61-12 Nuclear Bombs

Related File Video Above: Air Force 4-Star Praises B61 mod 12 Nuclear Bomb Test

By Kris Osborn – President & Editor-In-Chief, Warrior Maven

The Pentagon, Department of Energy and Air Force have taken a substantial step toward arming the now operational F-35A with an upgraded, highly-capable nuclear bomb.

While formal nuclear certification of the new B61-Mod 12 make take a little time as it comes in operational and design phases, the DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration is announcing that its first production unit of the B61-12 Life Extension Program has been successfully completed, launching a new sphere of airborne nuclear attack possibilities.

B61-12

The weapon is a new variant of a nuclear bomb that first emerged in 1968, which includes increased safety and reliability along with a significantly streamlined mission envelope. 

The B61-12 consolidated the attack functionality of multiple previous B61s to include Mods 3,4,7 and 11. Each of these previous variants, which still exist, perform a specific attack function such as an earth penetrating strike, low or high-yield attack and area detonation capability. With the B61-12, all of these missions are integrated into a single, adjustable or tailorable nuclear weapon. This allows aircraft to tailor specific effects and carry more bomb possibilities on a single attack mission.

Along with the F-35A, the weapon will arm the B-2 and emerging new B-21 Raider stealth bomber, offering low-yield, high-yield, bunker buster and above ground “area” attacks in a single bomb for crews. It is certainly by no means surprising that stealth bombers will operate with the weapon, but what would a nuclear-armed F-35 bring to a tactical equation in war?