During the peak of the Cold War era, spanning from 1963 to 1970, the United States designed a compact-sized thermonuclear gravity bomb that continues to be in active service as of 2023 and beyond...
The B61 bomb was developed by the Los Alamos National Laboratory in the 1960s and entered service in the 1970s. It is a versatile and widely deployed nuclear bomb designed for both strategic and tactical us
The B61 has multiple variants, with variable yields ranging from less than a kiloton to up to 340 kilotons (depending on the version)
One of the notable features of the B61 is its modular design. It can be adapted with different components, including the nuclear warhead, guidance system, and fuzing options, to suit various mission requirements
Certain versions of the B61 are equipped with a precision-guided tail kit assembly (B61-12) that enhances their accuracy, making them suitable for targeting specific, well-protected enemy assets
The B61 is a dual-capable weapon, meaning it can be used both in strategic scenarios (e.g., intercontinental bombers) and tactical scenarios (e.g., fighter jets or short-range delivery)
The B83 is one of the most powerful nuclear bombs in the U.S. arsenal, with a maximum yield of around 1.2 megatons. This makes it approximately 75 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima during World War II
The B83 is designed with a "dial-a-yield" feature, allowing the weapon's explosive power to be adjusted depending on the target's hardness. It can penetrate deeply buried bunkers and is considered a "bunker buster."
A variety of all major US military aircraft, including the B-1 Lancer, B-2 Spirit, B-52 Stratofortress, F/A-18 Hornet, F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-35 Lightning II, and F-22 Raptor, have been integrated to deliver the weapon
The B83, it can be delivered by the B-1 Lancer, B-2 Spirit, B-52 Stratofortress, and in the near future, the B-21 Raider