Boeing union to vote on revised contract as strike enters third month
Boeing union to vote on revised contract as strike enters third month
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The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has completed assembly of the first B61-13 nuclear gravity bomb, finishing the process significantly ahead of its original timeline. The announcement was made on May 19 at the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas, by Secretary of Energy Chris Wright.

Originally slated for a later delivery, the first B61-13 unit was completed nearly a year ahead of schedule and less than two years after the program was launched. It is among the fastest-developed nuclear weapons programs since the Cold War.

The B61-13 is the latest modification in the long-serving B61 series, a key component of the U.S. nuclear triad's air-based leg. While previous B61 versions are certified for use on various aircraft platforms, the B61-13 is intended solely for delivery by strategic bombers stationed within the continental United States.

According to the NNSA, the new variant shares safety, security, and accuracy enhancements introduced with the B61-12, but features modifications tailored for targeting hardened and broad-area military sites.

The accelerated production drew on existing infrastructure and data from the B61-12 program, which completed its final production unit just five months ago. Engineers streamlined several design and qualification steps—typically carried out sequentially—to speed up the development process. Hardware test builds for the B61-13 were reportedly underway just three months after receiving Congressional authorization.

Despite the condensed schedule, the NNSA stated that the project adhered to standard safety and security protocols. The effort was completed in coordination with the U.S. Air Force and is one of seven modernization initiatives currently underway to update the nation’s nuclear arsenal.

The Department of Defense is expected to work with NNSA to develop a broader strategy for addressing hard and deeply buried targets, which the B61-13 is partially designed to engage.