NNSA News:WASHINGTON, D.C. ― The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) and the U.S Air Force announced the completion of two qualification flight tests of the B61-12 gravity bomb at the Tonopah Test Range in Nevada.
Completed Nov. 7-8, these tests continue a series of qualification flight tests that will be conducted over the next three years.
“These tests continue to demonstrate that the B61-12 meets requirements and marks another on-time achievement for the B61-12 Life Extension Program,” said Brig. Gen. Michael Lutton, NNSA’s Principal Assistant Deputy Administrator for Military Application. “The completion of this milestone is a testament to the dedication of our workforce and the joint NNSA-U.S. Air Force team.”
The tests involved releasing non-nuclear configured joint test assemblies from two F-15Es based at Nellis Air Force Base, demonstrating the aircraft’s capability to deliver the weapon and the weapon’s non-nuclear functions. The flight test included hardware designed by Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory and manufactured by the Nuclear Security Enterprise plants. The tail-kit assembly section was designed by the Boeing Company under contract with the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center.
The B61-12 Life Extension Program (LEP) entered Phase 6.4 Production Engineering in June 2016 under the oversight of the Nuclear Weapons Council, a joint Department of Defense and DOE/NNSA organization established to facilitate cooperation and coordination between the two departments.
The program will extend the bomb’s service life while improving its safety, security, and reliability. The B61-12 will consolidate and replace the existing B61 bomb variants in the nation’s nuclear arsenal. The first production unit is scheduled to be completed by March 2020.
The B61-12 LEP is a joint NNSA and Air Force program that preserves a critical element of the U.S. nuclear triad and demonstrates continued support for extended deterrence and assurance commitments.