F-35 Stealth Jets Drop Inert B61-12 Thermonuclear Bombs in Nevada Test, Validating Weapon System
US Confirms Reliability of B61-12 Nuclear Bomb Following Successful Flight Tests in August
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The United States successfully conducted a series of flight tests for the B61-12 tactical thermonuclear bomb without a nuclear warhead in August, according to a recent statement from the US Department of Energy’s Sandia National Laboratories. The tests were designed to confirm the operational reliability and performance of the advanced weapon system.
The trials, which took place at a test site in Nevada from August 19 to 21, featured American fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets delivering and dropping the weapons, which were fitted with inert warheads known as joint test assemblies.
The tests were conducted in close coordination with the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), the federal agency responsible for managing the US nuclear weapons stockpile. The B61-12 is the latest variant of the B61 nuclear gravity bomb, which has been in the US arsenal for over 50 years.
A key focus of the exercises was to demonstrate the end-to-end reliability of the aircraft, crew, and weapon system during a mission profile, and to evaluate the B61-12’s performance capabilities. Sandia National Laboratories confirmed that these were the only B61-12 stockpile flight tests conducted on an F-35 aircraft this year.
The successful testing follows the NNSA’s completion of a multi-year Life Extension Program (LEP) for the B61-12 in late 2024. This program, which refurbishes or replaces all nuclear and non-nuclear components, has extended the service life of these aerial bombs by at least 20 years and aims to consolidate and replace several older B61 variants.
The F-35’s certification to deploy the B61-12 is a significant milestone, making the F-35A the first fifth-generation aircraft authorized to operate in both conventional and nuclear warfare scenarios, underscoring Washington’s long-term commitment to maintaining its nuclear deterrent capabilities.