Pentagon wants a nuclear bomb 24 times more powerful than one used in Japan

As conflicts grow worldwide, the U.S. finds itself at the center of creating and providing weaponry to protect its global interests. To update its current weapon arsenal, the Department of Defense revealed that it is pursuing a nuclear bomb that is 24 times more powerful than one of the bombs dropped on Japan in World War II.

The Pentagon is seeking congressional authorization to create the modern version of the B-61 nuclear gravity bomb, dubbed the B61-13.

The announcement comes in response to national security demands described by the 20-22 Nuclear Posture Review and as the Pentagon looks to retire legacy bombs like the B61-7 and the B83-1.

In a 2022 congressional hearing, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Sasha Baker testified about the importance of the United States’ nuclear capabilities.

“Nuclear deterrence is the department’s highest priority mission, our nuclear posture continues to be the backbone of our strategy to preserve peace and stability by deterring aggression against the united states, our allies, and our partners,” Baker said. “Potential U.S. adversaries are modernizing, diversifying, and expanding their strategic capabilities, resulting in growing risks.”

If approved by Congress, the DOD’s National Nuclear Security Administration would begin producing the bomb, which could be delivered by modern aircraft and give the president more options against large military targets.

“The B61-13 represents a reasonable step to manage the challenges of a highly dynamic security environment,” said Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy John Plumb. “While it provides us with additional flexibility, production of the B61-13 will not increase the overall number of weapons in our nuclear stockpile.”

The bomb itself has 24 times the power than the 15-kiloton bomb dropped on Hiroshima in World War II, and it is 14 times more powerful than the 25-kiloton bomb dropped on Nagasaki in the same war.

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According to the Department of Defense, producing new nuclear bombs will not increase the number of weapons in the country’s nuclear stockpile but will update it. The department added that the decision was not made in response to any current event and follows months of review and consideration.

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