The United States is planning to develop a new version of the B61 nuclear gravity bomb, known as the B61-13. This proposal is currently awaiting Congressional authorization and appropriation. If approved, the B61-13 will replace the older B61-7, as announced by the US Department of Defense in a press release on October 27, 2023.
Nuclear gravity bombs, in general, work by being dropped from an aircraft over the target, relying on gravity to guide them to the ground rather than using a powered missile. These bombs do not have a guidance system and follow a ballistic trajectory.
The B61-13 is part of the B61 bomb variants and will have a similar yield to the B61-7, estimated to be 360 kilotons, which is significantly more powerful than the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II.
The decision to develop the B61-13 is a response to changes in the global security environment and growing threats from potential adversaries, as described in the 2022 Nuclear Posture Review. This decision is not in response to a specific current event.
In terms of the number of nuclear weapons, Russia, the United States, and China have varying estimates, but as of 2023, Russia leads in the number of nuclear weapons, followed by the United States and then China. The exact numbers may vary depending on the source.
- Russia: Approximately 6,257 (1,458 active, 3,039 available, 1,760 retired)
- United States: Approximately 5,550 (1,389 active, 2,361 available, 1,800 retired)
- China: Approximately 410 (available nuclear weapons)
Please note that these numbers may change over time, and different sources may provide slightly different figures.
