The F-35A is already certified to carry the B61-12 nuclear gravity bomb, but it has undergone further testing in recent months.

The Sandia National Laboratories and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announced this month that flight tests were conducted at the Tonopah Test Range in August with inert units of the B61-12 nuclear gravity bomb, carried by the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II. The flights, which took place from August 19 to 21, marked “a significant milestone in evaluating the weapon’s performance,” Sandia explained. It provided insight into the weapon’s behavior in a simulated operation.

“These B61-12 F-35A stockpile flight tests and captive carry flight test were the capstone accomplishment of a tremendous amount of planning and effort by those who were involved across not only Sandia, but many other agencies,” said Jeffrey Boyd, surveillance lead for the B61-12 and B61-13 at the lab. “In addition, these B61-12 stockpile flight tests represent the completion of the most B61-12 flight testing surveillance scope in a year to date and the most in a given year for the foreseeable future.”

The tests demonstrated the F-35’s, the crew’s, and the weapon system’s end-to-end reliability.

About the B61-12 Gravity Bomb

The family of B61 gravity bombs has been in service for nearly 60 years, making it both the “oldest” but also “most versatile weapon” in the United States’ nuclear weapon stockpile. Although the United States military has begun receiving the upgraded B61-13 variant this year, the flight tests were carried out as part of the multiyear life extension program (LEP) for the B-61-12, which will ensure that the older ordnance remains operational for at least another two decades.

The LEP is one of seven ongoing warhead modernization programs intended to ensure the reliability and effectiveness of the US military’s nuclear stockpile.

The B61-12 is 12 feet long and weighs approximately 825 pounds. It is an air-launched nuclear gravity bomb that uses an inertial navigation system (INS) to deliver precision strikes against targets. Although the B61 entered service nearly six decades ago in 1968, it remains a key component of the United States military’s nuclear triad and has undergone near-constant upgrades and redesigns.

There are an estimated 100 B61 bombs currently deployed across six bases in five European NATO countries, including Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Turkey, with discussions to deploy the gravity bombs to Poland.

America’s F-35s Are Already Nuclear-Capable

According to official sources, the bomb could be air-launched by multiple aircraft platforms currently in service with the United States Air Force and NATO partners, including the B-2A, F-15E, F-16C/D, F-16 MLU, PA-200, F-35, and the future B-21.

The F-35A, the conventional takeoff and landing variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, remains the only fifth-generation stealth fighter cleared to carry the B61-12 gravity bomb. It is not believed that either China’s Chengdu J-20 Mighty Dragon or Russia’s Sukhoi Su-57 (NATO reporting name “Felon”) has nuclear strike certification, although if their aircraft were certified to carry the weapons, it is unclear that either Beijing or Moscow would openly advertise it.

In May, the US military received its first B61-13 gravity bomb, the latest version in “the B61 family of nuclear weapons,” the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) announced. The B61-13 further builds on B61-12, offering the same level of safety, security and accuracy as the former version but with a higher yield that is “oriented to the defeat of certain harder and large-area military targets.”

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

Image: Shutterstock / Victor Maschek.

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