The United States Sandia National Laboratories and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) recently disclosed that the flight test of the B61-12 nuclear bomb stockpile was successfully completed in August 2025. The test was conducted at the Tonopah Test Range in Nevada, with support and aircraft support provided by Hill Air Force Base in Utah.
NNSA stated that the test took place from August 19 to 21, during which an F-35A fighter jet successfully carried and dropped three inert B61-12 nuclear gravity bomb bodies. Photos and videos released along with the statement showed two B61-12 bombs in the F-35's weapons bay, but it is unclear whether a dual-bomb drop was conducted.
The agency stated that the test achieved positive results, marking "an important milestone in assessing the performance of this weapon." This milestone was achieved after the NNSA completed the multi-year life extension program for the B61 bomb at the end of 2024, with the delivery of the final production unit (LPU) extending the service life of the B61 bomb by at least 20 years.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1848734442539019/
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