The Pentagon, the United States Department of Defense, announced that it has launched a research project to create an atomic bomb twenty-four times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan in World War II. This was reported by the US media that the Pentagon is seeking approval and funding from Congress to create a modern version of the nuclear bomb. In an information note from the US Department of Defense, it is stated that the new weapon called “B61-13” will have an explosive power of 360 “kilotons of TNT”.
B61s are considered intermediate tactical and strategic weapons. These are American-made hydrogen nuclear bombs that were produced during the Cold War and are still in the American nuclear arsenal. B61 bombs were designed and manufactured by Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, New Mexico.
The plan comes almost a year after the report was published. Nuclear posture review While China is expected to have at least a thousand nuclear warheads by 2030, the Pentagon’s statement, which called on the USA to modernize its old nuclear stockpile, is as follows: “At a time when nuclear risks are increasing, a partial reconstruction strategy is no longer useful for us.” “We must develop and field balanced and flexible supplies that can keep pace with threats,” the report stated.
The B61-13 would be made with warheads reused from old bombs and designed to “attack more difficult, large-area military targets.” Additionally, the previous version of the Obama-era B61-12 bomb was required to “include modern safety, security and precision features.” According to the expert magazine Aviation ReportIt can be used by aircraft such as B61-13, F-35 fighter jets and B-21 bombers. The B61-13 atomic bomb will not serve to strengthen the United States’ nuclear arsenal, but will replace some of the bombs already in stock. “The United States has a responsibility to take steps to fully respond to potential strategic attacks for itself and our allies,” the Defense Department said.
“When you look at the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs, one killed 80 thousand people and the other 40 thousand. Thinking that the new bomb will be 24 times more powerful gives an idea about the dynamics of this weapon and how far we can go. Former senior US naval intelligence officer Donald Bramer said, “Nuclear weapons Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy John Plumb later said: “The announcement reflects an evolving security environment and increasing threats from potential adversaries.”
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Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
