The US has announced the development of a new nuclear gravity bomb

The United States intends to create a modern version of the nuclear gravity bomb B61-13. The decision to modernise the weapon was made in connection with "increasing threats from potential adversaries", Defense News writes .

The United States will develop a modern version of the nuclear gravity bomb B61, designated B61-13, - said in a statement of the Pentagon.

According to Assistant Secretary of Defence for Space Policy John Plumb, "the United States has a responsibility to deploy the capabilities needed to credibly deter and, if necessary, respond to strategic attacks, including those of allies."

According to the official statement, development of the B61-13 will be handled by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), an organisation under the US Department of Energy. It will begin after congressional authorisation and funding.

As the Pentagon notes, a very small number of B61-13s will be produced - only a few dozen.

The Pentagon said in a statement that the yield of the new type of nuclear bomb will be similar to that of the B61-7 strategic modification, but higher than that of the B61-12. The power of the device is not specified. At the same time, the Pentagon is working to retire obsolete bombs such as the B61-7 and B83-1.

According to SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) estimates, as of January 2023, Russia had 5,889 nuclear warheads, while the US had 5,244. at the same time, the third largest nuclear-armed country, China, is actively building up its nuclear capabilities, according to US information.