The US Air Force Command announces that the US Army has successfully taken an important milestone of testing the design compatibility of the fifth generation F-35A Lightning II fighters with the B61-12 nuclear bombs. It is reported that two training bombs were dropped on a training ground in Nevada. Both bombs were test bombs and had no nuclear charge. Reported by The Drive.
This is the very first case of an atomic bomb dropped by an F-35 fighter jet. Both bombs were test bombs and did not have a nuclear charge, but were fitted with special sensors to control the parameters and accuracy of the strike. Each bomb was dropped at its own height and speed. According to reports, the test was carried out on September 21, but the US Air Force has only reported it now.
The full weapons system demonstration, the first of its kind for the F-35 in a nuclear strike configuration, included two options for conventional takeoffs and landings. Each of the fighters dropped an unarmed B61-12 joint test assembly on the Tonopah proving ground in Nevada. This test site is part of the larger Nevada Test and Training Site and has a rich history of nuclear weapons testing, as well as others. sensitive research, development, testing and evaluation. & Nbsp;
According to the United States military, these tests will be the last … After analysis of all the data obtained, the aircraft F-35A certified for the use of weapons nuclear will be re-equipped. This event marked the completion of the certification of the aircraft in nuclear configuration. & Nbsp;
The US Air Force stresses that not all fighters of this type will be designed to carry nuclear weapons, only their special squadrons.
B61 bombs are tactical nuclear weapons that can be used on dual-purpose aircraft such as the F-15E and F-16C/D. Development of the B61-12 has been underway since at least 2011, and the new bomb is technically a reconstruction and consolidation of four existing variants.
A feature of the new B61-12 air bomb, which replaced the obsolete B61 models, is the tail. It makes the bomb maneuverable and more precise, which makes it possible not to descend it with a parachute (for this it was necessary to fly over the target exactly), but to drop the load of a high-flying aircraft, after which the bomb autonomously plans many kilometers to the target, if necessary taxiing
In 2017, it was reported that the Air Force had set a target between 2020 and 2022 to introduce the capabilities of the B61-12 into the F-35A. However, the service also said it did not expect to receive the first B61-12 production until 2022. Adapting for this mission is not only about the required hardware and software changes on the aircraft. 39; aircraft itself to continue it, but also the appropriate training of aircrew and maintenance personnel, as well as the various support and security infrastructures of the respective bases.
The B61-12 n & # 39; will not only carry the F-35A. Last June it was announced that the B61-12 had been shown to be fully compatible with the F-15E Strike Eagle, followed by the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber at the end of the month. Eventually, future B-21 Raider bombers will also be armed with new bombs, and at least part of the fleet is planning to take some as well. The United States intends to deploy B61-12 bombs on European bases: Germany, Italy, Turkey, Belgium and the Netherlands. But the B61-12 development program has already experienced noticeable delays and increased costs, raising doubts about its large-scale implementation.
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/42639/f- 35a-completes-final-drop-test-of-new-b61-12-nuclear-bomb
