The US National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announced that assembly of the first B61-13 nuclear aerial bomb has been completed at the Pantex plant in Amarillo, Texas, nearly a year ahead of schedule. This was reported on May 19, 2025, by the press service of the US Department of Energy, as well as by Defense News and The Aviationist. The development of the bomb, which began in 2023, was one of the fastest in the history of the US nuclear arsenal since the Cold War. The aerial bomb is designed to destroy heavily fortified underground military facilities, such as command bunkers and weapons depots, and will be used by strategic bombers, including the B-21 Raider.

The B61-13 is the latest iteration of the B61 family of nuclear gravity bombs, which have been the backbone of the air-launched component of the U.S. nuclear triad for more than 50 years. According to the NNSA, the bomb leverages the proven manufacturing capabilities of the B61-12, the last batch of which was completed in December 2024. The B61-13 has the same safety, precision, and control systems as the B61-12, but has a higher maximum yield of 360 kilotons (24 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima).

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who personally awarded the first bomb a gold star of excellence at a ceremony on May 19, said:

"The speed of B61-13 production demonstrates the ingenuity of our scientists and the urgency of strengthening deterrence in a new, volatile era."

He stressed that the bomb signals to adversaries and allies that the United States is prepared for modern challenges. The B61-13, which will begin full production in 2026, will not increase the overall arsenal, as each new bomb will replace one B61-12 and will also allow the retirement of the obsolete B61-7 and B83-1 megaton warheads.

The B61-13's development has been controversial. The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) argues that its development is more of a political move to convince Congress to field the B83-1 than a military necessity, since the B61-12 is already capable of striking most targets with less collateral damage. The B61-13's high precision, provided by its TKA, allows it to strike with an effect equivalent to a megaton surface explosion through the phenomenon of seismic impact.