In the United States announced the successful testing of nuclear bombs B61−12
MOSCOW, 1 Jul — RIA Novosti. The US air force conducted the first qualification test controlled nuclear bombs B61−12, according to the portal Military.com.
During testing we used a strategic stealth bombers B-2 Spirit.
“These qualification flight tests demonstrate that the design of the B61−12 meets the system requirements, and illustrate the further progress of the programme of extending the service life of the B61−12 in accordance with the requirements of national security”, — said the employee of the National office of nuclear safety U.S. Department of energy Michael Lutton.
Test Assembly of the devices held on 9 June at a military training ground in the state of Nevada under the leadership of the 419 test squadron Edwards air force base.
The US plans to deploy the B61−12 on military bases in Europe — Germany, Italy, Turkey, Belgium and the Netherlands. According to estimates of the congressional Budget office, for 30 years (2017-2046) for the modernization of tactical nuclear forces it is planned to spend 25 billion dollars.
Bombs must be compatible with the platforms of multifunctional fifth generation fighter F-35 Lightning II. It is expected that the first batch of the B61−12 will go into service by 2020.