Brian Bradley
NS&D Monitor
7/10/2015
The Air Force and National Nuclear Security Administration completed the first development flight test of the B61-12 gravity bomb at Tonopah Test Range in Nevada on July 1, according to a July 8 NNSA press release. “This test marks a major milestone for the B61-12 Life Extension Program, demonstrating end-to-end system performance under representative delivery conditions,” said NNSA Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs Dr. Don Cook. “Achieving the first complete B61-12 flight test provides clear evidence of the nation’s continued commitment to maintain the B61 and provides assurance to our allies.” Sandia and Los Alamos National labs designed hardware for the flight test asset, which was mated to the tail kit assembly designed by Boeing, according to the release. Two more B61-12 flight tests are scheduled for this calendar year, the release states.
An F-15E that took off from Nellis AFB, Nev., dropped the B61-12, which “demonstrated successful performance” in realistic flight environments, according to the release. Telemetry, tracking and video data were collected. “This test provides confidence in the weapon system and instrumentation system designs and the hardware at its current state prior to going to a baseline design review in 2016,” the release states. The B61-12 LEP entered development in February 2012 after approval by the Nuclear Weapons Council, and it will replace the B61-3, -4, -7 and -10 bombs. The LEP refurbishes nuclear and non-nuclear components to extend the bomb’s service life, “while improving its safety, security and reliability,” the release states. The Air Force did not respond to an NS&D Monitor request for comment about its role in the flight test.
