B61 Modernization on Track, Air Force Officials Say

The Air Force portion of the B61 warhead life extension program — which involves tail kit assembly — is on schedule for a first production unit in 2020, top Air Force officials said yesterday. The modernization involves consolidating the current four B61 variants – B61-3, B61-4, B61-7 and B61-10 – into a single B61-12 variant. Modifying the warhead will allow the U.S. to halve its current deployed stockpile, said Lt. Gen. Stephen Wilson, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command. As of July 1, the U.S. has 1,585 deployed strategic nuclear warheads, 35 more than the requirement outlined for 2018 by the New START Treaty, according to a State Department fact sheet.

 

Impacts on B61 modernization posed by potential budgetary developments such as sequestration are “always a concern,” said Maj. Gen. Garrett Harencak, Air Force assistant chief of staff for strategic deterrence and nuclear integration. “I feel very comfortable that we’ve made the case for life-extending the B61,” Harencak said. “I think it’s a current and very, very well-run program, and certainly during my time in the A10 – the last 18 months or so – I’ve seen a significant change as we went from some areas being opposed to it to very, very few now. Most people accept the fact that this is a well-run program, that it is needed, that the B61 is required in Europe; it’s required for our own requirements, and I’m very confident that it will withstand scrutiny or any budgetary problems.”