The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) completed the certification, or “diamond stamping,” of all planned canned subassemblies for the B61-13 nuclear gravity bomb this fiscal year, according to a Wednesday agency press release.
NNSA also said in the release it certified the canned subassemblies, or the secondary stage of a two-stage thermonuclear weapon, at Y-12 National Security Complex in Tennessee three months ahead of schedule. “Diamond stamping,” or certifying a component, means the weapon component has met the requirements set by NNSA for deployment at “war reserve” quality to the nation’s nuclear stockpile.
“Completing the 2026 baseline deliverables ahead of schedule is a clear indicator of discipline and operational focus,” NNSA Administrator Brandon Williams said in the press release. “This milestone directly supports our goals to modernize our nuclear deterrent and sends a message to our adversaries that our national defense remains agile, secure, and effective.”
The B61 family of bombs is currently deployed from the U.S. Air Force and NATO bases, NNSA said. The gravity bomb itself is the oldest in the U.S. arsenal, with over 50 years of service, and the B61-13, which will be a modern variant of the gravity bomb, is one of six current warhead modernization programs executed by NNSA.
Meanwhile, the canned subassembly is a sealed metal capsule containing specialized materials that relies on the explosion from the “primary” stage to trigger a secondary thermonuclear explosion.
The first production unit of the B61-13 was completed in May 2025, around four months after the B61-12 life extension program was completed.