OMAHA, Neb. — The National Nuclear Security Administration expects to complete assembly of the remaining B61-13 subassemblies by the end of the calendar year, roughly one year ahead of schedule, Administrator Brandon Williams said Thursday.
Speaking in an interview with Exchange Monitor on the sidelines of the U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) Deterrence Symposium, Williams highlighted the B61-13 program as an example of the faster pace NNSA is achieving across its modernization portfolio.
“I think I’d mentioned that Y-12 is talking about completing the B61-13 units before the end of the calendar year, and that is maybe as much as a year ahead of schedule, if I’m not mistaken,” Williams said, adding this achievement “celebrates what’s happening at Y-12, and these are extraordinary things that they’re delivering.”
An NNSA spokesperson later clarified that the agency’s current projection is to complete assembly of the remaining B61-13 subassemblies by the end of the calendar year.
“Assembly of the remaining B61-13 subassemblies by the end of the calendar year is our current projection,” the spokesperson said. “This is significantly ahead of the planned production schedule.”
In July, NNSA announced that Y-12 certified all of the planned fiscal 2026 subassemblies, or the secondary stage of a two-stage thermonuclear weapon, three months ahead of schedule.
Williams has repeatedly emphasized improving program execution through streamlined project management and workforce culture.