The United States Department of Defense recently announced its pursuit of a new nuclear bomb that will be 24 times more powerful than the one dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, during World War II. The bomb, designated the B61-13, will be a modern variant of the B61 nuclear gravity bomb and will have a similar yield to the B61-7 bomb’s 360 kilotons of TNT.

The B61-13 is designed to give the president options to strike hard and large-area military targets. The announcement comes amid rising tensions around the globe, with the US conducting a high-explosive experiment at a nuclear test site in Nevada earlier this month.

The creation of the B61-13 must first be approved and funded by Congress. If that happens, manufacture of the new weapon would be the job of the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. The announcement comes almost exactly a year after the publication of the Pentagon’s Nuclear Posture Review, which called on the US to modernize its aging nuclear stockpile with China on pace to possess at least 1,000 warheads by 2030.

The B61-13 is not 24 times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb, as some reports have suggested. The Hiroshima bomb had a yield of approximately 15 kilotons, while the B61-13 has a maximum yield of 360 kilotons. Therefore, the B61-13 is only about 24 times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb, not 24 times more powerful.

The announcement of the B61-13 has sparked concerns about the escalation of nuclear arms races and the potential for catastrophic consequences. The use of nuclear weapons has long been a controversial issue, with many arguing that their use would have devastating consequences for humanity and the planet.

The development of more powerful nuclear weapons only serves to increase these concerns and underscores the need for continued efforts towards disarmament and non-proliferation.

Here are some key takeaways from the announcement:

  • The US Department of Defense is pursuing a new nuclear bomb that will be 24 times more powerful than the one dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, during World War II.
  • The bomb, designated the B61-13, will be a modern variant of the B61 nuclear gravity bomb and will have a similar yield to the B61-7 bomb’s 360 kilotons of TNT.
  • The creation of the B61-13 must first be approved and funded by Congress.
  • The announcement comes amid rising tensions around the globe, with the US conducting a high-explosive experiment at a nuclear test site in Nevada earlier this month.
  • The development of more powerful nuclear weapons only serves to increase concerns about the escalation of nuclear arms races and the potential for catastrophic consequences.

In conclusion, the announcement of the B61-13 nuclear bomb, which is 24 times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb, has raised concerns about the escalation of nuclear arms races and the potential for catastrophic consequences. The creation of such a powerful weapon underscores the need for continued efforts towards disarmament and non-proliferation. It is important for governments and individuals to work together to prevent the use of nuclear weapons and to promote peace and security for all.