America develops first smart nuclear bomb

The 350 kg guided nuclear bomb can accurately destroy underground targets, limiting surrounding damage.

US weapons experts are testing the B61-12 smart nuclear bomb. Photo: SCMP.

The Pentagon recently gave the green light to develop the B61-12 smart nuclear bomb, a typeAmerica's first guided nuclear bomb, according toSCMP.

The B61-12 bomb weighs 350 kg, carries a 50 kiloton nuclear warhead, is equipped with a GPS guidance system and a laser at the nose.The B61-12 is designed to be dropped from high-speed fighter aircraft such as the F-15, F-16, and F-35.After leaving the aircraft, the B61-12 uses its tail fins and rotating jet engines to adjust its flight direction, and can fall to a target within a range of 30 meters.

This type of bombcan destroy fortified targets located several meters underground, limitingdamage to structures and people in the surrounding area.

The B61-12 is designed to be mounted on high-speed fighter jets. Photo: SCMP.

The US National Nuclear Security Administration said earlier this month that the B61-12 has completed four years of research and development and will enter mass production in 2020.

US President Barack Obama announced that he would deploy 180 B61-12 smart bombs in five European countries, despite 10 lawmakers calling last month for curbs on nuclear weapons spending.

Professor Jonathan Holslag, head of the Institute ofContemporary China StudiesBrussels said the B61-12 bomb increases America's options for attacking potential adversaries such as China, Russia or Iran.

The B61-12 is considered the most expensive nuclear bomb in the US, costing about $11 billion for 400 bombs. This is part of a program to modernize and extend the life of nuclear weapons.expected to cost $1 trillion over the next 30 yearsAmerica.

According to VNE