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The B61 nuclear bomb is one of the primary thermonuclear weapons in the U.S. Enduring Stockpile following the end of the Cold War. It is an intermediate-yield strategic and tactical nuclear weapon featuring a two-stage radiation implosion design. The B61 is a variable yield bomb (0.3 to 340 kiloton yield in various versions and settings) designed for carriage by high-speed aircraft. It has a streamlined casing capable of withstanding supersonic flight speeds. The weapon is 11 ft 8 in (3.58 m) long, with a diameter of about 13 in (33 cm). Basic weight is about 700 lb (320 kg), although the weights of individual weapons may vary depending on version and fuze/retardation configuration. ==Development== The B61, known before 1968 as the TX-61, was designed in 1963. It was designed and built by the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. It began from a program for a lightweight, streamlined weapon launched in 1961. Production engineering began in 1965, with full production beginning in 1968 following a series of development problems. Total production of all versions was approximately 3,155, of which approximately 1,925 remain in service , and some 1,265 are considered to be operational. The warhead has changed little over the years, although early versions have been upgraded to improve the safety features. As of late 2013, there were 200 B61 bombs actively in use by the United States.〔"Physics Today", September 2013, page 45〕 Of these, 180 were deployed with NATO allies in Europe.〔"The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists", 26 October 2013〕 Nine versions of the B61 have been produced. Each shares the same "physics package", with different yield options.The newest variant is the B61 Mod 11, deployed in 1997, which is a ground-penetrating bunker buster. The Russian Continuity of Operations facility at Kosvinsky Kamen, finished in early 1996, was designed to resist US earth-penetrating warheads and serves a similar role as the American Cheyenne Mountain Complex.〔.〕 The timing of the Kosvinsky completion date is regarded as one explanation for U.S. interest in a new nuclear bunker buster and the declaration of the deployment of the B-61 mod 11 in 1997: Kosvinsky is protected by about of granite.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 publisher =Global Security )〕 The B61 unguided bomb should not be confused with the MGM-1 Matador cruise missile, which was originally developed under the bomber designation B-61. When the B61 was still classified, aircrew were not allowed to use the term "B61". Instead, it was referred to as a "shape", "silver bullet", or even "external delivery". 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「B61 nuclear bomb」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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