The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) recently announced it completed “diamond stamping” of all canned subassemblies for the B61-13 nuclear gravity bomb three months ahead of schedule.
“Diamond stamping” means a weapon component has met all NNSA certification process requirements and is approved for deployment to the U.S. nuclear stockpile as “war reserve” quality.
“The progress on the B61-13 program demonstrates the nuclear security enterprise’s ability to respond to evolving geopolitical requirements with speed and precision,” NNSA Administrator Brandon Williams said. “Completing the 2026 baseline deliverables ahead of schedule is a clear indicator of discipline and operational focus. 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 B61-13 is one of six ongoing warhead modernization programs that NNSA is executing and will be certified for delivery by U.S. strategic bomber aircraft. It is a modern variant of the B61 nuclear bomb, the longest-serving weapon in the nuclear stockpile.
NNSA completed the first unit of the new B61-13 in May 2025 nearly a year before the original target date and less than two years after the program was announced. The earlier B61-12 completed production in January 2025.