The changing events of Conflict in Ukraineas well as the renewed explosion of the Arab-Israeli conflictalso had a decisive impact on the adaptation of armaments and implemented a number of innovations in warfare. As in the case of Atomic bomb B61-12, “discovered” training on an F-16 in the European scenario. A type of bomb that will replace the old B61 categories supplied to NATO countries and present in the common stocks of the nations of the Atlantic Alliance, including Italy.
This type of nuclear device differs from the previous model in one respect Tail section which the available images definitely highlight. Today this weapon has a different design than the previous version, the tail of the bomb had a precision-guided kit. This version is a mix of all previous ones, combined with the new queue and other improvements.
The first pictures of the B61-12
Although the training bomb has been mounted on F-16 aircraft, the weapon is not yet permanently assigned to NATO fighter aircraft. Although it is part of the American strategic inventory, it has so far been assigned exclusively to this B2 strategic bomber.
It seems that exercises with the new US nuclear bomb B61-12 have been taking place in Europe for several years. This 2021 image shows a B61-12 training form under the wing of a Dutch F-16 at Volkel Air Base.
More information here: https://t.co/3MDEbSouuo pic.twitter.com/fEygtBOspT
— Hans Kristensen (@nukestrat) December 13, 2023
The available images show an F-16 Viper, geolocated in the Netherlands (in Volkel base), armed with a training prototype housed under the wing, demonstrating the work within NATO to make this prototype U.S.-made nuclear weapon operational in Europe, as provided for in the North Atlantic Accords. As far as we know, eleven of the 32 bunkers at Volkel Air Base are equipped with an underground vault that can accommodate up to four B61 bombs. Assuming that each bunker should currently contain one or two bombs, the total estimate would be 10-15 weapons of this type.
Because Dutch aircraft train with B61-12
Volkel's base would begin the aIntegrated NATO training, as early as 2021, before the bomb was manufactured on a large scale and then placed in the US stockpile. A first appearance dates back to 2022 in a video from Sandia National Laboratories, which documents the work that began the previous year, apparently in flight training, in which the bomb was firmly attached under the wing of the aircraft. The video does not identify the location, but experts say the bomb shelter's unique design would point it back to the same Volkel base.
Fighter jets have the so-called “Integration flights“, but until recently they were not associated with the B61-12. Even the new F-35A, which will take on the role of a nuclear strike, has not yet, despite training, paired with the above-mentioned novelty in the field of Obtaining nuclear weapons The appearance of the bomb at the Dutch base is no coincidence. The 312th Squadron of the First Wing of the base is part of the so-called NATO agreement on nuclear sharing, under which Washington equips Dutch aircraft (as well as those of Belgium, Germany, Italy, Greece and Turkey) and trains pilots to use these bombs in theaters of war. In peacetime, these are under the care of the US Air Force by the 703rd Munitions Support Squadron, directly in Volkel.