The United States Air Force is upgrading B61 nuclear bombs stationed across Europe. Those upgrades may violate the nation's own nuclear regulations.
The B61 is a Cold War relic built in 1961 but new upgrades would give the bombs an internal guidance system that would make it easier for them to find their mark. The Air Force also wants to add the ability to release different amounts of thermonuclear energy upon impact — 0.3, 5, 10 or 50 kilotons — depending on the target. According to Defense Tech, those upgrades may violate the 2010 Nuclear Posture Review, a U.S. Department of Defense review of the nation's nuclear policies which states that no nuclear weapons can be upgraded in ways that give them new abilities.
See also: Tensions Escalate as Putin Gets Permission to Deploy Military In Ukraine
The 2010 review was preceded by a speech U.S. President Barack Obama gave in 2009 in which he outlined a vision of a world without nuclear weapons. But some experts think this upgrade, known as the B61-12, might even qualify as a new nuclear weapon, which would contradict Obama's decree not to build new nuclear explosives.
The B61s are currently stationed in the U.S. as well as Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey. The B61-12s would replace their half-century-old counterparts in those countries.
The military will shell out $10 billion for 400-500 bombs, which are set to be ready by 2020.
Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.