Khaberni - The "Sandia" Laboratory under the U.S. Department of Energy announced that an F-35 fighter jet dropped B61-12 nuclear bombs without warheads at the Tonopah Testing Range in Nevada.
A joint test unit of the B61-12 model, or a nuclear gravity bomb without an explosive nuclear device, moments before impact at the Tonopah Test Range in Nevada / defensenews.com
The laboratory clarified that the tests took place from August 19 to August 21 as part of an annual evaluation of the reliability of the nuclear arsenal and pilot training.
The service life of the B61-12 bombs was extended for another 20 years in 2024.
U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed his intention to resume U.S. nuclear weapons testing "very soon," without providing any details.
He also expressed his support for nuclear disarmament, announcing his desire to hold a meeting with leaders from Russia and China on this issue. According to Trump, these countries could catch up with the United States in terms of nuclear arsenal strength within four to five years.
In the meantime, officials from the Department of Energy are scheduled to meet with White House officials to dismiss Trump's idea about conducting explosive nuclear tests, according to "CNN".
This is the latest indication of the repercussions of Trump's post on social media in October, in which he instructed the Department of Defense to begin testing nuclear weapons "due to other countries' testing programs".
However, the National Nuclear Security Administration, part of the Department of Energy, is the federal agency responsible for building and testing bombs and maintaining the nuclear stockpile, not the Department of Defense.
CNN pointed out that at the upcoming White House meeting, officials from the National Nuclear Security Administration and the Department of Energy will prepare to inform the administration that "there will be no tests" involving the detonation of nuclear materials, and they will seek to steer the White House towards a practical plan that does not involve detonating anything.
