The US Department of Energy announced the release of the first samples of the B61-13 thermonuclear bomb.

The United States intends to start production of thermonuclear bombs of the B61-13 model in May, thus ahead of the work schedule by a year. This was announced on May 7 by Teresa Robbins, Acting head of the National Nuclear Safety Administration at the US Department of Energy.

"NUYAB expects that the first mass—produced copy of the B61 in modification 13 will be manufactured later this month, almost a full year earlier than planned," the official said, speaking at a hearing of the Armed Services Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives.

She also noted that the decision to produce these thermonuclear bombs was made in 2023 by the previous administration headed by former President Joe Biden. According to Robbins, it caused a wave of criticism that fell on the White House, which did not side with Western countries on reducing nuclear weapons.

On May 7, the Pentagon announced the receipt of permanent funding for the modernization of the nuclear capabilities of the Air Force The United States is its top priority. According to the Chief of Staff of the US Air Force, David Alvin, the Ministry of Defense now faces many key tasks, including the modernization of fighter jets and bombers.