Testing of B61 Upgrade Continues in Nevada on B-2 Bombers - NATO nuclear deterrent

On 9 June 2018,an upgrade of the B61 guided nuclear gravity bomb,the B61-12,was tested on a US Air Force B-2A Spirit bomber at the high security Tonopah Test Range,Nevada.The B61 is stored on NATO bases in Europe under a dual key arrangement.
In the course of the two flight tests,an unarmed B61-12 test assembly was released from the B-2,according to a National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) press release.The NNSA,which is part of the Department of Energy,designed the test assembly and the US Air Force provided the Boeing tail assembly.According to BGEN Michael Lutton,NNSA Assistant Deputy Administrator for Military Application:
The flight tests demonstrate the B61-12 design meets system requirements and illustrate the continued progress of the B61-12 life extension program to meet national security requirements.The achievement is also a testament to the dedication of our workforce and the enduring partnership between NNSA and the US Air Force.*
Conducting the tests was the 419th Test and Evaluation Squadron out of  Edwards Air Force Base,California.The tests were the first end-to-end qualification tests on a B-2A Spirit for the B61-12.They were part of a series of joint tests to demonstrate both the aircraft's ability to deliver the weapon and the weapon's non-nuclear functions.The flight tests included hardware designed by the Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory and manufactured by Nuclear Security Enterprise plants.
The B61 LEP will consolidate and replace the existing B61 bomb variants in the Nation's nuclear stockpile.The first production unit is on schedule for completion in fiscal 2020,NNSA said.*
NATO Allies Belgium,Germany,Italy,the Netherlands and Turkey host the current B61 variants on their bases.Panavia PA-200 Tornado IDS (Interdictor/Strike) and F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft are the authorised Allied delivery aircraft for these legacy weapons.
Besides the B-2A and the F-16C/D and MLU,another aircraft that can deliver the current B61 variants is the F-15E Strike Eagle.In future,the F-35 Lightning II and B-21 Raider will be able to deliver the B61.*
The B61s are guarded by US Air Force personnel and stored in vaults within hardened Protective Aircraft Shelters on the NATO bases.Their Permissive Action Links,or codes that enable the weapons to be armed,are in US custody.NATO's Nuclear Planning Group oversees the Alliance's nuclear deterrent.The annual NATO nuclear exercise,Steadfast Noon,is held in the autumn.