nuclear-news

Rocketing costs of upgrading B61 bomb

Cost of Nuclear Bomb Upgrade Doubles to $8 Billion,http://blogs.ottawacitizen.com/2012/08/22/cost-of-nuclear-bomb-upgrade-doubles-to-8-billion/ Ottawa Citizen, August 22, 2012 One of the oldest nuclear weapons in the U.S. arsenal is the B-61 gravity bomb. It was first designed in the 1960s to be dropped over a target by airplane. The U.S. government is in the process of getting ready to do a life extension (ie. upgrade) on the bomb.

The upgrade was estimated in 2010 to cost $2 billion. That has now doubled to $8 billion. But there is also an independent Pentagon cost estimate noting the program will come in at $10 billion. The number of bombs to be upgraded is classified.

Here is the Washington Post’s view on this project:
“Who will be deterred by the refurbished B-61? Is the symbolism of deploying the nuclear gravity bomb in Europe worth the billions of dollars? Does it make sense to embark on a $10 billion program to refurbish a weapon that could be put on the table in negotiations with Russia a few years from now? In an age of scarce resources, such questions can’t be slighted. “

August 23, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | USA, weapons and war