Description:

This is a detailed, smoothable 3D model of the B61-12 nuclear gravity bomb, in two configurations.

Technical Notes:

Texture resolution is 8192x8192 (8K). Two configurations are included, prototype and production. Photoshop texture files are available to download enabling you to easily modify the color/reflective/bump texture channels.

Renders are done in Blender / Cycles and 3ds Max V-Ray.

History:

The B61 nuclear gravity bomb, deployed from U.S. Air Force and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) bases, has been in service for over 50 years. Numerous modifications have been made to improve the B61’s safety, security, and reliability since the first B61 entered service in 1968, and four B61 variants remain in the stockpile: the 3, 4, 7, and 11.

The B61 is undergoing a life extension to continue to assure its safety, security, and effectiveness. The B61-12 LEP is refurbishing, reusing, or replacing all of the bomb’s nuclear and non-nuclear components to extend the service life by at least 20 years. This LEP will address all age-related issues of the bomb, and enhance its reliability, field maintenance, safety, and use control. With these upgrades and the addition of a U.S. Air Force supplied Tailkit Assembly, the B61-12 LEP will consolidate and replace three of the B61 variants in the current stockpile: 3, 4, and 7.

When fielded, the B61-12 will balance greater accuracy provided by the modern tailkit with a substantial reduction in yield, with no overall change in military characteristics. The B61-12 LEP is critical to sustaining the Nation’s air delivered nuclear deterrent capability. It will be air-delivered in either ballistic gravity or guided drop modes and is being certified for delivery on current strategic aircraft (B-2A) and dual capable aircraft (F-15E, F-16C/D & MLU, PA-200) as well as future aircraft platforms (F-35, B-21).