Inert B61

[Lace]

The nuclear strike mission was (is?) a key mission of the F-15E, after it replaced the F-111 in the same role. And since ED have repeatedly stated that they will not have nuclear weapons in DCS, would it be possible to at least have an inert 'shape' for practice delivery?

[Deano87]

I'd like to see an Inert B61 purely to practice the delivery methods as well.

[YoYo]

On 4/11/2023 at 3:00 PM, Lace said:

The nuclear strike mission was (is?) a key mission of the F-15E, after it replaced the F-111 in the same role. And since ED have repeatedly stated that they will not have nuclear weapons in DCS, would it be possible to at least have an inert 'shape' for practice delivery?

MiG-21bis module has tactical nuke.

[Lace]

33 minutes ago, YoYo said:

MiG-21bis module has tactical nuke.

I know, but with no special visuals, persistent cloud, ground deformation, etc.  It's basically just a big bomb, and ED have stated that there will be no 'proper' nuclear weapons developed for a number of reasons.  

I know this wish list request is unlikely given the TOP SECRET classification of nuclear procedures, and as such any delivery practice would be limited to what we would normally fly with other 'dumb' weapons, but still worth an ask IMHO.

[YoYo]

40 minutes ago, Lace said:

I know, but with no special visuals, persistent cloud, ground deformation, etc. 

No? I also remember that there is a lot of smoke, although in fact there does not seem to be a characteristic mushroom. I haven't done that from long time .

Edited April 19, 2023 by YoYo

[Lace]

Just now, YoYo said:

No? I also remember that there is a lot of smoke, although in fact there does not seem to be a characteristic mushroom. I haven't done that from long time .

 

I stand corrected, though in my defence, I rarely fly the MiG-21 and I think only tried the nuke once a long while back.

[BIGNEWY]

Just to jump in here, we have no plans to add the nuclear "mushroom" cloud in DCS. 

thank you

[YoYo]

7 minutes ago, Lace said:

I stand corrected, though in my defence, I rarely fly the MiG-21 and I think only tried the nuke once a long while back.

I found a video, currently it looks like this:

Of course, it still doesn't look realistic, but it's better than nothing ;).

Edited April 19, 2023 by YoYo

[YoYo]

Btw. Of course, it would be nice to have a B.61 for the Strike Eagle, although the topic about nuke for Mudhen is quite new and the Razbam's model we get is from the early 2000s.

Quote

Sandia National Laboratories announced the completion of flight tests of the Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle multi-role combat aircraft carrying the B61-12 nuclear training bomb. The facility and US Air Force personnel conducted two tests at the Tonopah Test Site in Nevada in March 2020.

During the first test, which took place on March 12, the F-15E dropped a training B61-12 from a height of approx. 350 m, moving at a speed of approx. M1. The second attempt consisted in dropping a bomb from an altitude of over 7,600 m, in flight at a speed of about M1. In both cases, the bomb hit the designated area.

The B61-12 is approximately 3.7 m long and weighs approximately 374 kg. The bomb was designed to be dropped ballistically or by gravity. Sandia National Laboratories plans to build the B61-12 with components from aging bombs of the family and remanufactured parts, as well as using new technologies, as part of the 20-year armament life extension. The B61-12 is supposed to have better hit accuracy thanks to the new tail (Successful tests of the B61-12 nuclear bomb, 2018-07-01).

The completion of the trials means that the F-15E will soon be officially certified to carry the B61-12. The US Air Force also plans to adapt the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit and B-21 Raider bombers, Lockheed Martin F-16C/D and F-35 multi-role aircraft and the Panavia Tornado strike aircraft to carry it. The first production B61-12s are scheduled to be produced in FY2022.