B61-12 Joint Test Assembly

Also known as

B61-12 JTA
B61-12 test assembly

The B61-12 Joint Test Assembly is a U.S. non-nuclear test article for the B61-12 nuclear gravity bomb. Sandia National Laboratories and Air Force reporting place it in flight-test and stockpile-surveillance work on B-2 aircraft.

B61-12 Joint Test Assembly, nuclear gravity bomb test assembly, Munitions

Image source: B61-12 system production ends, sustainment begins

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin: United States
Built by: Sandia National Laboratories
Type: nuclear gravity bomb test assembly
Service note: Modern U.S. nuclear stockpile test article
Designer: Sandia National Laboratories

nuclear bombtest equipment

Specifications

Configuration: Non-nuclear joint test assembly
Components: Contains only non-nuclear components
Test role: Flight-test and surveillance article
Associated weapon: B61-12 nuclear gravity bomb

Carrier Aircraft

Carrier

Carrier type

Carriage evidence

B-2 Spirit, Low-observable strategic heavy bomber, Aircraft & UAVs

Stealth bomber

A B-2A Spirit released a B61-12 Joint Test Assembly during the capstone test at Tonopah Test Range.

Sources: B-2 executes new nuclear tactic in B61-12 JTA capstone test

Service And Conflict Use

Service History

In service: Used for flight tests and stockpile surveillance in the B61-12 program.

Media

B61-12 Joint Test Assembly Images

B61-12 Joint Test Assembly, nuclear gravity bomb test assembly, Munitions - view 1 — Source: B61-12 system production ends, sustainment begins

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Sources

B61-12 system production ends, sustainment beginsPublisher: Sandia National Laboratories | Note: Supports Sandia's B61-12 design-and-engineering and systems-integrator role, the joint test assembly program context, and image provenance for the Sandia photos on this page. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 U.S. Nuclear Weapons StockpilePublisher: U.S. Department of Energy | Note: Supports the B61-12 joint test assembly being assembled at the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 Upgrades at Sandia's Tonopah Test Range help weapons testingPublisher: Sandia National Laboratories | Note: Supports the B61-12 JTA as a non-nuclear test assembly used in Tonopah Test Range weapons testing. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 B-2 executes new nuclear tactic in B61-12 JTA capstone testPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports the B-2A Spirit releasing a B61-12 Joint Test Assembly during the capstone test at Tonopah Test Range. | Accessed: 2026-06-27