B28 | |
---|---|
![]() Diagram of the B28FI bomb. | |
Type | Nuclear bomb |
Service history | |
Used by | United States |
Production history | |
Designed | 1954 to 1958 (EX and IN), 1955 to 1958 (RE), 1958 to 1960 (RI) and 1959 to 1962 (FI)[1] |
Produced | Started 1958 (EX and IN), 1959 (RE), 1960 (RI) and 1962 (FI), ended 1966.[1][2] |
No. built | ~4,500[2] |
Specifications | |
Blast yield | 70 to 1,450 kilotonnes of TNT (290 to 6,070 TJ)[2] |
The B28, originally Mark 28, was a thermonuclear bomb carried by U.S. tactical fighter bombers, attack aircraft and bomber aircraft. From 1962 to 1972 under the NATO nuclear weapons sharing program, American B28s also equipped six Europe-based Canadian CF-104 squadrons known as the RCAF Nuclear Strike Force. It was also supplied for delivery by UK-based Royal Air Force Valiant and Canberra aircraft[3] assigned to NATO under the command of SACEUR. In addition, certain U.S. Navy carrier based attack aircraft such as the A3D (later A-3B) Skywarrior, A4D (later A-4) Skyhawk, and A3J (later A-5A) Vigilante were equipped to carry the B28.
© MMXXIII Rich X Search. We shall prevail. All rights reserved. Rich X Search