B53 nuclear bomb

B53
Type	Thermonuclear weapon
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1962–1997
Production history
Designer	LANL[1]
Designed	1958–1961[1]
Manufacturer	Atomic Energy Commission
Produced	1961–1965[1][2]
No. built	About 340[2]
Specifications
Mass	8,850 lb (4,010 kg)[1]
Length	12 ft 4 in (3.76 m)[1]
Diameter	50 in (4.2 ft; 1.3 m)[1]
Filling	Fission: 100% oralloy Fusion: Lithium-6 deuteride[1]
Blast yield	Y1: 9 megatons Y2: Unknown

The Mk/B53 was a high-yield bunker buster thermonuclear weapon developed by the United States during the Cold War. Deployed on Strategic Air Command bombers, the B53, with a yield of 9 megatons, was the most powerful weapon in the U.S. nuclear arsenal after the last B41 nuclear bombs were retired in 1976.

The B53 was the basis of the W-53 warhead carried by the Titan II missile, which was decommissioned in 1987. Although not in active service for many years before 2010, fifty B53s were retained during that time as part of the "hedge" portion^[i] of the Enduring Stockpile until its complete dismantling in 2011. The last B53 was disassembled on 25 October 2011, a year ahead of schedule.^[3][4]

With its retirement, the largest bomb currently in service in the U.S. nuclear arsenal is the B83, with a maximum yield of 1.2 megatons.^[5] The B53 was replaced in the bunker-busting role by the B61 Mod 11.

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