Boeing
B83
US variable-yield strategic thermonuclear gravity bomb, the highest-yield weapon remaining in the US nuclear stockpile, carried by B-2 and B-52 bombers.
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-05
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
US ITAR-controlled
Export needs U.S. State Dept (DDTC) approval; end-use & re-transfer restrictions apply.
Channel: Foreign Military Sales (FMS) or Direct Commercial Sale
Fielded & proven
Operator data not public
Status: active · ~650 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Warhead type Blast-fragmentation, shaped charge (HEAT), penetrator, thermobaric or nuclear-capable. | Variable-yield thermonuclear (up to ~1.2 Mt) |
|---|
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 3.66 m |
|---|---|
| Width Overall width, matters for rail/road transport of vehicles. | 0.46 m |
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 1,118 kg |
Munition
Round type, penetration, velocity and projectile data.
| Round type APFSDS (kinetic sabot), HEAT / multipurpose, HE-FRAG, canister or gun-launched ATGM. | gravity bomb |
|---|
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 650 |
|---|
Specifications compiled from public Boeing and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-05.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does the Boeing B83 weigh? +
The Boeing B83 has a combat weight of 1,118 kg.
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