WeaponSpecs
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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.

Firepower specifications
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.

Physical specifications
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.

Munition specifications
Round type

APFSDS (kinetic sabot), HEAT / multipurpose, HE-FRAG, canister or gun-launched ATGM.

gravity bomb

Program

Cost, production scale and operators.

Program specifications
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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