Sandians conduct a series of stockpile flight tests with support and aircraft from Hill Air Force Base in Utah before flying to Sandia’s Tonopah Test Range in Nevada. These tests, conducted Aug. 19-21, yielded positive results as inert B61-12 units were successfully carried and dropped by an F-35 aircraft, marking a significant milestone in evaluating the weapon’s performance. This test was the first B61-12 stockpile flight test of joint test assemblies on an F-35 aircraft, solidifying the end-to-end reliability of the aircraft, crews and weapon system during missions. The series also included the first-ever thermal preconditioning of a joint test assembly for carriage on an F-35 aircraft prior to its release, providing valuable insights into how the B61-12 is affected by temperature, shock and vibration in a real-world combined environment. Photos by Craig Fritz/Sandia National LaboratoriesAn inert B61-12 JTA is prepared, loaded and test flown on an F-15E, departing from Nellis Air Force Base on June 24, 2025. Photo by Craig FritzAn inert B61-12 JTA is prepared, loaded and test flown on an F-15E, departing from Nellis Air Force Base on June 24, 2025. Photo by Craig Fritz
