The Turkish publication Aydınlık raised concerns about the modernization of B61-12 nuclear bombs.

What’s the modernization about? Essentially, the bomb’s tail section is upgraded with a guidance system that can adjust its flight path to the target. This is similar to the JDAM kit used by the U.S. military (not to be confused with JDAM-ER, which is akin to the UPMK).

This upgrade boosts the bomb’s combat effectiveness by reducing its circular error probable (CEP) compared to the free-fall version. It also aims to standardize the B61 bomb, which currently has four variants, into a single version. According to the Turkish outlet, the upgraded bomb can travel up to 24 kilometers.

The publication argues that modernizing these bombs, ramping up production of the new B61-13, and statements by some U.S. politicians about using nuclear weapons only heighten tensions between Russia and the U.S., putting Turkey at risk as a result.