The U.S. has announced a successful series of flight tests, dropping unarmed B61-12 nuclear gravity bombs from an F-35A stealth fighter at Nevada’s Tonopah Test Range. Conducted in August by Sandia National Laboratories and the National Nuclear Security Administration, the tests validated the reliability and operational performance of the B61-12 and its compatibility with F-35 jets, following a major life-extension program for the bomb. The announcement comes days after President Trump stated that the U.S. will resume nuclear testing to match “demonstrations” by Russia, China, and Pakistan—sparking global concern. While Washington clarified that only system-level, non-explosive tests are planned for now, Moscow warned that any real U.S. nuclear test would trigger reciprocal Russian testing, raising fears of a destabilizing new arms race.