The bomb weighs approximately . The location of the lifting lugs shows that the greater part of the total mass is contained in the nuclear explosive. It has a variable yield: the destructive power is adjustable from somewhere in the low kiloton range up to a maximum of . The weapon is protected by a Category "D" Permissive Action Link (PAL) that prevents the enabling or detonation of the weapon without proper authorization. About 650 B83s were built, and the weapon remains in service as part of the United States "Enduring Stockpile". Aircraft capable of carrying the B83 The following aircraft are certified for carrying the B83 bomb: B-52 Stratofortress (formerly) B-1B Lancer (formerly) B-2 Spirit Nuclear capability has been removed from the B-1B, and the B-52 no longer carries gravity nuclear bombs. Novel uses The B83 is one of the weapons considered for use in the "Nuclear Bunker Buster" project, which for a time was known as the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator, or RNEP. While most efforts have focused on the smaller B61-11 nuclear bomb, Los Alamos National Laboratory was also analyzing the use of the B83 in this role. The physics package contained within the B83 has been studied for use in asteroid impact avoidance strategies against any seriously threatening near earth asteroids. Six such warheads, configured for the maximum , would be deployed by maneuvering space vehicles to "knock" an asteroid off course, should it pose a risk to the Earth. See also B61 nuclear bomb List of nuclear weapons References External links B83 Information Site B83 page at nuclearweaponarchive.org Cold War aerial bombs of the United States Nuclear bombs of the United States Military equipment introduced in the 1980s