 The first flight test for an inert Mod 12 was conducted in 2015, with a second successful test in August 2017.In November 2015, a test of the Mod 12 was conducted where the bomb penetrated underground, showing its potential as a nuclear earth-penetrator.Although ground penetration was not an objective of the Mod 12 upgrade, it could allow it to take up the penetrating mission of the Mod 11, which has no life-extension planned and will expire in the 2030s.