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Albuquerque, New Mexico
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The MK-53, also known as the B53, was a high-yield thermonuclear bomb developed during the Cold War and was part of the arsenal maintained at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque.
With a yield of nine megatons, the MK-53 was among the most potent bombs in the U.S. nuclear arsenal until its retirement in 1997.
The bomb was intended to be delivered by strategic bombers like the B-52, emphasizing its role in Cold War deterrence strategies.
The disassembly of the MK-53 bombs was part of the U.S. nuclear disarmament efforts and took place at the Pantex Plant in Texas, with Albuquerque's Kirtland Air Force Base being a key site for storage and logistics.
The bomb was equipped with a parachute system to slow its descent, allowing the delivery aircraft to escape the blast radius safely.
