30,000 Pound Bomb

[Buffa1oso1di3r]

The Pentagon is trying to speed up the deployment of an ultra-large bunker-busting bomb, which would constitute the largest non-nuclear bomb the U.S. has ever used. The Massive Ordnance Penetrator, or MOP, is a 30,000-pound bomb that would dive deeper than any previous bomb, and could be strapped to B-2 or B-52 bombers by July of 2010.

The MOP is 20 feet long and can penetrate bunkers up to 200 feet before exploding. At 15 tons, the MOP is a third heavier than the previous "mother of all bombs", the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, which was only 10.5 tons. The MOP also packs a whopping 5,300 lbs of explosives, which is 10 times the amount its predecessor bunker-buster, the BLU-109, carried.

Basically, it's massive.

The push for accelerated deployment is due to the increased perceived nuclear threats from Iran and North Korea. It's believed that many of their nuclear programs could be in development underground, below levels of current bunker-busting bombs' range. The Pentagon intends the rapid deployment to send a message that the United States is tweaking strategies to address new threats. And nothing is more American than advertising the sheer size and tonnage of the bombs hanging below our jets.

http://www.popsci.com/military-aviation-amp-space/article/2009-08/pentagon-wants-deploy-largest-non-nuclear-bomb-next-year

*dies*

[TruBlu]

Oh boy, I want pics and vids of this thing as soon as they go public!!!

[CrewDog]

I'd definitely love to see one strapped up under one of our Hawgs down here!

[TruBlu]

I'd definitely love to see one strapped up under one of our Hawgs down here!

Would an A-10 be able to handle the size of it? That would be truly awesome!

[wukong]

Neither the B-52, B-1 or B-2 are capable of handling a BLU-62 or the current MOAB. I doubt they would be able to carry a much larger weapon.

[Buffa1oso1di3r]

Neither the B-52, B-1 or B-2 are capable of handling a BLU-62 or the current MOAB. I doubt they would be able to carry a much larger weapon.

I know the B-52 can carry this, the MOAB is 30 feet long, this is only 20.

Since the B-2 can carry the GBU-28, which is 25 feet long, it can carry this beast as well.

Oh and uh... pic of the mockup.

http://cache.gizmodo.com/assets/images/4/2009/07/custom_1244642654333_penetrator.jpg

[TruBlu]

Um... WOW... So that's what 30,000 lbs of underground whup-ass looks like! Now I'm wondering how they load 'em up!

[Buffa1oso1di3r]

Um... WOW... So that's what 30,000 lbs of underground whup-ass looks like! Now I'm wondering how they load 'em up!

Like this.

http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/071218-F-9387T-221.jpg

[TruBlu]

Like this.

You never fail me. Should be fun to see when they have some footage or pictures on it being tested (or used).

[Buffa1oso1di3r]

You never fail me. Should be fun to see when they have some footage or pictures on it being tested (or used).

Indeed, the honorable Cadet from the glorious state of South Carolina.

[Startingover]

Neither the B-52, B-1 or B-2 are capable of handling a BLU-62 or the current MOAB. I doubt they would be able to carry a much larger weapon.

Wukong you are correct. I dont have the link im trying to find the story I read on it but they are currently producing a special mock up of the B-2 Capable of deploying the MOP ordinace weapon from high altitude by increasing thrust and further decreasing weight throughout the plane by consolidating smaller systems for the already aging bird.

The weapon itself... is rediculous in size and strength and honestly it looks like we are returning to cold war era weapons testing methods. We make the cruise missle, the make something bigger, We invent the Hydrogen bomb, they get the Tsar bomb. We get the MOAB, they make the FOAB. We get the MOP.... whats going to be the response this time? Each increase is... astronomical in size. MOAB to FOAB was a 30% increase in strength alone and the Tsar bomb has no comparison and the Russian Gov't even banned its use out of fear they might be unstable and too powerful.

[Buffa1oso1di3r]

Wukong you are correct. I dont have the link im trying to find the story I read on it but they are currently producing a special mock up of the B-2 Capable of deploying the MOP ordinace weapon from high altitude by increasing thrust and further decreasing weight throughout the plane by consolidating smaller systems for the already aging bird.

The weapon itself... is rediculous in size and strength and honestly it looks like we are returning to cold war era weapons testing methods. We make the cruise missle, the make something bigger, We invent the Hydrogen bomb, they get the Tsar bomb. We get the MOAB, they make the FOAB. We get the MOP.... whats going to be the response this time? Each increase is... astronomical in size. MOAB to FOAB was a 30% increase in strength alone and the Tsar bomb has no comparison and the Russian Gov't even banned its use out of fear they might be unstable and too powerful.

An untold number of B-2s are being modified to carry the weapon.

The weapon itself has about 1/3rd the explosive of the MOAB, the rest is the hardened casing it needs to get inside of mountains.

The FOAB was a fake, and we all know it.

[Startingover]

Of course the FOAB was fake, but the fact is they still try to improve on our stuff to make them look better. What next, we build a rubber duckie factory and they have to make the worlds largest rubber duck?

[Buffa1oso1di3r]

Of course the FOAB was fake, but the fact is they still try to improve on our stuff to make them look better. What next, we build a rubber duckie factory and they have to make the worlds largest rubber duck?

Exactly.

The Cold War, believe it or not, is still going on.

[Startingover]

Well in a sense it never died, the Russians just went broke for a while but the mentality is still there. Trying to one up your opponent without firing a shot is still the aim of the game, were just playing with larger and larger chips each round. If someone just backed off, then what was everything for then?

Its a battle that is never fought but each time someone looks at it the stakes get higher if conflict ever did break out.

Another quote other than my siggy, by his opponent Gen. Ulysses S. Grant - "There is a time in battle where both sides consider themselves beaten. Then he who continues the attack wins."

[Buffa1oso1di3r]

Well in a sense it never died, the Russians just went broke for a while but the mentality is still there. Trying to one up your opponent without firing a shot is still the aim of the game, were just playing with larger and larger chips each round. If someone just backed off, then what was everything for then?

Its a battle that is never fought but each time someone looks at it the stakes get higher if conflict ever did break out.

Indeed.

I can't wait for them to unveil the biggest nuke they've ever built.

Rumor has it that at the height of the Cold War they hit 300 megatons.

[Startingover]

Look up the Tsar bomb, its on Wiki. That was the height of nuclear improvements. Russia and the USA stopped after that, seeing how powerful we were getting. That test was shortly before the SALT I talks and I think it may have prompted them.

[Buffa1oso1di3r]

Look up the Tsar bomb, its on Wiki. That was the height of nuclear improvements. Russia and the USA stopped after that, seeing how powerful we were getting. That test was shortly before the SALT I talks and I think it may have prompted them.

Yeah, 50 Megatons, but it could've held 100.

I still don't think they stopped there, though.