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Massive Ordnance Penetrator

The GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) is a
GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance
precision-guided, 30,000-pound (14,000 kg) "bunker buster"
Penetrator
bomb used by the United States Air Force.[2] This is substantially
larger than the deepest penetrating bunker busters previously
available, the 5,000-pound (2,300 kg) GBU-28 and GBU-37.

The Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) is a weapon system

designed to accomplish a difficult, complicated mission of
reaching and destroying an adversary's weapons of mass
destruction located in well-protected facilities.[3]

Contents
GBU-57 MOP prototype
Development
Type "Bunker buster"
Next Generation Penetrator munition bomb
Specifications Place of origin United States
See also Service history
References Used by United States Air
External links Force
Production history
Manufacturer Boeing[1]
Development
Specifications
In 2002, Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin were working
Mass 30,000 pounds
on the development of a 30,000-pound (13,600 kg) earth-
(14,000 kg)
penetrating weapon, said to be known as "Big BLU". But funding
and technical difficulties resulted in the development work being Length 20.5 feet (6.2 m)
abandoned. Following the 2003 invasion of Iraq, analysis of sites Diameter 31.5 inches
that had been attacked with bunker buster bombs revealed poor (0.80 m)
penetration and inadequate levels of destruction. This renewed
interest in the development of a larger bunker buster, and the MOP project was initiated by the
Defense Threat Reduction Agency to fulfill a long-standing Air Force requirement.[4]

The U.S. Air Force has not officially communicated a specific military requirement for an ultra-large
bomb, but it does have a concept for a collection of massively sized penetrator and blast weapons: the
so-called "Big BLU" collection, which includes the MOAB (Massive Ordnance Air Blast) bomb.
Development of the MOP was performed at the Air Force Research Laboratory, Munitions
Directorate, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida with design and testing work performed by Boeing. It is
intended that the bomb will be deployed on the B-2 bomber, and will be guided using GPS.[5][6]

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Northrop Grumman announced a $2.5-million stealth-bomber refit contract on 19 July 2007. Each of
the U.S. Air Force's B-2s is to be able to carry two 14-ton MOPs.[7][8]

The initial explosive test of MOP took place on 14 March 2007 in a tunnel belonging to the Defense
Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) at the White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.

On 6 October 2009, ABC News reported that the Pentagon had requested and obtained permission
from the U.S. Congress to shift funding in order to accelerate the project.[9][10] It was later announced
by the U.S. military that funding delays and enhancements to the planned test schedule meant the
bomb would not be deployable until December 2010, six months later than the original availability
date.[11]

The project has had at least one successful Flight Test MOP launch.[12]

On 7 April 2011, the USAF ordered eight MOPs plus supporting equipment, for $28 million.[13]

The Air Force took delivery of 20 bombs, designed to be delivered by the B-2 bomber, in September
2011. In February 2012, Congress approved $81.6 million to further develop and improve the
weapon.[14]

On 14 November 2011, Bloomberg reported that the Air Force Global Strike Command started
receiving the Massive Ordnance Penetrator and that the deliveries "will meet requirements for the
current operational need".[15] The Air Force now has received delivery of 16 MOPs as of November
2011.[16] And as of March 2012, there is an "operational stockpile" at Whiteman Air Force Base.[17]

In 2012, the Pentagon requested $82 million to develop greater penetration power for the existing
weapon.[1] A 2013 report stated that the development had been a success,[18] and B-2 integration
testing began that year.[19]

MOP being MOP underground Mock up of MOP B-52 releases a

offloaded in at White Sands inside a bomb bay MOP during a
preparation for its Missile Range of a B-2 simulator, weapons test, 2009.
first explosive test, before its first 2007.[7]
2007. explosive test, 2007.

Next Generation Penetrator munition

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On 25 June 2010, USAF Lt. Gen. Philip M. Breedlove said that the Next Generation Penetrator
munition should be about a third the size of the Massive Ordnance Penetrator so it could be carried by
affordable aircraft.[20] In December 2010, the USAF had a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for
the Next Generation Penetrator (NGP).[21]

Global Strike Command has indicated that one of the objectives for the Next-Generation Bomber is
for it to carry a weapon with the effects of the Massive Ordnance Penetrator. This would either be with
the same weapon or a smaller weapon that uses rocket power, not unlike the WW II British/American
Disney bomb used, to reach sufficient speed to match the penetrating power of the larger weapon.[22]

One of the current limitations of the MOP is that it lacks a void-sensing fuze and will therefore
detonate after it has come to a stop, even if it passed by the target area.[23]

Specifications
Length: 20.5 feet (6.2 m)[24]
Diameter: 31.5 inches (0.8 m)[24]
Weight: 30,000 pounds (13,608 kilograms)
Warhead: 5,300 pounds (2,404.0 kilograms) high explosive
Penetration: 200 ft (61 m)[7]

See also
Bunker buster
Earthquake bomb
Thermobaric weapon

Specific large bombs

BLU-82 Daisy Cutter bomb

Father of All Bombs (FOAB)
GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb (MOAB)
Grand Slam bomb
T-12 Cloudmaker
Tallboy bomb

References
1. Adam Entous; Julian E. Barnes (28 January 2012). "Pentagon Seeks Mightier Bomb vs. Iran" (http
s://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970203363504577187420287098692?mod=WSJ_WSJ
_News_BlogsModule). The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
2. B-2/Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) GBU-57A/B (http://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&m
ode=form&id=6bded5f03e250578c12cc6939537f128&tab=core&_cview=0). FedBizOpps
3. "Massive Ordnance Penetrator" (https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104614/
massive-ordnance-penetrator/). U.S. Air Force. Retrieved 28 May 2019.

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4. "MASSIVE ORDNANCE PENETRATOR fact sheet" (http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/FactSheets/Displa

y/tabid/224/Article/104614/massive-ordnance-penetrator.aspx). US Air Force. 18 November 2011.
Retrieved 2 January 2012.
5. GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) / Direct Strike Hard Target Weapon / Big BLU
(http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/mop.htm)
6. Military & Aerospace Electronics, "Air Force ready to deploy 30,000-pound 'super bomb' on
stealthy B-2 jet" (http://mae.pennnet.com/display_article/282449/32/NEWS/none/none/Air-Force-r
eady-to-deploy-30,000-pound-'super-bomb'-on-stealthy-B-2-jet-bomber/)
7. Feature—30,000-pound bomb reaches milestone (https://web.archive.org/web/20110629060725/h
ttp://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123080622). US Air Force
8. Northrop Grumman Begins Work to Equip B-2 Bomber with Massive Penetrator Weapon
(NYSE:NOC) (http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/pages/news_releases.html?d=123187)
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20081224214201/http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/page
s/news_releases.html?d=123187) 24 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine
9. Is the U.S. Preparing to bomb Iran? - ABC News (http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-preparing-bo
mb-iran/story?id=8765343)
10. http://abcnews.go.com/images/Politics/reprogramming_memo_091006.pdf
11. Wolf, Jim (18 December 2009). "Exclusive: Pentagon delays new "bunker buster" bomb" (https://w
ww.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5BH5IQ20091218). Reuters.
12. Team Edwards wins two safety awards (http://www.edwards.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123140373)
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20090328221131/http://www.edwards.af.mil/news/story.as
p?id=123140373) 28 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine
13. Reed, John. "USAF Getting More Penetrating Power." (http://www.dodbuzz.com/2011/04/08/usaf-
getting-more-penetrating-power/) DoD Buzz, 8 April 2011.
14. Capaccio, Tony, "Bunker-Buster Bomb Improvements Sought By Pentagon Win Approval",
Bloomberg L.P., 9 February 2012.
15. Capaccio, Tony. "30,000-Pound Bunker Buster Bomb Now Ready" (https://www.bloomberg.com/n
ews/2011-11-14/30-000-pound-bunker-buster-bomb-now-ready.html). Bloomberg, 14 November
2011.
16. "The Air Force now has the MOP" (http://defensetech.org/2011/11/15/air-force-now-has-the-mop).
17. Thompson, Mark. "Key Point: Bunker-Busters Come In Both Small and Large Sizes" (http://battlel
and.blogs.time.com/2012/03/09/key-point-bunker-busters-come-in-both-small-and-large-sizes).
Time. 9 March 2012.
18. Capaccio, Tony (15 January 2013). "Boeing's 30,000-pound bunker-buster bomb improved,
Pentagon says" (http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2020131408_boeingbombxml.ht
ml). Seattle Times. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
19. "Northrop, USAF Explore Diverse B-2 Weapons Options." (http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.as
px?id=/article-xml/asd_02_15_2013_p04-02-549066.xml)
20. Daily Report (http://www.airforce-magazine.com/DRArchive/Pages/2010/June%202010/June%20
25%202010/ASlimmerMOP.aspx) AirForce Magazine, 25 June 2010.
21. "Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) - Next Generation Penetrator (NGP)" (https://www.fbo.gov/i
ndex?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=e41303db616f3133740048f88e795031&tab=core&_cview=
1)
22. Trimble, Stephen. "Penetrate faster, harder with new AFRL weapon." (http://www.flightglobal.com/
blogs/the-dewline/2011/02/penetrate-faster-harder-with-n.html)Flightglobal, 20 February 2011.
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20110223130954/http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-dew
line/2011/02/penetrate-faster-harder-with-n.html) 23 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine
23. "USAF Focuses On Next-Gen Hard-Target Killer." (http://www.aviationweek.com/Article/PrintArticl
e.aspx?id=/article-xml/AW_09_17_2012_p56-492712.xml&p=1&printView=true)

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24. "DTRA Fact Sheets" (https://web.archive.org/web/20090223084920/http://www.dtra.mil/newsservi

ces/fact_sheets/display.cfm?fs=mop). Defense Threat Reduction Agency. July 2007. Archived
from the original (http://www.dtra.mil/newsservices/fact_sheets/display.cfm?fs=mop) on February
2009. Retrieved 1 November 2015.

External links
Massive Ordnance Penetrator Fact Sheet (http://www.dtra.mil/Missions/NuclearDeterrenceDefens
e/MassiveOrdnancePenetrator.aspx)—dtra.mil
First Massive Ordnance Penetrator Explosive Test Successful (https://web.archive.org/web/20090
223084920/http://www.dtra.mil/newsservices/fact_sheets/display.cfm?fs=mop)—dtra.mil
Boeing-Developed Massive Ordnance Penetrator Successfully Completes Static Lethality Test (htt
ps://web.archive.org/web/20070709144202/http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2007/q1/07032
6a_nr.html)—Boeing
'Bunker busters' may grow to 30,000 pounds (http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/07/20/big.bomb/)—
CNN
Massive bomb to MOP up deeply buried targets (http://www.janes.com/defence/news/jdw/jdw040
719_1_n.shtml)—Jane's Defence Weekly
A different kind of smart: weapons becoming autonomous and precise (https://web.archive.org/we
b/20091226210416/http://www.janes.com/defence/air_forces/news/idr/idr051220_1_n.shtml)—
Jane's
Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/ds
htw.htm)—GlobalSecurity.org
U.S. Outfitting B-2's with Monster Bunker Buster Bombs - Iran May Be Target (http://webarchive.lo
c.gov/all/20070818033109/http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2007/7/26/212543.shtml)—
NewsMax
MOPping Up: The USA's 30,000 Pound Bomb (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/mopping-up-t
he-usas-30000-pound-bomb-03172/)
Kennedy-Feinstein Amendment to the Defense Authorization Bill on the Robust Nuclear Earth
Penetrator (RNEP) (https://web.archive.org/web/20110718043814/http://feinstein.senate.gov/05sp
eeches/cr-kennedy-feinstein.htm)
Rare image of a B-2 stealth bomber and its Massive Ordnance Penetrator bunker buster bomb (ht
tp://theaviationist.com/2013/10/28/b-2-mop/)

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