America’s Biggest Bomb

And the stealth bomber that carries it

The B-2 Spirit stealth bomber is the only aircraft in the U.S. Air Force currently able to carry and release the heaviest U.S. bomb, the 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator.

MOP was tested on a B-52, but the older bomber does not carry the massive bunker-busting munition operationally.

The GBU-57 is a 20-foot long, GPS-guided bomb believed to be able to penetrate 200 feet of concrete before exploding, making it the preferred non-nuclear weapon for destroying deeply buried targets.

Like bunkers in Iran, Syria or North Korea.

There are not many images showing the GBU-57 and even fewer showing the MOP next to its intended platform. That’s why the image above, taken by Jim Mumaw in July 2009, is extremely interesting and rare.

Sign up for a daily War is Boring email update here. Subscribe to WIB’s RSS feed here and follow the main page here.