This is a discussion on Pentagon building new 15 ton bomb. within the Space & Defense Technology forum, part of the Global Defense & Military category; Production of 15-ton bunker buster sped up - Military News, News From Iraq & Afghanistan - Military Times
Looks like ...
Looks like they are speeding up the production and development of a new bunker busting non-nuclear bomb. 10 times more powerful than the "MOAB" its designed to replace. Check it out.
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"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing."
There is no way for Israel to use it, simple as that. This thing weights 15 tons and the Israelis do not have any platform to use it from. They cannot just buy a B-2. If the MOP sees any use, it also means that the US would have to directly participate in a strike against Iran.
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Maybe they can build a MOB for surface missions?
Why would they do that? Thats exactly what the MOAB is intended for, which in itself is a very recent weapons system.
The MOP does not directly replace anything, its an entirely new system, as far as scale is concerned. Of course operationally it would "replace" any penetrator in the current inventory deemed insufficient for a specific mission (which in most cases would be the GBU-28).
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Actually, with the size of that thing, even the USAF would have to clean every protuding part out of the bomb bay of a B-2.
FAS speculated a couple years ago that MOP / DSHTW / Big Blue could be used as a penetrating case for a low-yield neutron weapon, although i find that unlikely. The penetration that MOP offers is quite seriously not enough to take out any really deep embedded bunkers, even if they saturate the ground to a depth twice as deep with gamma rays for a bit.
Looks like they are speeding up the production and development of a new bunker busting non-nuclear bomb. 10 times more powerful than the "MOAB" its designed to replace. Check it out.
Hehe, it might just be a 'revenge', as the Russians recently dropped the FOAB (Father Of All Bombs) and pushed the MOAB off the throne for the most damage done by a non-nuclear bomb..
But by simply looking at the word 'MOP' it would be more suitable to swipe clean the surface
There is no way for Israel to use it, simple as that. This thing weights 15 tons and the Israelis do not have any platform to use it from. They cannot just buy a B-2. If the MOP sees any use, it also means that the US would have to directly participate in a strike against Iran.
Why would they do that? Thats exactly what the MOAB is intended for, which in itself is a very recent weapons system.
The MOP does not directly replace anything, its an entirely new system, as far as scale is concerned. Of course operationally it would "replace" any penetrator in the current inventory deemed insufficient for a specific mission (which in most cases would be the GBU-28).
If that weapon can be loaded in a C-130, i don't see the problem to provide terminal guidance from another source. Besides that it seems to be a very powerful weapon against tunnels networks or deep structures. Rethinking the Grand Slam of Sir Barnes Wallis and its seismic effect?
Is there any reason why there's been no push to integrate this weapon on the B-52?
The Buff should have the bomb load to carry it and seems to be a suitable delivery platform. Unless the target is well-protected by an IADS, there seems to be no reason to favor the B-2 over the B-52.
Pentagon acknowledge that the new bomb is intended to destroy fortified sites like those used by Iran and North Korea for their nuclear programs, but they deny there is a specific target in mind.
The Pentagon has awarded a nearly $52 million contract to speed up placement of the bomb aboard the B-2 Stealth bomber, and say the bomb could be fielded as soon as next summer.
The new U.S. bomb would be the culmination of planning begun in the Bush years.
Is there any reason why there's been no push to integrate this weapon on the B-52?
The Buff should have the bomb load to carry it and seems to be a suitable delivery platform. Unless the target is well-protected by an IADS, there seems to be no reason to favor the B-2 over the B-52.
They are supposed to hit really well protected sites.Nuclear facilities,command bunkers,etc
Pentagon building new 15 ton bomb. 
