There are different Bunker Buster bombs of different caliber but what set's it apart from the rest is this G B U 57 which is typically delivered by the B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber.
Due to the bomb's large size and weight, the aircraft can carry only two of these weapons in its bomb bay compartments.
While it lacks thrusters, the weapon is equipped with four active lattice fins and a precision guidance system that enables it to glide accurately to its target using military-grade GPS.
Constructed from a specially designed high-performance steel alloy, using it's weight when falling under gravity to penetrate or dig itself up to 200 feet of underground soil or concrete.
00:00There are different Bunker Buster Bombs of different caliber, but what sets it apart from the rest is this GBU-57, which is typically delivered by the B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber.
00:10Due to the bomb's large size and weight, the aircraft can carry only two of these weapons in its bomb bay compartments.
00:17While it lacks thrusters, the weapon is equipped with four active lattice fins and a precision guidance system that enables it to glide accurately to its target using military-grade GPS.
00:27Constructed from a specially designed high-performance steel alloy, using its weight when falling under gravity to penetrate or dig itself up to 200 feet of underground soil or concrete.
00:39We'll also look into the difference between the massive ordnance penetrator and the mother of all bombs with step-by-step process of how they work, all in the video ahead.
00:48To give you an idea of the varying levels of penetration capability among different Bunker Buster Bombs, let's compare a few examples.
00:55First, we have the BLU-109, also pronounced blue. It is a 2,000-pound or bomb developed in the 1970s.
01:04This weapon is capable of penetrating approximately 1.8 meters, or about 5 feet, of reinforced concrete.
01:12Next, we move on to the GBU-28, which is equipped with a laser-guided system at its front.
01:17This bomb can penetrate to a depth of nearly 6 meters, equivalent to roughly 20 feet, which is as tall as a two-story building.
01:26However, neither of these compares to the massive capabilities of the GBU-57, also known as the Massive Ordnance Penetrator.
01:34It can penetrate over 60 meters into the ground, around 200 feet.
01:37To put that into perspective, this depth is comparable to the height of a 20-story building, depending on the four heights.
01:44These examples demonstrate the significant advancements and differences in penetration levels among these specialized weapons.
01:52Let's put an average human here against this weapon, which is 20.5 feet long, giving it a streamlined, aerodynamic shape that is crucial for stability and precision.
02:01With a diameter of 31.5 inches and weighing an incredible 30,000 pounds, translating to approximately 14,000 kilograms,
02:10it utilizes its massive weight to generate the kinetic energy required for deep penetration.
02:15This heavy, compact design enables it to break through over 200 feet of reinforced concrete,
02:21making it one of the most effective bunker-busting munitions in the world.
02:25Let's take a look at the parts of this weapon.
02:27The most important part is the body casing, made of hardened ferro-cobalt alloy to withstand impact.
02:35Interestingly, the body comprises more than 80% of the bomb's total weight.
02:40Inside this cover, you will find the following components.
02:44At the front is the nose-fuse well, all of which are joined by a fused conduit.
02:49Standwitched within this rod is the explosive-filled 5,000-pound warhead,
02:53which translates to approximately 2,267 kilograms.
02:57This conduit then connects to a tail fuse, which, interestingly, is the main detonator and is crucial for delayed action.
03:06Moving to the back, nestled inside the tail, we discover the intricacies of its guidance system.
03:14Here, the inertial guidance kit collaborates seamlessly with a military-grade global positioning unit,
03:19ensuring precise navigation towards its intended target.
03:23Alongside these components, one can find the adapter ring,
03:26which facilitates the attachment of the telemetry antenna,
03:29crucial for transmitting data, as well as the encryption key battery,
03:32which safeguards sensitive information.
03:36Venturing deeper into its structure,
03:38we encounter the thermal batteries vital for powering the system
03:41and the composite fins strategically positioned to aid in directing the missile towards its objective.
03:47These fins, meticulously controlled by internal gears,
03:50maneuver with precision, responding to commands to adjust the trajectory accurately.
03:55Let's take a look at the smaller bunker buster and how it works.
03:58It has a laser sensor at the front and just behind that are adjustable fins.
04:03In the midsection, there is a warhead that weighs approximately 650 pounds containing tritonal explosive.
04:09This is a mixture of 80% TNT and 20% aluminum powder.
04:14Finally, we have the retractable fins at the rear.
04:17To give you a better sense of its size, comparing it to a person can be helpful.
04:21The casing has a length of approximately 19 feet long, which translates to around 5 meter.
04:27This section is made of an artillery barrel, which is very strong,
04:30and has a diameter of 14.5 inches, which translates to around 37 centimeters, making it relatively narrow.
04:39They intentionally made the smaller cross-sectional area.
04:43This means the bomb displaces less material, whether earth or concrete,
04:47as it penetrates layers of reinforced bunkers or building.
04:50The smaller cross-section allows it to enter deep into buildings, potentially avoiding steel and concrete.
04:56Let's move back to the MOP and its cost factor.
04:59The development cost of the GBU-57 is estimated to be between $400 and $500 million,
05:05with its production price per unit around $3.5 million.
05:09Meanwhile, the GBU-28, a 4,000-pound bomb, costs approximately $100,000 to $150,000 per unit.
05:19While the per-unit cost of the BLU-109 is approximately $25,000 to $84,000 for each JDAM kit.
05:27Let's take a look at how this works.
05:32Step 1.
05:33The bomb deployment platform, as previously mentioned, a B-2 stealth bomber flies in a very high altitude.
05:40When the aircraft reaches the designated location and the conditions are optimal, it releases the weapon.
05:45The bomb is designed for precision, and the deployment height plays a crucial role in its trajectory and effectiveness.
05:53Then step 2 comes the targeting precision.
05:56The bomb is outfitted with advanced guidance technology, including GPS and inertial navigation systems, which are military-grade satellites.
06:04Then comes step 3, that is adjusting the trajectory.
06:09The guidance information and data is then transmitted to the bomb's four-lattice motor's fins, located at the rear.
06:16These fins can move and adjust in real time, allowing the bomb to correct its course as it descends under the force of gravity.
06:24These adjustments are essential because the weapon does not have thrusters to change its trajectory.
06:29Instead, it relies on the movement of these fins in a high-altitude drop to control its flight path.
06:34This is why the bomb must be deployed from a very high altitude so it has enough time and distance to adjust its trajectory accurately.
06:44Here comes the most difficult part that is step 4, impact and penetration.
06:49The bomb, known as the Massive Ordnance Penetrator, weighs approximately 30,000 pounds, which is around 14,000 kilograms.
06:57When it reaches its target, it strikes with immense force, designed to penetrate deep into hardened structures, such as bunkers.
07:04The energy upon impact allows the bomb to bury itself over 200 feet into reinforced concrete, ensuring it delivers its payload precisely where it is intended for maximum effect.
07:16Finally, step 5 involves the tricky part of arming the weapon.
07:20It was installed with two SDB fuses.
07:22Double fuses are required as a backup.
07:24The first is for G-sensing, and the second is the time-delay fuse.
07:29Why the redesign was necessary, it was to ensure that the bomb could strike facilities buried beneath significant layers of hardened material.
07:36For this reason, the fuses are placed at the rear of the bomb to prevent them from being damaged.
07:41Once the time-delay or the G-sensing fuse reaches its destination,
07:45it can blow up creating a mini-earthquake that can bury bunkers and 20-story buildings inside them.
07:52Many people often confuse the Massive Ordnance Penetrator MOP with the Mother of All Bombs MOAB,
07:59which stands for Massive Ordnance Air Blast.
08:02The Mother of All Bombs weighs approximately 21,600 pounds and is designed to detonate above the ground,
08:10creating a massive shockwave and blast radius.
08:12However, unlike the MOP, it does not have penetration capabilities.
08:19This MOP is capable of digging up to 200 feet underground before exploding,
08:25while the Massive Ordnance Penetrator can be deployed from bombers such as the B-2 Spirit aircraft.
08:32But this is not the case with the Mother of All Bombs is so large that it must be delivered via a C-130 aircraft using a pallet system.
08:40Once deployed, the bomb is dragged by a parachute and falls under gravity,
08:45guided by an inertial navigation system and military-grade GPS.
08:49On April 13, the U.S. dropped one of its largest non-nuclear bombs on a tunnel complex in eastern Afghanistan.
08:59When it detonated, the blast sucked all the oxygen out of the caves.
09:04We make original videos from scratch, so please do subscribe and hit the notification bell for more videos.
