ABC: Pentagon places “urgent” order for four massive bunker-busting bombs
posted at 4:52 pm on October 7, 2009 by Allahpundit
He’s got the “speak softly” part pretty well covered. Looks like now it’s time for The One to start carrying the big stick. And I do mean big: It’s the largest non-nuclear explosive on earth.
First, some background: Back in October 2007, ABC News reported that the Pentagon had asked Congress for $88 million in the emergency Iraq/Afghanistan war funding request to develop a gargantuan bunker-busting bomb called the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP). It’s a 30,000-pound bomb designed to hit targets buried 200 feet below ground. Back then, the Pentagon cited an “urgent operational need” for the new weapon.
Now the Pentagon is shifting spending from other programs to fast forward the development and procurement of the Massive Ordnance Penetrator. The Pentagon comptroller sent a request to shift the funds to the House and Senate Appropriations and Armed Services Committees over the summer.
The comptroller said the Pentagon planned to spend $19.1 million to procure four of the bombs, $28.3 million to accelerate the bomb’s “development and testing”, and $21 million to accelerate the integration of the bomb onto B-2 stealth bombers.
Why now? The notification says simply, “The Department has an Urgent Operational Need (UON) for the capability to strike hard and deeply buried targets in high threat environments. The MOP is the weapon of choice to meet the requirements of the UON.” It further states that the request is endorsed by Pacific Command (which has responsibility over North Korea) and Central Command (which has responsibility over Iran).
Iran’s enrichment site at Qom is, of course, located inside a mountain. Two thoughts. One: This is a relatively cheap form of saber-rattling. $70 million is nothing when it comes to defense outlays; probably the whole point of speeding up production is simply to be able to leak the story to an outlet like ABC so that Iran will see it. Two: They could be rushing this out not because we intend to use it ourselves (the part about outfitting it for the B-2 notwithstanding) but so that we can hand it off to Israel. Do they have anything big enough to carry it, though? I’m guessing yes, as rumors that we might sell them the MOP have surfaced before.
Exit question: Would a man with this on his wall really bomb Iran? I ask you.
Blowback
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it is rather… suggestive.
perhaps we’ll see a porn star using it as his name sometime.
homesickamerican on October 7, 2009 at 5:28 PM
1. FNC HQ
2. EIB network/studio
3. Mark Levin’s bunker
4. Anywhere Glenn Beck is
There, that’s the list…
Khun Joe on October 7, 2009 at 5:28 PM
Would a man with this on his wall really bomb Iran?
.
Maybe.
ronsfi on October 7, 2009 at 4:55 PM
lol
max1 on October 7, 2009 at 5:29 PM
Yeah, but the way I remember them, C-130s don’t exactly “scoot”.
ddrintn on October 7, 2009 at 5:29 PM
I’m sure they are for Afghanistan to get the Taliban hiding in the caves. I wonder how much damage one of them can do.
And that painting is stoopid.
nwpammy on October 7, 2009 at 5:30 PM
They used a C-130 test dropping the MOAB , it think it’s the same size and weight on the MOP.
the_nile on October 7, 2009 at 5:30 PM
So… Do you think McCain will call Obama at 3:00 AM… and play Barbara Ann?
-
RalphyBoy on October 7, 2009 at 5:31 PM
Wow, another sleeper cell gets the GO code.
Del Dolemonte on October 7, 2009 at 5:31 PM
I hope they have some good intell on Taliban leadership…Buh bye!
Nozzle on October 7, 2009 at 5:32 PM
Exactly – it takes a HUGE platform to lift this baby around. This bomb is NEVER going to replace our nuclear arsenal.
HondaV65 on October 7, 2009 at 5:32 PM
I wonder if we have any airbases in Kurdish territories? The Kurds do not like the Persians and they seem to like us. Drop of the MOPs there and deliver them to Iran when called upon.
WashJeff on October 7, 2009 at 5:32 PM
Maybe they’ll put them on a UAV; I can see it now; The Iranians congratulating themselves for shooting it down………POP!
Cybergeezer on October 7, 2009 at 5:33 PM
He might drop one on San Antonio. I’d believe that before I’d believe that he’d hurt a hair on the head of anyone who hates America.
baldilocks on October 7, 2009 at 5:33 PM
So did Elmer Fudd, until he got his getalife handed to him by a bunch of ants.
Del Dolemonte on October 7, 2009 at 5:34 PM
Massive Ordnance Penetrator
That was my nickname in college!!
Hening on October 7, 2009 at 5:35 PM
Is it the Saudi Prince’s birthday yet?
kingsjester on October 7, 2009 at 5:35 PM
I agree. Palin and Limbaugh and Beck and town hall protesters are the only “enemies” they get worked up about
ddrintn on October 7, 2009 at 5:35 PM
Shhhh. Baldi, my entire family lives in San Antonio…don’t give him any ideas.
HornetSting on October 7, 2009 at 5:36 PM
Hot Air really should implement a minimum age requirement to post on this site. I suggest they begin with 12 which would eliminate Khun.
orlandocajun on October 7, 2009 at 5:36 PM
Maybe Hussein The Organizer intends to take out Breitbart HQ.
Chickyraptor on October 7, 2009 at 5:36 PM
Spoken by a true expert on the subject!
Del Dolemonte on October 7, 2009 at 5:37 PM
Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran…
anticucho on October 7, 2009 at 5:37 PM
Or require HA Hotheads to have at least 2 brain cells to rub together…that would eliminate many trolls.
HornetSting on October 7, 2009 at 5:38 PM
B2′s are the delivery platform for this weapon. Each B2 can carry 1.
elduende on October 7, 2009 at 5:39 PM
If he thought he could get away with it that would probably be Obama’s preference for the MOPs.
MB4 on October 7, 2009 at 5:40 PM
Why show our hand to the enemy?
Words and threats, or leaking a story with hopes of bringing him to his senses has absolutelyno effect on Ahmadinjad. When has he demonstrated that he’s willing to lay down his arms and leave Israel live in peace?
I know the Iranian people will have a cow over this kind of armament, but they are in no position to sway the Mullah’s or Ahmie either. To fundamentalist jihadis, people are expendable. Like using them for bombs or launching missiles from their dining rooms.
Enough with the phony posturing. You win with overwhelming firepower. If we have it, use it. And use it without a warning.
fogw on October 7, 2009 at 5:40 PM
Translation: Arrogant Joooos. They keep insisting on existing. Why won’t they just lay down and DIE?
Cicero43 on October 7, 2009 at 5:41 PM
Time to get out of the Afghan Banana Stand.
Liam on October 7, 2009 at 5:43 PM
It would take all four bombs to blow that corrupt bastard Rangle out of his house seat…..
1921 C DRUM on October 7, 2009 at 5:44 PM
Well maybe we’ve finally come to realize that sanctions don’t work? Good oogedy boogedy tactic, but I don’t see Iran shaking in their boots. The little tyrant will have some saber rattling reply as usual. But if we were going to bomb Iran why would we blow the element of surprise?
scalleywag on October 7, 2009 at 5:48 PM
Voting him out is better. Imagine his humiliation!
Liam on October 7, 2009 at 5:49 PM
We’re going to lose in Afghan because of Obama. Get used to it.
Liam on October 7, 2009 at 5:50 PM
Maybe the bamster will do something right for a change.
Key West Reader on October 7, 2009 at 5:51 PM
Because dems are stupid. Key word: BIDEN
Key West Reader on October 7, 2009 at 5:52 PM
A little request here, its a small thing I know, hardly important in todays “gotcha” world, but could we, pretty please, stop telegraphing our possiable future moves to our enemies??
Thanks.
sonofdy on October 7, 2009 at 5:53 PM
Will the US be launching them at IRAN or will we give Isreal the honors?
BigMike252 on October 7, 2009 at 5:55 PM
All part of Obama’s “smart” diplomacy. Leak information about something you have no intention of doing to strengthen your hand. But who are they kidding?
dingbat on October 7, 2009 at 5:57 PM
Do they have anything big enough to carry it, though? I’m guessing yes
E9RET on October 7, 2009 at 5:59 PM
I’ve encountered differing numbers for the B-2′s payload, but the minimum seems to be 40,000 lbs. That suggests it can carry these bunker busters, depending on their dimensions. What concerns me is that they’re just now ordering them??????????
kd6rxl on October 7, 2009 at 6:03 PM
ObamaCare is the ultimate MOP…
Massive Obama Prevarication.
TXUS on October 7, 2009 at 6:04 PM
It is nice of
A=always
B=Bashing
C=Country
to telegraph this info to our world….
wepeople on October 7, 2009 at 6:08 PM
I HATE not being able to edit posts!!!!!!
Tactically I’m saying no, I don’t think anything in the current IAF is capable of carrying ordnance of this size.
The 130 used for the MOAB 1. Didn’t have to go over 1,000 miles and 2. Much of the travel is over hostile territory; Iran’s got new ADA toys from Russia that our own aircraft would find hard to avoid.
I could put another 10 – 20 reasons like Israel’s 130′s are older models without the same lifting capabilities; lousy avionics, etc but 1 and 2 should be enough to dissuade the “B-130″ crowd.
E9RET on October 7, 2009 at 6:10 PM
Though the Arabs are uneasy with an Iranian nuke, US may be able to take off from Saudi Arabia or Kuwait.
rbj on October 7, 2009 at 6:14 PM
“I say we nuke the site from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure.”
/WWERD?
Mike Honcho on October 7, 2009 at 6:25 PM
Obama couldn’t intimidate a butterfly.
Not even a rainbow colored butterfly that craps glitter.
jhffmn on October 7, 2009 at 6:27 PM
Israel doesn’t have anything coming close to being able to carry the MOP. The 30,000 pound MOP far outweighs the carriage capacity of the F-15E, Israel’s largest fighter/bomber. Israel doesn’t operate any heavy bombers.
The B-2′s are being modified to be able to carry 2, one in each bomb bay. This would exceed the B-2′s payload capacity of 40,000 pounds, but they’ll get around that by carrying less fuel at takeoff and require more midair refueling during an operational strike. B-2 Spirit
B-2, MOP
McBaine on October 7, 2009 at 6:28 PM
The U.S. has no real intention of using these weapons, so I doubt it can be classified as a “possible future move”.
Mike Honcho on October 7, 2009 at 6:28 PM
I don’t get it…Iran already knows that we have big big bomb making capabilities. They probably have no clue just how many weapons we have. That’s never stopped them from doing anything, they don’t fear the US. So what would happen if we gave their nuke facilities the big kaboom? What then?
scalleywag on October 7, 2009 at 6:45 PM
Now, frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if an F-15E could get off the ground with 15 tons of external load, but there’s going to be no way to hang a single 15-ton store on the thing and even if you found enough structure and enough gear clearance to hang it on the centerline you’d have about the maneuvering envelope of a 737 once airborne anyway.
The only way Israel would cart something like that to Qom is El Al.
JEM on October 7, 2009 at 6:48 PM
Jesus that thing isn’t a Louisville slugger its a freaking cudgel w/ nails driven through it.
Rattl3r on October 7, 2009 at 6:48 PM
I thought you ‘necks liked
bombingliberating the godless brown folk? You ‘Real Americans’ need to get your story straight!simplesimon on October 7, 2009 at 6:49 PM
What’s the big deal? We have these UONs for MOPs all the time.
PaCadle on October 7, 2009 at 6:50 PM
Perhaps they’re reporting this to help Obambi look like he’s gonna be rough and tough in the future? I mean, I can’t think of any other good (and that is debatable even for this) reason to announce ANYTHING about Pentagon orders for bombs. It doesn’t matter if we’re going to use them or not.
Can you imagine the Manhattan Project if the reporters were like they are today? The front page story in the July 1945 New York Times or whatever rag willing to run with it might read something like this: “Inside sources say an atomic bomb may be tested in New Mexico if U.S. generals get their way. Despite sources that say the Japanese are close to surrender, U.S. leaders are determined to ‘decimate the Japanese people.’ Spokesmen for President Truman would neither confirm nor deny the existence of any weapon, nor any plans for attacking mainland Japan.”
Seriously… Gotta love it when the press is willing to do anything to compromise military operations.
Mad Mad Monica on October 7, 2009 at 6:52 PM
And my first question is…
Why in the seven levels of the Inferno is this being published?! Who the hell is leaking our military’s ‘urgent’ purchases to every Mohammad Al-Screwbalski with an internet connection?!
Why can’t we keep our military operations secret any longer?
Dark-Star on October 7, 2009 at 6:54 PM
Only two sentences and you’ve managed to work in rednecks, racism, neocon hate, and faux patriotism. That must be some kind of record.
Do you get some kind of gold star from Soros for that achievement?
TheUnrepentantGeek on October 7, 2009 at 6:54 PM
I was born under a 49 star USA flag, so that should zero in the age for you a tad better…
Khun Joe on October 7, 2009 at 6:57 PM
9/11 cubed. Our distribution systems for food and power are incredibly vulnerable, just to pick a couple easy things off the top of my head.
If someone were to have as little as a thousand men and women with a weaponry/equipment budget of a thousand dollars each to target the things I’ve just mentioned, the chaos potential would be gigantic.
Dark-Star on October 7, 2009 at 7:02 PM
Glad they are ordering these now. They will be ready for the next president, who will probably be willing to protect America, Saudi Arabia and Israel.
Yes, that’s an odd-sounding grouping, isn’t it? Hey, don’t ask me why we are not willing to drill our own oil, but we will enrich terrorist supporters by importing theirs.
This also assumes we make it past 2012 without Iran pushing the button.
Meremortal on October 7, 2009 at 7:06 PM
I still like the idea of cutting off Iran’s gas imports. Nothing like sitting in a line 5 blocks long waiting for gas, and then finding out it’s all gone. As in “gas on national back-order.” The best way to do this w/o major blowback is to cut loose what started in Iran this summer. Then let loose a large force of special ops dudes inside Iran to f**k up those Basij-ba$tards.
smellthecoffee on October 7, 2009 at 7:07 PM
Could you guys post this picture maybe 25-30 more times Allapundit?
Please?
Its not like EVERYONE ON THE INTERNET hasn’t seen this asinine painting 30 or more times in the last 24 hours.
Hey! Maybe you’ll be making news posting it again and again and again, 3, 4 days after the fact. You can post it tomorrow!
With an EXIT QUESTION!!!11!!11!!
Right dipshit?
Dwilkers on October 7, 2009 at 7:18 PM
1. FNC HQ
2. EIB network/studio
3. Mark Levin’s bunker
4. Anywhere Glenn Beck is
There, that’s the list…
Khun Joe on October 7, 2009 at 5:28 PM
Oh my.. someone who can’t handle the truth.
faol on October 7, 2009 at 7:21 PM
Yep, Obama-ditherer might be willing to outsource the bombing to Israel.
If we’re gonna have Israel do our dirty work, let’s make sure they have the firepower they need. Nobody will know we gave ‘em the bomb, right?
This is Obama saber-rattling, beta male style, and Iran will see it as the limp-wristed threat it is.
marybel on October 7, 2009 at 7:24 PM
You must be new. See, posting here isn’t like it is over at 4chan. You have to be polite. And for God’s sake, use better grammar.
Rightwingguy on October 7, 2009 at 7:29 PM
Four were requested in February. Eight more were requested about three weeks ago. The comment about two (2) MOP in B-2 is accurate. C-130H have payload of 45,000 pounds and service ceiling of 23,000 feet. Earlier ones only a little less. Oh yes, a range just a bit over 2,000 miles. Also air refuelable for more. C-117 could also work.
As for the Russian S-300 missile; Israelis beat that in Syria two years ago. Heh.
You folks don’t read (all) the right sites. Old news on SP. And for the Federailies, I subscribe.
Flying Alaska
Caststeel on October 7, 2009 at 7:32 PM
I truly hope that the Obama Administration is serious about this bunker busting and it’s not just smoke and mirrors. I also recall that before leaving Office Pres Bush sold bunker busters to Israel. I hope Israel already took delivery of those as I tremble to think of Israel having to rely on Pres Pantywaist for their defense.
eaglewingz08 on October 7, 2009 at 7:40 PM
I thought you were against such Bushitler moves. And now you’re a flag-waver?
ddrintn on October 7, 2009 at 7:41 PM
BTW for those who don’t follow the military closely (enough), McChrystal has Pretrayus and Mullen’s backing. McChrystal spoke at Institute for Strategic Studies in London and his speech is on their site.
Obama is against the wall, worse than Johnson. HBO (oops but I like it.) dares not be seen as failure in A’stan and not just by US. NATO and P’stan and India and China have a vote, too. China and Saudi have their money in the success of America not failure. HBO needs failure but must succeed. Voting present works no more.
Flying Alaska
Caststeel on October 7, 2009 at 7:42 PM
^ By the way, we ‘necks don’t have an aversion to violence when it’s necessary. We’re just saying Teh One won’t have the balls.
ddrintn on October 7, 2009 at 7:43 PM
Hmmmmmm…didn’t Biden say there was a bunker in the White House?
yoda on October 7, 2009 at 7:52 PM
The C-130’s not real good at evading AA fire of any kind.
DSchoen on October 7, 2009 at 7:56 PM
“They could be rushing this out not because we intend to use it ourselves (the part about outfitting it for the B-2 notwithstanding) but so that we can hand it off to Israel. Do they have anything big enough to carry it, though? I’m guessing yes, as rumors that we might sell them the MOP have surfaced before.”
I haven’t gone through the thread yet, and I am anxious for other’s take on this. In answer to Israeli capacity to deliver the MOP, I don’t think so.
Payload capacity of a B-52 is 60,000lbs, I am not aware of anything in the IAF that even remotely approaches a 30,000lb capability. In fact I cannot place any “bombers” being in the IAF inventory at all. I’m going to scan the thread & check my Jane’s encyclopedia, but I think counting on a IAF delivery of this bad boy a bit of a stretch.
Archimedes on October 7, 2009 at 7:58 PM
Everyone’s the same on the inside………………………………………………………………………………………………………………And a 500LB er will prove that
DSchoen on October 7, 2009 at 8:00 PM
Just going by what’s in my head, here’s what I know about the bunker busters. Now, a caveat, the one they’re discussing now may be something entirely new – but as of ~2003, a bunker buster was just a naval gun barrel with adjustable fins but no rocket motor.
What was being discussed in 2003, IIRC, was actually a spare 16″ gun barrel from a WWII BATTLESHIP, possibly Iowa class, or at that was fitted out with explosives and computer-guided fins.
The bomb is so heavy that I believe they didn’t even put a rocket motor in it. It takes the focused strength of an old-school heavy gun barrel to deliver the impact that far below ground.
Therefore, precision is key. The B-2 was the only platform that could deliver it. Part of the reason is that the B-2′s speed was actually needed to provide guidance momentum for the bomb. A C-130 can’t fly fast enough to do that, even if it could lift the weight.
cane_loader on October 7, 2009 at 8:08 PM
What this means, if I am correct in my memory, is that we’re actually very limited in our ability to make very many bunker busters, unless we have begun making NEW 16″ gun barrels (which is entirely possible, under Bush)
cane_loader on October 7, 2009 at 8:10 PM
Silly people.
You think it is for Iran?
An Al Qaeda cave complex, perhaps?
Heck no.
It is for taking out conservatives in their deep underground meetings up in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming etc.
LegendHasIt on October 7, 2009 at 8:17 PM
It is as I thought, an Israeli delivery of a MOP is a no-go. IAF largest bomb carrier is their version of our F-15E fighter bomber.
The IAF has not a single traditional bomber in it’s inventory what-so-ever.
Methinks this nought but an Obambi Bluff, I cannot seriously imagine the circumstances under which he is going to open up a whole new war front that’ll surely cause an Iranian escalation of it’s activities in Iraq and Afahnistan, plus for all intents and purposes shut down all Persian Gulf shipping. It ain’t gonna happen, that’d mean $300 a barrel oil overnight and through what little remains of the world economy down the toilet.
Not to mention his “base” going absolutely balistic in the streets with riots like we haven’t seen since ’68.
Thed best option still on the table so far is the Saudis (which necessitates the Jordanians as well) allowing over-flight rights in a mass of sorties by F-15E’s with tactical sized nukes of 1-5 kilotons or a missle borne magnetic pulse weapon. If I were the the Israeli’s I’d go with the latter and hold back the former as strategic reserve to react to subsequent Hamas & Hezbollah retaliation.
Archimedes on October 7, 2009 at 8:23 PM
Don’t worry, it’s not like Your Messiah is actually going to use them, unless it’s on Glenn Beck or maybe Rush Limbaugh.
Now go back to masturbating over the World Trade Center attack footage.
Gator Country on October 7, 2009 at 8:24 PM
Anyone know if sloping steel or concrete roofing would deflect these bombs?
Just wondering…
Dr. ZhivBlago on October 7, 2009 at 8:29 PM
I meant, the concrete sloped as well…not just plain horizontal reinforced concrete…I know they’d go through that.
Dr. ZhivBlago on October 7, 2009 at 8:29 PM
The C-130’s not real good at evading AA fire of any kind.
DSchoen on October 7, 2009 at 7:56 PM
Too true, and would have to be at high altitude to drop this pig and not be affected by the blast wave, i.e. a sitting duck for any sams and most certainly easy pickens for our old F-4 fantoms still in Iranian service.
Archimedes on October 7, 2009 at 8:30 PM
Don’t joke about that. It’s too possible to be funny.
Dark-Star on October 7, 2009 at 8:33 PM
It is too bad our “Rods from God” project isn’t operational, but I think Obambi’s non-weaponization of space pledge prolly canceled this program outright.
Ain’t disarmament a bitch!
Archimedes on October 7, 2009 at 8:34 PM
MOAB is an air burst weapon, I believe.
ndulik on October 7, 2009 at 8:45 PM
I’m guessing that either the B2 does carry 2 MOPs, or two B2s carry out the strike. The first MOP excavates a nice 100-ft deep crater with a floor of shattered rock under its center, which the second MOP slices through like a hot knife though butter, counting floors of course, until it reaches the correct one.
drunyan8315 on October 7, 2009 at 8:50 PM
MOAB is an air burst weapon, I believe.
ndulik on October 7, 2009 at 8:45 PM
The MOAB, or “Daisy Cutter” is not a MOP, two entirely different species. Please try to keep up with the rest of the class willya.
Archimedes on October 7, 2009 at 8:52 PM
Yeah the “Daisy Cutter” is an air burst weapon. Not sure about the MOP. I think because it says “penetrator” it may have a timed fuse so it can penetrate and then explode. They seem to be different weapons. I’m not an airdale, so I wouldn’t know.
Rightwingguy on October 7, 2009 at 8:52 PM
The plot thickens. Gird your loins, ladies and gents.
Do you suppose that we have some interesting info from these guys that might give reason for such big bombs?
Shiny_Tiara on October 7, 2009 at 8:58 PM
Part of the reason is that the B-2’s speed was actually needed to provide guidance momentum for the bomb. A C-130 can’t fly fast enough to do that, even if it could lift the weight.
If I remember my loading specs correctly, A C-130 tops out at about 24K lbs, or two Sheridan light “tanks” (appx same weight as M 1113 APC) plus crews, equip & ammo.
Still a little shy of the 30K needed.
Archimedes on October 7, 2009 at 8:59 PM
Joe Biden says, “Hey Iran! Obama’s got the answer for you. It’s a 3 letter word; B-O-M-B!”
TugboatPhil on October 7, 2009 at 9:01 PM
Then act your age!!!
FontanaConservative on October 7, 2009 at 9:14 PM
We need to have them paid a visit by General Newcomb Goode.
crosspatch on October 7, 2009 at 9:21 PM
I’d sooner think Hussein would have a couple of SEIU thugs waterboard them to death before thay have a chance to give up Muslim Jihadi secrets
dhunter on October 7, 2009 at 9:37 PM
Don’t you get bored with sounding stupid?
Bleeds Blue on October 7, 2009 at 5:12 PM
Irony so deep the fabric of the universe is strained.
TexasDan on October 7, 2009 at 5:15 PM
bleeds poo , I do get bored with your stoopidity.
huckelberry on October 7, 2009 at 10:12 PM
Suppose they don’t use conventional delivery means?
I’m sure a 737 could carry one, or something with the IFF tag of a 737 from Libya Air or some such could fly right on through, especially with a decoy or two distracting their air defense network. Speaking of which, didn’t Iran lose their only AWACS last week?
And Israel always could deliver it by ground as well.
CPL 310 on October 7, 2009 at 11:35 PM
Tora Bora seems more likely. That would solve the question of increasing troop numbers – if successful.
OldEnglish on October 7, 2009 at 11:57 PM
.
Gee, does that mean you have 12 years experience …. let’s see, four times …. that should be about right.
Ghostbuster on October 8, 2009 at 12:07 AM
Who was joking? I’d have used a smiley if that were the case.
LegendHasIt on October 8, 2009 at 12:43 AM
Why does it have to be a B2 or C-130 delivery platform? A simple mod to a jumbo gets you speed & altitude and disguise. Heck, forget launching an attack from Israel. Just lease a jumbo and fly it out of anywhere but Israel to make the drop.
I hear Antovs out of Russia can be leased on the cheap — no questions asked. Heh!
AH_C on October 8, 2009 at 1:29 AM
OMFG were going to bomb Iran!!! Oh the carbon footprint it will leave!
It’s really not big news; they are just accelerating the program by 3 years. I would assume at the funding expense of the SDB. The MOP program was started in 2004 a Boeing, Northrop project. The only airframes slated to carry the MOP is the B-52 and the B-2. Here’s a picture of the MOP, and another.
BDU-33 on October 8, 2009 at 3:03 AM
Minor Scale was bigger
BDU-33 on October 8, 2009 at 3:25 AM
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