Question regarding this Bomb

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I don;t know if this been posted. I came across this vid about bunker busters and saw this.

Does the bomb above behave like an Air-fuel bomb?

The fins at the side, wouldn't it Obstuct peneration through the ground? Are they use as stabliziers?


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That does not look like a bunker buster. As much as i can remember the bunker buster had a hardened tip to get it through rock and cement. The use of fins would definately hamper the process of the bomb getting through rock. the explosion spread doesn't look accurate either. looks more like they did some clever video editing. The bomb explodes before it hits the target. looks more like an antipersonnel bomb with all the shrapnel coming out from it
though I'm not an expert, just my opinion

-Aza

That is one of the newer type guides munitions. Since the first Iraq war they have discovered that with the accuracy of the new smart weapons they dont really require a huge explosive charge because of the accuracy. The one pictured there has folding wings when it is released and will glide a long way to its target. These bombs are now under 500 pounds where as they used to be 500 up to 2000 and for special targets up to 5000pounds. While these larger bombs ..all guided up to the MOBs exist they are for special jobs. Jobs like certain kinds of armour and ground positions can be done with the smaller 250lb bombs using great accuracy.
I forget the new names for them but that is what it is in the picture. Also since they are smaller they can carry more of them on pylons than the older 500lb type and up. Some of the newer pictures of the planes taking off will be seen with alot of them strapped to a single pylon in threes going back down the pylon.

Thanks ,
Orangetom

The newer bunker busters us a DU tip to penetrate, and a delayed fuse so that it won't go off until after it penetrates. It usually penetrates three to five floors before going off to maximise damage to the bunker. This looks like just a pretty good sized bomb test at night. Maybe MOAB? Bunker Busters don't tend to look like normal bomb explosions, because they go off underground, so you usually just get an impressive crater.

I'm pretty much confused by the 2nd vid. The first one shows bunker peneration, while the second one, shows it blows up above the vehical like an Air fuel bomb.

Doesn't look like a MOAB to me....MOAB looks like a small tanker truck...its huge!

Originally posted by Humster
I'm pretty much confused by the 2nd vid. The first one shows bunker peneration, while the second one, shows it blows up above the vehical like an Air fuel bomb.

The bomb that the 2 videos are showing is the new BLU-39 Small Diameter Bomb which weighs about 250lbs. It comes in several fusing options; the 1st video showing the hard target fused weapon and the 2nd video showing the same type of bomb air bursting using a proximty fuse ( which is far more effective against targets in the open ).

Here is a link to a previous thread which has a far more comprehensive video of the testing of the SDB, including a rocket sled test with a live arhead to determine its penetration capabilites.

VIDEO - First test of the USAF Small Diameter Bomb