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.
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