GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP)
Direct Strike Hard Target Weapon / Big BLU
The Defense Department is developing an advanced “bunker-buster” bomb that should be ready for deployment this summer, senior Pentagon officials said Oct. 8, 2009. The department has been “working on technology that allows us to get at deeply buried, hardened targets” since 2004, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman told reporters. Development of the bomb has taken longer than originally envisioned because of variables in the budget process, Whitman said, adding that it is now back “on track.” Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell told reporters that the department was developing a massive penetrator bomb designed to pulverize underground facilities that may store weapons of mass destruction and related systems. At a hefty 30,000 pounds, the new penetrator bomb weighs almost 4 tons more than the US military’s former heavyweight champion, the nearly 22,000-pound massive ordnance air blast conventional bomb, known by the acronym MOAB. The massive penetrator bomb will be in a class by itself and represents a unique capability, Whitman said.
On July 31, 2009, Tony Capaccio of Bloomberg, reported that the US Department of Defense had put in a formal request to accelerate by three years the deployment of the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP).
The MOP is a technology demonstration program funded by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency [DTRA] to develop a 30,000-pound conventional penetrating weapon that will defeat a specialized set of hard and deeply buried targets. The MOP is designed specifically to attack hardened concrete bunkers and tunnel facilities. Designed to be carried aboard B-2 and B-52 bombers and deployed at high altitudes, the MOP's innovative design features include a Global Positioning System navigation system.
The MOP is approximately 20.5 feet long, with a 31.5-inch diameter. The weapon will carry over 5,300 pounds of explosive material and will deliver more than 10 times the explosive power of its predecessor, the BLU-109. The MOP features short-span wings and trellis-type tails. The 13,600 kg [30,000 lb] weapon contains a 2,700 kg [6,000 lb] explosive charge [some sources report "more than 5,300 pounds" of explosives]. MOP is designed to go deeper than any nuclear bunker buster and take out 25 percent of the underground and deeply buried targets worldwide. It is designed to penetrate up to 200 feet underground before exploding. By some reports, it was expected to penetrate as much as 60 meters [200 feet through 5,000 psi reinforced concrete, and 8 meters [25 feet] into 10,000 psi reinforced concrete.On 31 March 2006 Dr. James A. Tegnelia, the director of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency told American Forces Press Service [AFPS] that the MOP is a test article meant to understand the design principles on which a country might build a weapon to counter hard targets. "We are not in the process to convince anybody to field a large earth penetrator," he said. But the FY 2008 Global War on Terror Amendment of October 2007 stated [page 44-45] that "The Department requests $5.3 billion to procure equipment to replenish that consumed during combat and support operations in the theater. ... The Replenishment category also includes $0.3 billion for the development of specific technologies to improve the survivability of U.S. personnel and equipment. This includes funding for the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) for use on the B-2 bomber... " On 23 October 2007, John M. Donnelly reported in Congressional Quarterly that the request includes "$88 million to modify B-2 bombers so they can drop a Massive Ordnance Penetrator" and that White House stated the request for money to modify bombers was in response to "an urgent operational need from theater commanders."
Boeing's Phantom Works is leading the effort to demonstrate the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP). Northrop Grumman is working on with Boeing to develop this conventional bunker buster. They are under contract to Air Force Research Laboratory's Munitions Directorate at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, and Defense Threat Reduction Agency. The three-phase technology demonstration built on design studies that Boeing had conducted for the laboratory.
While complete physical destruction may be desired, for some hard and deeply buried targets this effect isn't practicable with current weapons and employment techniques. It may be possible, however, to deny or disrupt the mission or function of a facility. Functional defeat is facilitated through better data collection and intelligence preparation against the potential targets. The defeat process includes finding and identifying a facility, characterizing its function and physical layout, determining its vulnerabilities to available weapons, planning an attack, applying force, assessing damage, and, if necessary, suppressing reconstitution efforts and re-striking the facility. New more lethal defeat options for Hard and Deeply Buried Targets (HDBTs) like the Massive Ordnance Penetrator, that can overwhelm target characterization uncertainties, are being developed and demonstrated to provide a 10x increase in weapon lethality and improved penetration capability compared to inventory weapons.
Boeing's Phantom Works Activities
The Defense Department announced late 01 November 2004 that the Air Force Research Laboratory has awarded a multi-year contract to Boeing for the MOP program. The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo., was being awarded a $20,000,000 indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract. The primary objective of this program will be to design and test a large penetrating munition, to demonstrate the weapon's lethality against multi-story buildings with hardened bunkers and tunnel facilities, and to reduce technology risk for future development. This program is funded by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. The Air Force can issue delivery orders totaling up to maximum amount indicated above, although actual requirements may necessitate less than the amount indicated above. Initially $499,755 of the funds was obligated. This work was to be complete by February 2005. Solicitation began July 2004 and negotiations were completed September 2004. The Air Force Research Laboratory, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA8651-04-D-0427).
The MOP is being developed in three phases. Boeing successfully completed Phase I, Concept Refinement, of the MOP technology demonstration in May 2005. Phase II started in June 2005 and included detailed design and preliminary testing as well as long lead items for Phase III, Weapon Performance Demonstration. During FY2005 contractors analyzed the effectiveness of massive ordnance penetration against hard and deeply buried targets and completed preliminary design. They refined Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) concept and began detailed weapon development and testing. The also planned statically emplaced Proof-of Principle test of effectiveness of Massive Ordnance payloads, and planned demonstration of massive ordnance airblast lethality against a full-scale tunnel target.
During Phase III, research and development flight tests from a B-52 aircraft were planned between Nov. 2007 and July 2008. These tests were designed to measure the penetration and lethality performance of the MOP weapon on bunker and tunnel targets constructed at DTRA’s WMD National Testbeds located at the White Sands Missile Range, NM.
The Boeing-developed Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) successfully completed a static tunnel lethality test 14 March 2007 at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency's (DTRA) weapons tunnel complex at White Sands Missile Range, NM. The test consisted of a statically emplaced conventional weapon within a DTRA test tunnel. This demonstration of the bomb’s capability to defeat tunnels was a significant step in the development of this innovative concept. A team of weapons specialists loaded a 20-foot mock bomb into the bomb bay of a simulated aircraft 18 December 2007 at Whiteman Air Force Base. The bomb was a mock up of the 30,000 pound Massive Ordnance Penetrator, a 30,000 pound bomb that had yet to enter production, and the aircraft was a mock up of the B-2 Spirit.
Northrop Grumman started integrating the MOP to the B-2 in July 2007. The B-2 will be able to carry two MOPs, one in each bay, which will be mounted to the existing forward and aft mounting hardware currently in the B-2. B-2 armament upgrades include, but are not limited to, integration of new and/or advanced weapons into the B-2 to destroy a wider array of target sets as well as destroy more targets per sortie. Final testing and integration of the GBU-28 C/B program was underway in 2007. The GBU-28 C/B is an improved 5,000 lb "bunker buster" munition that provides greater lethality, thus holding more enemy targets at risk. Universal Armament Interface will provide a commonality among all weapon platforms to interface with all standard armament. Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) and Massive Ordinance Penetrator (MOP) armament efforts will design, develop, integrate, and test the hardware and software required to employ both weapons from the B-2. SDB II will provide all-weather, near-precision accuracy against a wide range of fixed, relocatable, and mobile targets at increased standoff ranges with less collateral damage. The 30K pound MOP will provide the nation with the ability to hold additional hardened and deeply buried targets (HDBT) at risk that are out of reach of the current 5K pound class penetrator munitions. The B-2 is the only penetrating platform capable of carrying the MOP. FY07 Congressional Plus-up for SDB and MOP was insufficient to complete full design, development, test, and integration efforts required for the B-2 fleet. FY07 funds funded as much effort as possible until additional funds were received in future years.
The Air Armament Center, 708th Armament Systems Group, 678th Armament Systems Squadron, Eglin AFB, FL, annouhnced on 30 April 2009, Reference Number 678ARSS30APR09 an acquisition strategy for the execution of a Quick Reaction Capability (QRC) program for a 30,000 lb class, GPS/INS guided weapon that will be integrated on the B-2A. The Air Force is seeking a qualified single weapon solution designed to maximize effects against Hard and/or Deeply Buried Targets (HDBTs), while minimizing time over target. The current requirement includes a build of 15 weapons (5 test articles and 10 residual/operational assets), and integration onto the B-2A platform.
Required Assets Available (RAA) must be met within 30 months after contract award (ACA), which is anticipated not later than (NLT) 31 December 2009, with an allocated budget of ~$149M. In order to meet this schedule, five test articles (i.e. all up round weapons) must be delivered beginning 11 months ACA, with the fifth test article delivered NLT 18 months ACA. The RAA includes four weapons and all associated hardware for transport, carriage, and release and one weapon load trainer. Residual/Operational Assets include 10 weapons and all associated hardware for transport, carriage, and release, and one weapon load trainer (this total includes the RAA).
On 08 June 2009 the 678 ARSS announced that it intended to issue a sole-source contract to McDonnell Douglas Corporation, A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Boeing Company, for the B-2/Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP). The objective of the B-2/MOP program is to execute a Quick Reaction Capability (QRC) program for a 30,000 lb. class, GPS/INS guided weapon that will be integrated on the B-2A. The Government anticipates award on or about December 31, 2009, of a Fixed-Price type contract for the build of up to 20 weapons (5 test articles and 15 residual assets) and integration onto the B-2A platform.
The statutory authority, which permits other than full and open competition for this acquisition, is 10 United States Code (USC) 2304(c)(1), as implemented in FAR 6.302-1(a)(2)(ii). This authority will be supported by an approved J&A. A Sources Sought Synopsis was previously issued on 30 April 2009, Reference Number 678ARSS30APR09. Taking into consideration the responses to this Sources Sought synopsis, it is the Government's intent to proceed with a sole-source action.
The MOP is currently a technology demonstration program with the goal of developing and demonstrating a conventional, 30,000-lb. class penetrator bomb designed to defeat hard and/or deeply buried targets (HDBTs). The requirement for the MOP QRC is a single (one weapon per aircraft bay) weapon approach to defeat a specific set of HDBTs. The MOP offers the flexibility to be loaded and employed from the B-2A with no additional Operational Flight Plan (OFP) modifications. This allows the program to meet the deadlines to begin flight tests by June 2011 and to reach Required Assets Available by June 2012.
Under the contemplated contract, The Boeing Company will provide all supplies and services necessary for the final design, testing, qualification, fabrication, and integration of the MOP onto the B-2A aircraft platform (including any ancillary equipment). Fabrication of the MOP weapons will consist of 5 test assets and up to 15 residual assets. Note: At this time, the best estimated quantity for MOP residual assets is 10, as noted in the Sources Sought Synopsis.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Weight, total | 13,600 kg [slightly less than 30,000 pounds] |
| Weight, explosive | 2,700 kg [6,000 lb] "over 5,300 pounds" |
| Length | 6 m / 20.5 feet long |
| Diameter | 31.5-inch diameter |
| Control | short-span wings and trellis-type tail |
| Penetration |
60 meters [200 feet] through 5,000 psi reinforced concrete 40 meters [125 feet] through moderately hard rock 8 meters [25 feet] through 10,000 psi reinforced concrete |
| Contractors | Boeing, Northrop Grumman |
| Sponsors | Air Force Research Laboratory's Munitions Directorate Defense Threat Reduction Agency. |
| Platforms | B-52, B-2 |
| Guidance | GPS aided INS |
| Schedule |
|
