Posted on 11/09/2007 12:23:18 PM PST by Wuli
Longer than a Humvee and weighing more than two elephants, the latest and largest bunker-busting bomb is an attention-getter.
The $88 million request last month to speed up the operational ability of the MOP, or Massive Ordnance Penetrator, was noticed by some in Congress who saw a signal that Washington was on track for a war with Iran.
Presumably, its listing as an urgent operational need from theater commanders was noticed, as well, by Irans leadership.
The 15-ton weapon would be most tailored to blast away at deeply buried nuclear facilities. Defense analysts have predicted any attack on Iran would involve the B-2 stealth bomber using its radar-dodging ways to slip past Tehrans air defenses and drop bunker busters on places like Natanz, where nuclear facilities hum away 100 feet below the surface.
The jets could be MOP capable by late 2008, said a spokesman at Whiteman Air Force Base, near Knob Noster, home of the B-2 bomber.
In its October emergency appropriations request for $196 million more for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the White House essentially sped up funding for the new bomb. Previously, only about $30 million had been allocated to develop it.
The administration listed the request under technologies to improve the survivability of U.S. personnel and equipment.
While American forces at times needed to blast through sturdy defenses during the very earliest stages of the invasions that ousted Saddam Hussein and put down the Taliban, those conflicts now are guerilla and counterinsurgency fights that demand a much lighter touch than a 15-ton bomb.
A high-ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee called the funding request a clear red flag. Rep. Jim McDermott, a Washington state Democrat.....
(Excerpt) Read more at kansascity.com ...
Bunker-buster could affect U.S.-Iran relations...but only for about five seconds. Thanks SB.
Exactly, he didn't say they couldn't be ready sooner... Just that they could be capable by late 2008. Of course, if they were ready next month, they'd still be capable by late 2008...
Second, you have to develop ground handling equipment to get the beast safely loaded into the aircraft.
Third, you have to determine the aerodynamic characteristics of the bomb so that you can predict when/where you need to drop it to guide it to a given point.
Fourth, you need to develop the "control laws" for the guidance system so that it actually hits what it is aimed at. It wouldn't do to have too much - it'd yaw all over the sky - too little and it might not be able to correct. Wrong time constant and it could oscillate... etc. etc.
Fifth, you have to do separation tests with the aircraft at various altitudes, airspeeds, attitudes, etc. You really, really don't want buffeting or some odd aerodynamic effect see-sawing the bomb on release and banging it back into the underside of your aircraft.
Sixth, you have to develop the simulation models to do the initial training for the air crews.
Then you finally have to drop a few of them to verify they work as expected, and give the crews some real-world training. Then you're ready...
*grin* ...Thanks Phil!
Only a few noticed. Maybe it’s time to just move on to the ‘testing’ phase...?
Good graphic Phil. Those ‘fins’ or whatever, make me want to make them ‘spin’, lol.
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