Air Force moving several MOAB bombs to Gulf region: Pentagon

AFP ^ | 04/10/03

[voicesinthewilderness]

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US Air Force is moving several 21,000-pound MOAB bombs, the largest US conventional bomb, to the Gulf region, a US defense official said.

It was not clear what the air force intends to do with the bombs, which are most effective against troops or tanks in open areas.

"What we were told today is that they are on the way," said the defense official, who asked not to be identified.

He said several were being shipped to the Gulf region.

MOAB stands for Massive Ordnance Air Blast, but it is known informally as the "mother of all bombs."

Developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base in Florda, where it was tested last month, the bomb is a larger version of the 15,000 pound "daisy cutter."

The "daisy cutter" was used in Vietnam to clear jungle for helicopter landing pads, in the 1991 Gulf War (news - web sites) to clear minefields and in Afghanistan (news - web sites) to clear caves and strike fear into al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters.

The MOAB has a satellite guidance system and a tail kit to steer it to within about 13 meters (14 yards) of its target.

It is too big to be dropped normally. It is dragged out of the back of a C-130 cargo plane

[voicesinthewilderness]

Check this out...Wonder why they are doing this. This will sure send a message if true.

[MrFred]

we are just prepare a little thank you gift for Syria, for all of its help in this confilct.

[Chad Fairbanks]

The MOAB has a satellite guidance system and a tail kit to steer it to within about 13 meters (14 yards) of its target.

What's the point of satellite guidance on these babies? I mean, you only have to be close heh heh heh ;0)

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[MrFred]

[Correction]: We are just preparing a little thank you gift for Syria, for all of its help in this confilct.

[APBaer]

"It was not clear what the air force intends to do with the bombs"-

Err, field testing?

[ArrogantBustard]

What's the point of satellite guidance on these babies?

It allows them to drop the thing unretarded, from a higher altitude, with some stand off, and still hit closer to the defined target than the old "daisy cutter". And precision is almost always beneficial with projectile weapons.

[Arkinsaw]

Check this out...Wonder why they are doing this.

To point out the ineffectiveness of human wave assaults to nearby neighbors who might get ideas.

[Gefreiter]

"It was not clear what the air force intends to do with the bombs..."

Ummm...If I had to take a guess, how about drop them from a great height?

[Sender]

Wonder what these grill-like items are on the back end of the MOAB?
Guidance vanes or maybe release vents for the fuel load?

[kjam22]

Speaking of sending a message..... I'm still intrigued by the idea of using a bomb called MOAB in this region. MOAB being a biblical name. There has got to be a biblical message or revelation there somewere.... Ping thinkin' gal

[primatreat]

The big bad wolf says" come out or I will suck you out as protoplasm"

[Militiaman7]

Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Jordan

So many targets so few MOABs

[BOBTHENAILER]

We are just preparing a little thank you gift for Syria, for all of its help in this confilct.

My sentiments exactly.

Knock, Knock, knock.......Mr. Assad says who's there?

CANDYGRAM

[Saturnalia]

Anyone know the dimensions of this thing?

[seeker41]

Ancient nation located in the uplands east of the Dead Sea and now a part of Jordan. The area is unprotected from the east hence its history is a chain of raids by the Bedouins. The Moabites were close kin to the Hebrews and the language of the Moabite Stone is practically the same as biblical Hebrew. The relations of Moab with Judah and Israel are continually mentioned in the Bible. As a political entity Moab came to an end after the invasion (circa 733 BC) of Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria. Its people were later absorbed by the Nabataeans. The Moabite religion was much like that of Canaan. Archaeological exploration in Moab has shown that settlements first occurred in the 13th century BC.

[Saturnalia]

Those are the guidance fins, they deploy after release.

[Justin Thyme]

I believe it's referred to as a "retarded" bomb, and no, I'm not picking on it's IQ. ;)

Retarded bombs have restraining fins to create drag, and give the bomb a more predictable flight. In this case, I believe they can also be used to steer.

[ken5050]

LOL.....we drop it out of the plane in NW Iraq, near the Syrian border....At the same time, we get all the Iraqi POWs to face Mecca ( east) bend over, and pass wind....it'll blow the MOAB chute towards Damascus...

[boomop1]

Syria, Iran and Turkey be pre-warned.