Posted on 07/26/2007 6:52:46 PM PDT by kddid
The U.S. is retrofitting its B-2 Stealth bombers with massive bunker-buster bombs -- a move that could be a prelude to an attack on Iran and its nuclear facilities.
Iran has refused to comply with international demands that it stop its nuclear weapons programs.
Experts have noted that a U.S. or Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear program could be difficult due to the large number of installations -- some of which are buried deep underground in hardened bunkers.
In a recent NewsMax Magazine, Kenneth R. Timmerman's report "The Coming War with Iran: 6 Days of Hell" predicted the U.S. would outfit B-2's as a prelude to an attack on Iran. [Editor's Note: Get this special report "The Coming War with Iran: 6 Days of Hell" with our FREE offer -- Go Here Now]
Apparently the U.S. has big plans for Iran.
Northrop Grumman announced last week in a little noticed release that the company had begun integrating on the B-2's a new 30,000-pound-class "penetrator bomb" or bunker buster.
"The U.S. Air Force's B-2 Stealth bomber would be able to attack and destroy an expanded set of hardened, deeply buried military targets" using the monster bunker buster, the company said in its release.
The company is doing the work under a seven-month, $2.5 million contract awarded June 1 by the Air Force's Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
Northrop Grumman is the Air Force's prime contractor on the B-2, the flagship of the nation's long-range strike arsenal.
The new Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), which is being developed by the Boeing Co., is a GPS-guided weapon containing more than 5,300 pounds of conventional explosives inside a 20.5-foot-long enclosure of hardened steel. It is designed to penetrate dirt, rock and reinforced concrete to reach enemy bunker or tunnel installations.
The B-2 is capable of carrying two MOPs, one in each weapons bay.
"This integration contract is part of Northrop Grumman's on-going effort to ensure that the B-2 remains capable of delivering a decisive blow to an increasingly sophisticated enemy," said Dave Mazur, vice president of long-range strike for the company's Integrated Systems sector.
"It is the first step in helping the Air Force make this new weapon available for operational use on the B-2."
According to Mazur, the Air Force is expected to make a decision later this year on whether to develop a limited operational capability for the MOP, or to proceed with a more comprehensive development program that would optimize the weapon's operational utility.
The current contract will focus on adapting the B-2's weapon bay fixtures to accommodate the new weapon.
The B-2 is currently equipped to carry up to 40,000 pounds of conventional ordnance.
With GPS, can we launch somthing from Kansas that will do the same thing?
Think we can take out an oilfield or two, removing the mad mullahs money tree?
No Blood For OIl No Blood for Oil No Blood for Oil
Just practicing!
“With GPS, can we launch somthing from Kansas that will do the same thing?”
Well, from Missouri.
It’s called a B-2. lol
We owned them on September 11th too, but I understand your point.
They would have to move the orphanages already there.
Iran wants nukes? Our B-2s deliver nukes in 24 hours or they’re free.
Relax, this is run of the mill saber rattling.
The Iranians release a statement this week stating they will have a nuclear program forever., we leak the news of a huge fleet of bunker busters. The dweebs in suits continue talking in the background.
We have only been waiting for 28 years. Some of us have given up hope for our national security and honor to be restored.
If not ours before, theirs after.
“Iran wants nukes? Our B-2s deliver nukes in 24 hours or they’re free.”
For nuke delivery (discounting deep penetration requirements which will take the B-2 or B-52 for now) it’s hard to beat the boomers or the boomers that’ve been converted to carry 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles (which of course can be nuclear tipped). Much, much less than 24 hours required. ;-)
Schools would make an excellent aim point! Miss the school by 5 meters. At 30,000 pounds, these things would penetrate so far before exploding that the school marm’s burqua probably wouldn’t even flap!
The only thing necessary is to target all the entrance and exits (including buildings) with tiny 10,000-pound bombs.
All of these are easily spotted from satellite photography during construction.
Just saying.
Well, the klintoon proved that they work pretty well, and they saw a brief stint at the beginning of GW-II, but I seem to remember this retrofit from some time ago.
"...The company is doing the work under a seven-month, $2.5 million contract awarded June 1..."
We've got at least 20 of these beautiful birds, and $2.5 mil would be about enough money to loosen the screws on one of them.
I doubt that we need 7 months. Sounds like we're already good-to-go! Let's hope it's soon .................... FRegards
It was a joke.
Oh man I gotta go to DEBKA and confirm this!
"Tiny" 10,000-pound bombs?
Fer cryin' out loud, the bunker busters in the article only carry 5,300-lbs of explosive.
To late, this is about the fifth thread on this in the past few days.
We don't have any and never did.
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