Better Bunker Buster Development Planned

Aviation Week & Space Technology | December 2, 2002 | Robert Wall

[Stand Watch Listen]

The U.S. Air Force wants to restock its supply of 5,000-lb.-class penetrator bombs and use the opportunity to enhance the design over the currently fielded enhanced GBU-28 laser- and GPS-guided weapon.

During recent military conflicts, the Air Force has expended a large portion of its GBU-28 inventory, dropping the hard-target penetrator weapon from B-2s and F-15Es. The 19-ft.-long, 14.5-in.-dia. weapon debuted during the 1991 Persian Gulf war, when it was employed by F-111s.

The GBU-28--which uses the BLU-113 warhead--has evolved in recent years, with the addition of a GPS-guidance capability. Previously, the weapon was only laser-guided. USAF planners wanted to be able to employ the bomb in all weather conditions, hence the GPS enhancement, designated EGBU-28.

The new BLU-113 design would have significantly greater capability, though. USAF representatives hope to achieve a 30% increase in target penetration, lethality and ability to withstand impacts. Weapons developers are still discussing with the operational community the exact requirements for the bomb, but they clearly want to be able to counter a trend in which adversaries are further hardening their high-value facilities, such as command and control centers and weapons storage sites.

The development effort is slated to take advantage of new steels from which the weapon can be forged. Additionally, the new warhead could employ explosive fills that have been developed in the decade since the GBU-28 was first designed as an emergency war effort, said Maj. Steve Pearce, USAF program manager at the Air Armaments Center, Eglin AFB, Fla.

FOR THE BUNKER BUSTER to reach targets that are ever deeper underground, service officials also are allowing contractors to modify the shape of the warhead, although the changes can't be extensive. USAF wants to minimize Seek Eagle testing, the certification of a new weapon design so it can be carried on an aircraft. The goal is to minimize the program cost, says Pearce. The new warhead also is supposed to accommodate the existing guidance equipment, with changes only permitted to ancillary equipment such as the adapters and lanyards.

New production would be for about 350 weapons. Development is slated to begin this fiscal year with a single contractor team. Production is expected to start in 2005. The B-2 and F-15E will remain the only launch platforms for the weapon.

The service has already undertaken development efforts to reduce the technical risk associated with the project, such as exploring candidate weapon designs that bidders can opt to use. The preliminary design efforts were undertaken by the Air Force Research Laboratory in collaboration with the precision strike program office. The concepts have been developed through modeling and simulation, although in some cases sub-scale testing also has been performed.

Among the candidate explosive fills is the AFX-757 material used in the warhead of the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile. The Air Force-developed fill produces more blast energy and is less likely to be set off in a fire than Tritonal. The current BLU-113/B contains about 600 lb. of Tritonal.

USAF also has developed a new steel that is available for bidders to use. Called Eglin Steel (ES-1), it is a collaboration between the Air Force and National Forge, which builds the casing for the BLU-113. The steel is considered better and less expensive.

Another scheme being eyed to improve penetration capability is a new operational technique. USAF planners believe that if they can drop two of the 5,000-lb. weapons on the same target only moments apart, they can destroy targets at much greater depths.

[One More Time]

bump

[hchutch]

Any takes on this article?

[michaelt]

I always appreciate your posts. Thank you for them.

[Stand Watch Listen]

Thanks....appreciate your comment. Enjoy them while you can.

[Poohbah]

Routine.

What will be interesting is the payload. The Small Diameter Bomb program is working on a 250-pound bomb with the energy yield of a 1000-pounder--basically, the explosives would release much more energy.

[Kenton]

Another scheme being eyed to improve penetration capability is a new operational technique. USAF planners believe that if they can drop two of the 5,000-lb. weapons on the same target only moments apart, they can destroy targets at much greater depths.

Make a hole, then blow up the hole.

[b4its2late]

Another scheme being eyed to improve penetration capability is a new operational technique. USAF planners believe that if they can drop two of the 5,000-lb. weapons on the same target only moments apart, they can destroy targets at much greater depths.

Can't wait to see the test results.....

[b4its2late]

........ Enjoy them while you can.

And this means what??????

[HardStarboard]

>>>drop two of the 5,000-lb. weapons on the same target only moments apart, they can destroy targets at much greater depths. <<<

Not particularly sophisticated: two shovelfulls will get you deeper than one shovelfull. It works in postholes, so it will probably work in bunker busting!

[Stand Watch Listen]

Means I'm contemplating not posting anymore. Each day, I only have a short window of time to collect some 15-29 articles a day, post them and respond to some replies. After 5 years of posting articles/op-eds(>14,500 articles) within the stated FR mission statement...I'm thoroughly disappointed with the heading of the forum. Though, it's apparent that the preponderance of the forum's participants are pleased the way the forum is conducted.

The moderators seem heavy handed, arbitrary and capricious. I do realize that with FR's success that adversaries are out to 'silence' this forum's impact. That disruptors are out to create misdirection/confusion and they do have to be dealt with.

Ideals, ideas, principles, politics, constitution, government corruption are no longer the predominant subject of the forum's discussions. The forum's mission appears swept aside with all the pablum that is posted nowadays. The 'chat room' mentality seems has taken over. The best, the worst, the the saddest, the happiest, the favorite... type of articles have buried the FR stated missison. Articles addressing the latest Hoolywood flap will receive hundreds/thousands of replies, whereinas an article discerning the latest loss of civil liberties, unconstitutional government action will receive barely a 'bump'.

Perhaps I'm fooling myself. Like Ronald Reagan's statement regarding the Democrat Party...do I leave the forum or has it already left me? Just wondering. Perhaps my batteries need to be recharged.

That's the reason for my statement.

[b4its2late]

Means I'm contemplating not posting anymore.

Well, if it means anything to you, I hope you stop contemplating that thought and continue posting articles.... I read many of your articles and they are extremely informative. But I understand the time commitment and your disappointment.

If I convince you to keep posting as you have been, it would be great. If not, maybe you could post those 5 or so artilces that YOU believe are most important, I trust your judgement.

But if you decide to quit posting altogether, it would be a MAJOR, MAJOR loss to FR posters and lurkers. And I am sure I am not the only one that thinks that.

If the forum has left you, it would be impossible to bring it back around if you leave altogether, right? So, please keep posting.

[Balding_Eagle]

I'll simply say Ditto's to what b4 said.

[gonzo]

"...But if you decide to quit posting altogether, it would be a MAJOR, MAJOR loss to FR posters and lurkers. And I am sure I am not the only one that thinks that. .."

"......do I leave the forum or has it already left me? Just wondering. Perhaps my batteries need to be recharged. That's the reason for my statement. .."

As long as he doesn't do an 'Opus' farewell! Gad, those were so boring, except for 'Opus-One', which was one of the best jazz tunes of the last century! (three points to the first person to name the group!)

When I need re-charging, I go fishin', S-W-L. Caught a 28# Redfish last night off the dock. Didn't think about FR for three days. No FR = great big damned fish!

Go fishing! Catch them! Beat them with a hammer! (They got teeth, y'know) Cook them with lemon, shallots, and cayenne! Eat them with a nice poke-salad and a dash of Balsamic vinegar, rinsed with a nice chilled glass-or-three of 'Kristal'.

Afterwords, if you worry about FR at all, you need a brain-transplant.

For three years, we had the disgust of the klintoons to fight against, and rightly so! And now we've got..........Gore?............That's like beating a kitten with a ball-bat!

Fear-not, dear Comrades-of-Freedom, for the klintoons will slither back, and we'll start the fight anew.

That's what we do here! Stay well and vigilant, kids...........FRegards