The Perfect Soldier: Special Operations, Commandos, and the Future of Us Warfare by James F. Dunnigan
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Dirty Little Secrets
B-2 Fitted for Huge Bunker Buster
by James Dunnigan
August 6, 2007
Discussion Board on this DLS topic
The U.S. Air Force is developing yet another capability for its 20 B-2 stealth bombers. A new bomb rack is being designed and built so the B-2 can drop the new, 15 ton Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP). Three years ago, MOP replaced the proposed nuclear bomb penetrator. MOP can be carried by a B-52, but a B-2 is more likely to get through an intact, modern, air defense system.
The air force is putting a lot of money into developing new bomb racks for the B-2. Recent additions are racks which allow a B-2 to carry eighty 500 pound smart bombs, or sixteen 2,000 pound smart bombs. Another new rack allows the B-2 to carry over a hundred of the 250 pound SDB (Small Diameter Bomb) which has a ground penetrating ability.
The B-2 is also being equipped with a phased array radar and targeting pod capabilities, to enable it to find targets, as well as bomb them.
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