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Bombs, grenades & minesIn service
30,000-pound (14,000 kg) class, 20.5-foot-long (6.2 m) precision-guided " bunker buster " bomb
GBU-57A/B MOP is a 30,000-pound (14,000 kg) class, 20.5-foot-long (6.2 m) precision-guided " bunker buster " bomb originating in United States. It was built by Boeing. Reported operators include United States Air Force.
United StatesAI-generated illustration · Not a photograph · GBU-57 MOP · source-pictured complete test-release round. Exterior details are illustrative, not specification evidence.
ForceTally · AI-generated illustration · Not a photograph · Adapted from DoD photo · Public domain · AI-generated illustration · OpenAI output terms · Source ↗ · ModifiedBunker buster
United States
2011–present
United States Air Force
Twelve-Day War 2026 Iran war
Boeing
at least 20
27,125 lb (12,304 kg)
20.5 ft (6.2 m)
31.5 in (0.80 m)
AFX-757/PBXN-114
4,590 / 752 lb (2,082 / 341 kg)
27,125 pounds (12,304 kg)
5,342 pounds (2,423 kg)
4,590 pounds (2,082 kg)
752 pounds (341 kg)
(debated) There is debate about the penetration capabilities of the bomb. The US Air Force has said that the GBU-57 can penetrate up to 200 ft (60 m) of unspecified material before exploding. The BBC reports that analysts at Janes Information Services say the weapon can penetrate about 200 ft (60 m) of earth or 60 ft (18 m) of concrete. A separate source suggests penetration of up to 60 ft (18 m) into reinforced concrete with a compressive strength of 5,000 psi (34 MPa) and 8 ft (2.4 m) into 10,000 psi (69 MPa) reinforced concrete.
United States United States Air Force – At least 20 in service as of November 2015.
The GBU-57 series MOP— the initials stand for Guided Bomb Unit and Massive Ordnance Penetrator—is a 30,000-pound (14,000 kg) class, 20.5-foot-long (6.2 m) precision-guided " bunker buster " bomb developed by Boeing for the United States Air Force (USAF).
The GBU-57 series MOP— the initials stand for Guided Bomb Unit and Massive Ordnance Penetrator—is a 30,000-pound (14,000 kg) class, 20.5-foot-long (6.2 m) precision-guided " bunker buster " bomb developed by Boeing for the United States Air Force (USAF). Composed of a BLU-127 bomb body and an integrated GPS/INS guidance package, the GBU-57 has seven variants, the most recent being the GBU-57F/B. Due to its size and weight, the GBU-57 MOP can be carried only by the Northrop B-2 Spirit strategic bomber and the B-21 Raider , although initial tests were conducted with a modified Boeing B-52 Stratofortress .
The bomb is much larger than earlier USAF bunker-busters such as the 5,000-pound (2,300 kg) GBU-28 and GBU-37 . Despite weighing more than the MOAB , the latter contains a larger amount of explosive, as a more general purpose munition.
In 2002, the US Air Force began the "Big BLU" (BLU = Bomb Live Unit) program to develop a series of very powerful conventional munitions. Two main weapons were associated with this concept: a blast variant, the GBU-43/B MOAB (Massive Ordnance Air Blast), a 21,700-pound conventional bomb designed to destroy a large area; and a penetrator variant, the GBU-57 MOP (Massive Ordnance Penetrator). The MOAB was developed in 2003, but the MOP project was paused for funding and technical difficulties.
The MOP was designed by Boeing to be used with the B-2 Spirit . It was first tested in March 2007, in a DTRA tunnel at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. In July 2007, Northrop Grumman received a contract to refit the B-2, enabling it to carry two of the 14-ton bombs. Beginning in 2008, the MOP was tested under various conditions, including on rocket sleds at Holloman High Speed Test Track and from B-52 and B-2 strategic bomber aircraft at White Sands.
The GBU-57's explosive component is a bomb of the BLU-127 series, whose modular design accommodates improvements and upgrades. One variant of the BLU-127 bomb body contains 4,590 pounds (2,082 kg) of AFX-757 and 752 pounds (341 kg) of PBXN-114, a polymer-bonded explosive (PBX), for a total explosive payload of 5,342 pounds (2,423 kg). The PBX is optimized for controlled detonation in confined spaces. The bomb's casing is made from high-density Eglin steel alloy, engineered to survive the extreme stresses of deep penetration before detonation.
There has been debate over whether the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) can reliably destroy Iran's deeply buried nuclear sites. The Fordow facility and the new halls under construction at Natanz are thought to lie more than 80 metres (262 ft) underground, whereas the original Natanz enrichment plant sits roughly 20 metres (66 ft) below the surface.
The MOP is reportedly able to penetrate about 18 metres (59 ft) of reinforced concrete with a compressive strength of 5,000 psi (34 MPa). Iranian domestic research has produced concrete exceeding 30,000 psi (210 MPa), which could sharply reduce the bomb's effective penetration depth. Additionally, the Fordow site is underneath rock composed primarily of limestone which has variable compressive strength but can reach 25,000 psi (172 MPa), especially at greater depths. Advanced bunker-shell construction techniques can cause deflection or yaw .
Length : 20.5 feet (6.2 m)
Diameter : 31.5 inches (0.8 m)
BLU-127 bomb body weight : 27,125 pounds (12,304 kg)
Explosive weight : 5,342 pounds (2,423 kg) AFX-757 : 4,590 pounds (2,082 kg) PBXN-114 : 752 pounds (341 kg)
Penetration : (debated) There is debate about the penetration capabilities of the bomb. The US Air Force has said that the GBU-57 can penetrate up to 200 ft (60 m) of unspecified material before exploding. The BBC reports that analysts at Janes Information Services say the weapon can penetrate about 200 ft (60 m) of earth or 60 ft (18 m) of concrete. A separate source suggests penetration of up to 60 ft (18 m) into reinforced concrete with a compressive strength of 5,000 psi (34 MPa) and 8 ft (2.4 m) into 10,000 psi (69 MPa) reinforced concrete.
The GBU-57 series MOP— the initials stand for Guided Bomb Unit and Massive Ordnance Penetrator—is a 30,000-pound (14,000 kg) class, 20.5-foot-long (6.2 m) precision-guided " bunker buster " bomb developed by Boeing for the United States Air Force (USAF). Composed of a BLU-127 bomb body and an integrated GPS/INS guidance package, the GBU-57 has seven variants, the most recent being the GBU-57F/B. Due to its size and weight, the GBU-57 MOP can be carried only by the Northrop B-2 Spirit strategic bomber and the B-21 Raider , although initial tests were conducted with a modified Boeing B-52 Stratofortress .
Reference text from Wikipedia contributors, used under CC BY-SA 4.0.
True scale
Sourced dimensions beside a 1.75 m human reference.
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Points represent sourced observations, including revisions. Revisions on the same effective date are not separate inventory events. Ranges appear in the table and are not plotted as exact points.
| Observation / report period | Value | Source | Claim state |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Oct 2026 | 0.8 m | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| 2 Oct 2026 | 0.8 m | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
GBU-57A/B MOP equipment records. Variants, orders and quantities are shown as reported in each inventory source; coverage is incomplete.
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