Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Science & Technology
Why in News?
Recently, The U.S has threatened to attack a suspected Iranian nuclear site buried deep under Pickaxe Mountain.
- Bunker Buster Bombs – These weapons are designed to penetrate soil, rock, and reinforced concrete before detonating, targeting facilities buried deep underground.
- Mechanism – Penetrate underground using kinetic energy + hardened casing + delayed fuse.
Conventional Bombs – Explode on/near surface; energy absorbed by soil/rock limits damage to buried targets.
GBU‑57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP)
- Type – World’s largest non‑nuclear bunker buster (13.6 tonnes).
- Delivery – Exclusively by B‑2 Spirit stealth bomber.
B‑2 Spirit is a U.S. stealth flying‑wing bomber capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear weapons.
- Energy – Dropped from 50,000 ft theoretical 2 GJ kinetic energy; actual 0.6–0.8 GJ (170 kg TNT equivalent).
- Design – Hardened steel casing, narrow nose (20 cm), delayed fuse for underground detonation.
Limitations
- Depth – Effectiveness decreases with deeper facilities.
- Geology – Different rocks absorb/transmit shock differently.
- Stiff rocks withstand high compressive stress, reducing bomb effectiveness.
- High Cost – Estimated 15–20 million dollars per bomb and multiple bombs are required for deeper penetration.
- Critical Minerals – Production constrained by resource demand (Gallium).
Gallium powers the advanced radars and precision guidance chips needed to deploy the bombs
Reference
The Hindu | Bunker Buster Bombs
