MOAB....the next thing in munitions

[Dr Mordrid]

Massive Ordinance Airburst Bomb.

It's a 21,000 pound explosive with a yeild equivalent to a small tactical nuke. They say it'll be very useful against massed forces and scare the s**t out of everyone else in visual range.

Dr. Mordrid

[Jon P. Inghram]

Cool, a step above the infamous BLU-82B "Daisy Cutter" (which is NOT a fuel-air explosive, dispite the popular misconception.)

[Dilitante1]

damn Doc, YOU always come up with these kind of new weopon posts......keep it up

and provide a source (if not classified) too

[Brian R.]

According to this article, the MOAB is currently only a conventional explosive (aluminum, ammonium nitrate, styrene) like the Daisy Cutter, just larger. It does not use a parachute and uses satelite guidance.

http://www.strategypage.com/fyeo/howtomakewar/default.asp?target=htairw

[GT98]

Oh thats the replacement for the Daisy Cutter....no more C-130s and can use a smaller plane like a F-15 or F-16 to drop it. I guess we'll see a couple of these used and EMP bombs used in the next week or two.

[Brian R.]

No, it will still be dropped from a cargo plane - probably still a C-130. Far too heavy to be mounted on a wing pylon. Also, too big to fit in a normal bomber bomb bay. It's even larger and heavier than the Daisy Cutter.

[Dr Mordrid]

More on the MOAB:

1. it's no longer parachuted. It's dead-dropped

2. it now uses JDAM technology, which makes it much more accurate and allows it to be dropped from higher altitudes

3. instead of being triggered at 1 meter off the ground like the BLU-82B it's exploded higher up to maximize the blast area

4. they will be used in the upcoming conflict

5. for pure theatrics they've put in some "extra's" that make a huge mushroom cloud when it detonates

6. the unofficial acronym decipher is "Mother Of All Bombs"

ABC NEWS says this;

The MOAB's massive explosive punch, sources say, is similar to a small nuclear weapon.

It is intended to obliterate a command center hidden in tunnels and bunkers or a concentration of Iraqi tanks.

Whatever the target, it must be far from cities where civilians might be hurt. But one important aspect of using this type of weapon, sources say, will be psychological impact on enemy troops. It is intended to terrorize Iraqi troops, drastically reducing their desire to continue the fight.

No s**t!!

There is also another new bomb coming that is supposed to be similar to the BLU-82 in power but haulable on larger framed fighters, B2's and B52's.

That one's not in the press much though....

Dr. Mordrid