We have seen them in the first attacks of the United States to Iran. The massive artillery penetrator (MOP) GBU-57/B of 13,600 kg of the US Air Force. It was first used in operational attacks against Iranian nuclear facilities and show a significant escalation in the Cinetic options of the USA. UU. Against armored objectives.
But this deployment is not unique: it occurs while the pentagon accelerates efforts to develop a more advanced successor, the new generation penetrator (NGP), designed to overcome the abilities of the MOP in depth, precision and survival capacity. The GBU-57/B is currently The most powerful conventional Rompebúnkeres of the American Arsenalwith a weight of 13,600 kg and a length of 6.2 meters.
Designed to destroy buried and fortified objectives at great depth, the MOP It carries a Blu-127/B eye of 2270 kg, which represents almost 20 % of the Tota massl of the weapon. Although its exact penetration capacity remains classified, it is believed that it reaches depths of more than 60 meters through reinforced concrete.
In operational terms, Only the B-2 Spirit furtive bomber is authorized to display this weaponalthough the B-21 Raider, still in development, will assume this function over time. Tests have also been performed with the B-52.
During the midnight hammer operation, B-2 bombers launched 14 massive artillery penetrators (MOP). Twelve bombs hit the Fordow enrichment complex, while two hit Natanz.
This operation showed that these weapons are now used as active tools, not only for deterrent purposes. Although The bombs were heavy, the images after the impacts confirmed their precision.
However, given the operational limitations of the MOP, in particular their need to launch at a short distance and lack of propelledN, Pentagon planners have advanced with the concept of NGP.
A US Air Force Hiring announcement described the initial requirements: Upenetrating ojiva with a maximum weight of 10,000 kilos, capable of producing explosive, fragmentation and deep penetration effects. The weight or total dimensions of the system were not specified. The NGP is expected to incorporate advanced guide, navigation and control (CNG) systems, including environments with degraded or denied GPS.
To this we must add that the Air Force requires a terminal accuracy of CE90 to 2.2 meters, which means that The weapon must impact less than 2.2 meters from its impact point planned 90 % of the time, a notable precision for an ammunition of such size. This level of precision exceeds standard JDAM with GPS, whose precision can be degraded at 30 meters without GPS.
In addition to precision, survival capacity and adaptability are key objectives. The Air Force seeks a robust and integrated spawning technology to resist extreme impact forces and shoot at the optimal depth.
This includes interest in spootes with vacuum detection and floors counting, capable of detecting internal spaces within underground complexes before detonation. These are crucial to penetrate compartmentalized and deeply buried facilities, where information about internal distribution is limited. The NGP project is based on previous studies, including the Alternative analysis (AOA) of hard -white ammunition of 2012 and Your 2019 update.
Unlike the MOP, which was initially A fast reaction program implemented by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DRA)NGP is expected to be a fully formalized program with long -term scalability.
The Air Force has also expressed interest in integrating motorized separation capacity into the NGP, potentially including rocket -assisted propulsion. This would allow The deployment of future ammunition from greater distancesreducing the exposure of launch aircraft and expanding the objective options. Theoretical representations suggest a factor similar to that of a missile for long -range operations.
Ultimately, the NGP could arise not as a unique weapon, but as A family of scalable systems and deep penetration integrated into the long -range attack ecosystem (LRS). This includes the B-21 Raider, the Missile AgM-181A long-range (Lrso) and other classified platforms.