GBU-72
| Guided Bomb Unit‐72 (GBU‐72) | |
|---|---|
| Type | Precision-guided bunker busting bomb |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | Since 2021 |
| Used by | |
| Wars | |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Boeing |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 5,000 lb (2,300 kg) |
Guidance system | GPS and INS |
Steering system | GBU-31/B JDAM tail kit |
Launch platform | B-1B, F-15E & F-15I |
| References | Jane's Defence Weekly[1] & The Telegraph[2] |
The Guided Bomb Unit‐72 (GBU‐72), also known as the Advanced 5K (A5K) Penetrator, is a bunker busting bomb developed in the United States.
Description
The GBU-72 is described as a 5,000 lb (2,300 kg) class precision-guided bunker busting bomb which uses a JDAM guidance kit.[3]
The GBU-72 is said to resemble an enlarged GBU-31/B JDAM fitted with a bunker busting BLU-109 or BLU-137/B warhead.[3] It is fitted with the GBU-31/B JDAM’s GPS and INS tail-mounted guidance kit and two long fins fitted to either side of the bomb's underside.[1][3]
No official data is available for how deep the GBU-72 can penetrate before exploding, although the weapon's program manager has been quoted as saying "lethality [of the GBU-72] is expected to be substantially higher compared to similar legacy weapons like the GBU-28".[1][2] The capabilities of the later versions of the GBU-28 remain classified, but the earliest versions could reportedly penetrate 150 ft (46 m) of earth and over 15 ft (4.6 m) of reinforced concrete.[3]
The US Air Force's B-1Bs and F-15Es are capable of deploying the GBU-72, along with the Israeli Air Force's F-15Is.[2][4]
History
The GBU-72 underwent a series of tests at Eglin Air Force Base.[1][5] These included a number of ground based tests which included detonating the bomb’s warhead within an array of barriers to measure its blast and other effects, and airborne tests between July and October 2021 which included confirming "the weapon could safely release from the aircraft and validate a modified 2,000-pound joint-direct-attack-munition tail kit’s ability to control and navigate a 5,000-pound weapon."[1][3][5]
In May 2024 it was reported that as part of joint American-British strikes during the Red Sea crisis, the US Air Force used a GBU-72 to destroy an underground Houthi facility in Yemen.[6]
On 23 July 2021, the test series consisting of three flights started, planned by the 780th Test Squadron and carried out by the 40th Flight Test Squadron; it aimed to "validate a modified 2,000 pounds (910 kg) Joint Direct Attack Munition tail kit’s ability to control and navigate a 5,000 pounds (2,300 kg) weapon."[7]
In September 2024 it was reported that the Israeli Air Force deployed up to ten GBU-72s on 27 September 2024 to kill Hezbollah's Secretary-General, Hassan Nasrallah, in his underground headquarters complex in Beirut.[4][8] Subsequent reporting stated 2,000 lb (910 kg) class JDAM-equipped BLU-109 bunker busting bombs were likely used.[9][10]
On 7 October 2021, an 96th Test Wing McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle released the GBU-72 (known as the GBU-72 Advanced 5K Penetrator), over the Eglin Air Force Base range, which ended the initial testing phase. It is to moves on to additional JDAM integration test flights and developmental and operational testing in 2022.[7]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e Jennings, Gareth (13 October 2021), "US Air Force drops new 'bunker buster' bomb for first time", Jane's Defence Weekly, Coulsdon, Surrey: Jane's Group UK Limited, retrieved 29 September 2024.
- ^ a b c Axe, David (19 June 2024), "The US Air Force has the medicine for evil-regime deep bunkers. But it needs more", The Telegraph, London: Telegraph Media Group Limited, retrieved 29 September 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Trevithick, Joseph (12 October 2021), "The Air Force's New 5,000-Pound Bunker Buster Bomb Breaks Cover", The War Zone, Miami: Recurrent Ventures, retrieved 29 September 2024.
- ^ a b Barrowclough, Anne; Magnay, Jacquelin (29 September 2024), "'We settled the score': Netanyahu says as Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah dies in Israel air strikes", The Australian, Sydney: Nationwide News Pty Ltd, retrieved 29 September 2024.
- ^ a b Silver, Stephen (18 November 2021), "Air Force's New 5K Penetrator "Bunker Buster" Weapon Gets Tested", The National Interest, Washington, DC: Center for the National Interest, retrieved 29 September 2024.
- ^ CBS (31 May 2024), "Yemen's Houthis threaten escalation after American strike using 5,000-pound bunker-buster bomb", CBS News, New York: CBS Interactive Inc, retrieved 29 September 2024.
- ^ a b King Jr., Samuel (13 October 2021). "Eglin AFB test squadron releases GBU-72 for first time". U.S. Air Force. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
- ^ Rasheed, Zaheena; Mccready, Alastair; Quillen, Stephen; Marsi, Federica; Najjar, Farah; Siddiqui, Usaid (27 September 2024), "Israel attacks Lebanon updates: Beirut suffers 'unprecedented' bombardment", Al Jazeera, Doha: Al Jazeera Media Network, retrieved 4 October 2024.
- ^ Goodwin, Allegra; Brennan, Eve; Mezzofiore, Gianluca (30 September 2024), "US-made 2,000-pound bombs likely used in strike that killed Hezbollah chief Nasrallah, CNN analysis shows", CNN World, Atlanta: Cable News Network, retrieved 12 October 2024.
- ^ Cheeseman, Abbie; Kelly, Meg; Piper, Imogen (30 September 2024), "Israel likely used U.S.-made 2,000-pound bombs in Nasrallah strike, visuals show", The Washington Post, Washington, DC, retrieved 12 October 2024
External links
- King, Samuel, Jr. (12 October 2021), "Eglin test squadron releases GBU-72 for first time", Eglin Air Force Base, Official United States Air Force Website, retrieved 29 September 2024
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