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Science & Technology
Pentagon upgrades 'Bunker Buster' bomb in attempt to penetrate key Iran nuke site
2013-05-03
The Pentagon has reportedly upgraded its "bunker buster bomb" in what officials say is a critical step in convincing Israel the U.S. has the ability to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons if diplomacy fails.

The Wall Street Journal reports the Massive Ordnance Penetrator, or BFB MOP, has been fortified with advanced features that are meant to enable it to destroy Iran's most fortified nuclear site.

The paper reports U.S. officials have demonstrated an earlier version of the bomb's capabilities to Israeli leaders several times recently by showing them a video of the bomb hitting its target in high-altitude testing.

Pentagon officials view the development of the weapon as critical to convincing Israel it can rely on the U.S. to stop Iran from developing nukes, and that the Israeli military cannot do so on its own.
Posted by:GolfBravoUSMC

#8  Defensive-minded Iran is being super duper-careful about how its NucProgs is being perceived - its intent is for the US-n-only-the-US, to include Israel, etc. get the sole blame for any breakout of mil conflict - THUS FAR, IRAN IS DOING A VERY GOOD JOB.

FYI DEMOCRATIC UNDRGOUND > [CNN.com] SOURCES: US BELIEVES ISRAEL HAS CONDUCTED AN AIRSTRIKE INTO SYRIA, possibly from Lebanon airspace but widout any air penetration per se into Syria [LR ALCMS]???

The US + other nations have repor detected a large number of IDAF warplanes flying over Lebanon widout any formal Israeli acknowledgement as to why.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2013-05-03 22:56  

#7  A layer of glass would seal it off quite effectively.
Posted by: gorb   2013-05-03 22:14  

#6  How about a Deep Penetrating, Time Delay - 5KT- Thermo-Halliburton Plate Shifter(DPTD-5KT-THPS)? We've not tested one of those in years.
Posted by: Besoeker   2013-05-03 14:52  

#5  I suspect the key is in timing a series of smaller blasts on the same spot more than just making a bigger blast. Percussion drilling principle. In addition, by shaping the individual blasts we should be able to 'excavate' debris so as to leave a channel for the subsequent charge to penetrate before detonating - a burrowing bomb system.
Posted by: Glenmore   2013-05-03 12:58  

#4  It isn't the size of the weapon. It is the will of the man authorizing its use.
Posted by: DarthVader   2013-05-03 12:36  

#3  What Frank said.
Posted by: trailing wife   2013-05-03 12:18  

#2  "You sure it's soap --- looks like a piece of stone to me?"
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2013-05-03 12:07  

#1  It's not the weapon. It's the Islamo-symp Squish that would have to authorize it
Posted by: Frank G   2013-05-03 10:00  

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