BLU-116
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The BLU-116 is a United States Air Force bomb, designed as an enhanced Bunker buster penetration weapon, designed to penetrate deep into rock or concrete and destroy hard targets.[1]
The BLU-116 is the same shape, size, and weight (about 2,000 lb / 900 kg) as the BLU-109 penetration bomb first deployed in the 1980s. The BLU-116 has a lightweight outer shell around a dense, heavy metal penetrator core. The shape and size mean that the BLU-116 could be used by unmodified existing aircraft and bomb guidance units such as the GPS guided GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munition and GBU-24 Paveway III laser guided bomb.
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[edit] Specifications
From: [2]
- Length: 2.4 m
- Width: 0.37 m
- Weight: 874 kg
- Explosives: 109 kg PBXN
[edit] Controversy
Some organizations have linked the BLU-116 design to Depleted uranium,[3] with evidence including references to a DU penetrator option in US Patent 6,389,977 "Shrouded Aerial Bomb" [4] which describes the weapon which became the BLU-116. Two options are presented - one using tungsten as the penetrator body, the other using depleted uranium. There is no conclusive answer as to which model was eventually produced.
[edit] References
- ^ BLU-116 Advanced Unitary Penetrator (AUP) GBU-24 C/B (USAF) / GBU-24 D/B (Navy), accessed Oct 2, 2007
- ^ BLU-116 Advanced Unitary Penetrator (AUP) GBU-24 C/B (USAF) / GBU-24 D/B (Navy) Specifications, accessed Oct 2, 2007
- ^ nucnews.net, accessed Oct 2, 2007
- ^ Patent 6,389,977 Shrouded Aerial Bomb, accessed Oct 2, 2007
[edit] External links
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