GBU-43/B MOAB Bomb

Manufacturer: US Defense Prime Contractor
Category: Bombs & Aerial Munitions
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Warhead Type Conventional high explosive
Delivery Platforms Compatible MC-130 aircraft with specialized airdrop equipment
Guidance GPS and inertial navigation system
Operational Role Large-area blast effects against exposed targets and accessible cave or tunnel complexes

Defense Systems Full Specifications

1. General Information

Name / Designation	GBU-43/B MOAB
Type	Conventional precision-guided bomb
Manufacturer	Air Force Research Laboratory; Dynetics contributed to development
Country of Origin	United States
Year Introduced	2003, initial testing and development
Operational Status	Public sources identify the weapon as an existing U.S. capability; current inventory details are not fully disclosed

2. Physical Characteristics

Weight	Approximately 21,000 lb (9,525 kg), published figures vary
Length	Approximately 30 ft (9.14 m)
Diameter	Approximately 40.5 in (1.03 m)
Casing Type	Large conventional bomb casing

3. Performance

Yield	Conventional blast, not nuclear
Guidance	GPS / INS
Accuracy (CEP)	A verified public CEP figure is not established in the cited references
Delivery Platforms	Compatible MC-130 aircraft; integration details depend on configuration
Penetration Capability	Not a dedicated earth-penetrating weapon

4. Warhead / Explosive Details

Warhead Type	High explosive
Fuzing Options	Detailed configuration not consistently disclosed in public references
Explosive Composition	Public references identify the BLU-120/B warhead; published descriptions of the explosive filling vary

5. Operational Use

Primary Mission	Large-area blast effects against suitable surface targets and accessible underground complexes
Operators	United States
Notable Deployments / History	First used in combat on April 13, 2017, against an Islamic State tunnel complex in Afghanistan

6. Variants

Variants

GBU-43/B is the publicly documented operational designation; no widely documented separate operational variant

Our Rating

The overall rating is based on review by our experts

Technology 8 / 10
Stealth Capability 8 / 10
Performance 8 / 10
Payload Capacity 8 / 10

PROS

Large conventional explosive payload for area targets.
GPS and inertial navigation guidance.
Designed for use against exposed targets and accessible cave or tunnel complexes.
Can be deployed from compatible military transport aircraft.
Provides a substantial blast effect without a nuclear warhead.

CONS

Requires a compatible aircraft and specialized airdrop equipment.
Very large size limits the number of suitable delivery platforms.
Not designed specifically to penetrate deeply buried, hardened structures.
Large blast effects create significant risks to nearby personnel and infrastructure.
Current unit price and inventory figures are not consistently available in public sources.

GBU-43/B MOAB Bomb: Specifications, Cost and Capabilities

The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) is a U.S. conventional, air-delivered bomb designed to attack large target areas and exposed or accessible underground complexes. Commonly called the Mother of All Bombs, it is among the largest conventional weapons in the U.S. military inventory. Unlike nuclear weapons, the MOAB uses a high-explosive warhead to produce a powerful blast.

Weighing approximately 21,000 pounds, the bomb combines satellite-based guidance with an inertial navigation system to improve delivery accuracy. Its design includes deployable grid fins and control surfaces that steer the weapon after release. The MOAB is intended for targets where a large blast effect is required, including cave entrances, tunnel complexes, and concentrations of personnel or equipment. It is not a specialized earth-penetrating bomb, and its effectiveness against deeply buried, hardened facilities is limited by its blast-based design.

Manufacturer

The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) developed the GBU-43/B in 2003 to meet an urgent operational requirement. Dynetics contributed to the program, while production information identifies the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant in Oklahoma as a manufacturing location. The weapon underwent its first major test in March 2003 and was developed with potential use during Operation Iraqi Freedom in mind. It was not used in that campaign.

Speed and Range

The MOAB is a gravity bomb, not a powered missile or rocket. It has no independent propulsion system, so missile-style speed ratings and powered flight range do not apply. Its trajectory depends on aircraft release conditions, gravity, aerodynamic control, and guidance. Public references describe GPS and inertial navigation guidance, but do not establish a single standard maximum range or a verified operational speed figure. The weapon was designed for deployment from compatible MC-130 aircraft using an airdrop system.

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Cost/Price

The U.S. Air Force historically cited a unit cost of approximately $170,000. This is an older estimate, not a verified current procurement price. The cost of producing additional weapons could differ because of inflation, component availability, manufacturing requirements, and renewed testing.

FAQs

What is the GBU-43/B MOAB bomb?

The GBU-43/B is a U.S. conventional precision-guided bomb designed to create a large blast effect against suitable surface targets and accessible cave or tunnel complexes.

How much does the MOAB bomb weigh?

Published specifications place its weight at approximately 21,000 pounds, or about 9,525 kilograms. Figures vary slightly across sources.

Is the MOAB a nuclear bomb?

No. The GBU-43/B uses conventional high explosives. Its large blast effect does not make it a nuclear weapon.

How much does a GBU-43/B MOAB cost?

A historical U.S. Air Force estimate placed its unit cost at approximately $170,000. That figure is not a confirmed current production price, and the cost of manufacturing additional weapons may differ.

Which aircraft can carry the MOAB?

The weapon was designed for delivery from compatible MC-130 aircraft using specialized airdrop equipment. It is not a standard bomb carried on conventional fighter aircraft.

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