BLU-109 bomb
{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name = BLU-109
| image = BLU-109 aboard F-15E.jpg
| image_size = 350
| caption = A BLU-109 aboard an F-15E Strike Eagle configured as a JDAM
| type = Free-fall penetration bomb (guided when equipped as JDAM or Paveway)
| service = 1985-today
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| length = {{convert|7|ft|11|in|abbr=on}}
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| diameter = {{convert|14.6|in|abbr=on}}
| origin = United States
| is_ranged =
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| is_explosive = yes
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| used_by = United States Air Force
Israeli Air Force
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| weight = {{convert|2,000|lb|abbr=on}}
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| filling = Tritonal[https://web.archive.org/web/20110525133718/http://www.hill.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=5752 BLU-109/B fact sheet - Hill AFB, USAF]
| filling_weight = {{convert|550|lb|kg|abbr=on}}
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File:BLU-109 aboard F-16.jpg configured as a JDAM]]
File:F-16I (IAF).jpg (Israeli Air Force) with a BLU-109 JDAM, {{cvt|2000|lb|kg}} bunker buster penetration bomb]]
The BLU-109/B is a hardened bunker buster penetration bomb used by the United States Air Force (BLU is an acronym for Bomb Live Unit). As with other "bunker busters", it is intended to penetrate concrete shelters and other hardened structures before exploding. In addition to the US, it is part of the armament of the air forces of Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Israel, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, and United Arab Emirates.{{cite web |work=Forecast International |date=2004 |url=http://www.dfeeler.com/forecastinc/sampledocs/Ordnance/BLU-116.doc |title=BLU-116/B |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310073436/http://www.dfeeler.com/forecastinc/sampledocs/Ordnance/BLU-116.doc |archive-date=10 March 2012 |url-status=usurped |page=4 |access-date=12 May 2011 }}
Design
The BLU-109/B has a steel casing about {{convert|1|inch}} thick. Its warhead is filled with {{convert|550|lb}} of tritonal.{{Cite web |last=J. Hart |first=Russell |date=15 February 2012 |title=Defeating Hard And Deeply Buried Targets in 2035 |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/AD1018630.pdf |access-date=5 July 2024 |website=Defense Technical Information Center (.mil) |page=7-8}} It has a mechanical-electrical delayed-action FMU-143 tail-fuze.{{Cite web |title=Gulf War - Air Power Survey, Volume IV - Weapons, Tactics, and Training |url=https://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/27/2001329817/-1/-1/0/AFD-100927-066.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190820100750/https://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/27/2001329817/-1/-1/0/AFD-100927-066.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 August 2019 |access-date=4 July 2024 |website=U.S. Department of Defense |page=71}}
The BLU-109 entered service in 1985. It is also used as the warhead of some marks of the GBU-15 electro-optically guided bomb, the GBU-24 Paveway III and GBU-27 Paveway III laser-guided bombs, as well as the GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM){{Cite web |last=Chow Seng |first=Chor |date=December 2008 |title=A Business Case Analysis of the Hard Target Void Sensing Fuze (HTVSF) Joint Cap Capability Technology Demonstration (JCTD) |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA494128.pdf |access-date=5 July 2024 |website=Defense Technical Information Center (.mil) {{!}} Naval Postgraduate School |page=1}} and AGM-130 air-to-surface missile.
Variants
The BLU-118 is reportedly a thermobaric explosive filler variation on the BLU-109 casing and basic bomb design.{{cite web|title=BLU-118/B Thermobaric Weapon|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/blu-118.htm|publisher=GlobalSecurity.org|access-date=2013-12-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727035802/https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/blu-118.htm|archive-date=27 July 2019|url-status=live}} It contains PBXIH-135, a traditional explosive.{{cite web|last=Little|first=Robert|title=A race to get a new bomb for cave war|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2002/08/04/a-race-to-get-a-new-bomb-for-cave-war/|work=The Baltimore Sun|access-date=5 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407085101/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2002-08-04/news/0208040285_1_blast-bomb-cave/5|archive-date=7 April 2014|url-status=live}}
In 2015, General Dynamics started a $7.2 million development of a version called HAMMER, which is intended to destroy chemical and biological substances by spreading dozens of Kinetic Fireballs Incendiaries (KFI) (not explosions) inside a bunker. The KFIs evolved out of the earlier Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program by Exquadrum, Inc. of Adelanto, California.{{cite web |last=Drew |first=James |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/pentagon-taps-general-dynamics-to-test-fireball-bunker-415927/ |title=Pentagon taps General Dynamics to test fireball bunker bomb |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180219104156/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/pentagon-taps-general-dynamics-to-test-fireball-bunker-415927/ |archive-date=19 February 2018 |url-status=dead }}
Operators
The BLU-109 has been sold to key US allies including South Korea, Israel, Greece, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Pakistan, and Turkey{{cite web |title=The Most "Political" of All Bombs |url=http://www.quatrostrategies.com/2016/02/29/the-most-political-of-all-bombs/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906134819/http://www.quatrostrategies.com/2016/02/29/the-most-political-of-all-bombs/ |archive-date=6 September 2018 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=https://www.haf.gr/arsenal/blu-109-b-bomb-live-unit// |website=www.haf.gr|title=BLU-109/B (Bomb Live Unit) }}
- {{Flagu|United States}}: United States Air Force
- {{flagu|Morocco}}: Royal Moroccan Air Force
- {{Flagu|South Korea}}: Republic of Korea Air Force
- {{Flagu|Greece}}: Hellenic Air Force
- {{Flagu|Turkey}}: Turkish Air Force
- {{Flagu|Israel}}: Israeli Air Force
- {{Flagu|Serbia}}: Serbian Air Force
- {{flagu|Pakistan}}: Pakistan Air Force
- {{Flagu|Saudi Arabia}}: Royal Saudi Air Force
- {{Flagu|UAE}}: United Arab Emirates Air Force
- {{flagu|The Netherlands}}: Royal Netherlands Air Force
Operational history
In late 2023, the United States delivered 100 BLU-109 bombs to Israel.{{cite news |title=US sends ‘bunker buster’ bombs to Israel for war on Gaza, report says |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/2/us-gives-bunker-buster-bombs-to-israel-for-war-on-gaza-report |work=Al Jazeera |date=2 December 2023}} Israeli F-15I fighter jets are believed to have used BLU-109s with JDAM guidance kits in the strikes that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut on 27 September 2024.{{cite news |title=Israel likely used U.S.-made 2,000-pound bombs in Nasrallah strike, visuals show |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/09/29/israel-bomb-beirut-nasrallah-death/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=29 September 2024}}{{cite news |title= US-made 2,000-pound bombs likely used in strike that killed Hezbollah chief Nasrallah, CNN analysis shows|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/30/middleeast/israel-attack-nasrallah-2000-pound-bombs-intl/index.html |work=CNN |date=30 September 2024}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|BLU-109}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110525133718/http://www.hill.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=5752 BLU-109/B Hard-target Warhead fact sheet, at Hill AFB website, US air Force]
{{USAF equipment}}
{{Authority control}}