Reese writes:
Conventional bunker busters weight 5,000 lbs, and have to be delivered by structurally modified B-52s.
The GBU-28 (BLU-113 Penetrator) weighs 4,414 lbs, and can be delivered by F-15s and F-111s.
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/smart/gbu-28.htm says in part: "The GBU-28 is a 5,000-pound laser-guided conventional munition..." Later in the spec sheet, it cites the size of the bomb as 4,414 lbs. Perhaps the 5,000 lbs was a rough estimate. Perhaps the spec sheet is in error. Current news stories are referring to it as the <5,000-pound GBU-28 "bunker buster" bomb>. http://europe.cnn.com/2001/US/10/10/ret.bunker.buster/ http://www.canoe.ca/CNEWSAttack011010/10_us-ap.html The B61-11 tactical nuke was a replacement for the B53, an 8,900 lb 9 megaton warhead, which could only be delivered by a B52. I apparently confused this with the B61-11 being an alternative to the GBU-28, which can, as you point out, be delivered by a variety of aircraft. -- Eric Michael Cordian 0+ O:.T:.O:. Mathematical Munitions Division "Do What Thou Wilt Shall Be The Whole Of The Law"
At 08:53 PM 10/12/01 -0700, Eric Cordian wrote:
Reese writes:
Conventional bunker busters weight 5,000 lbs, and have to be delivered by structurally modified B-52s.
The GBU-28 (BLU-113 Penetrator) weighs 4,414 lbs, and can be delivered by F-15s and F-111s.
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/smart/gbu-28.htm says in part:
"The GBU-28 is a 5,000-pound laser-guided conventional munition..."
Later in the spec sheet, it cites the size of the bomb as 4,414 lbs. Perhaps the 5,000 lbs was a rough estimate. Perhaps the spec sheet is in error.
Current news stories are referring to it as the <5,000-pound GBU-28 "bunker buster" bomb>.
No argument on that. On the structurally modified B-52 though,,,
http://europe.cnn.com/2001/US/10/10/ret.bunker.buster/ http://www.canoe.ca/CNEWSAttack011010/10_us-ap.html
The B61-11 tactical nuke was a replacement for the B53, an 8,900 lb 9 megaton warhead, which could only be delivered by a B52. I apparently confused this with the B61-11 being an alternative to the GBU-28, which can, as you point out, be delivered by a variety of aircraft.
Ah. Okay, no worries then. Reese
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Reese