As part of the 2024 report by the Office of the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E), the U.S. Air Force revealed that it has tested a new smart fuze for the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs, which are part of the arsenal of its B-2 bombers. This system is expected to enhance the effectiveness of the 30,000-pound weapon, which is particularly useful against enemy bunkers and underground fortifications located up to 60 meters deep.
Expanding on the capabilities of the GBU-57 bombs used by the USAF, it is worth noting that this weapon system has five different variants, the most recent being the GBU-57F/B, all manufactured by Boeing. The exact number of units in inventory remains unknown, but based on previous reports, the MOP is believed to be available in limited quantities—up to 20 units were delivered by 2015, and reports from 2024 indicate an effort to triple the production rate with new facilities in Oklahoma.
Its limited numbers, at least initially, are likely due to the fact that only B-2 bombers are currently authorized to deploy the GBU-57. One of the key challenges addressed during the development and testing of the bombs equipped with their new smart fuzes has been ensuring proper integration within the bomb bays of these aircraft.
Referring to this, the cited document states: “The scope of subscale lethality testing was reduced (by approximately 50%) due to the Air Force’s reallocation of funding and increased test execution costs at DTRA (Ed. Note: Defense Threat Reduction Agency) (…) The Air Force conducted two full-scale tests in fiscal year 2024 to verify corrections to a B-2 integration issue. In the second of the two large-scale test events, the LPSF [Large Penetrator Smart Fuze] was also used in a full-scale test bench.”
Regarding budgetary issues, the DOT&E report states that they have even affected the planned schedules for the program’s progress, especially in the design and execution of various test scenarios to properly evaluate the new capabilities of the GBU-57 bomb. Specifically, certification tests were scheduled by the U.S. Air Force for fiscal years 2021 and 2022 but were delayed to fiscal years 2023 and 2024 due to the mentioned difficulties.
So much so that, as one of its main recommendations, the DOT&E has asked the DTRA to find ways to avoid further delays and lack of funding in order to bring the project to a successful conclusion.
Images used for illustrative purposes.
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