Have you ever found yourself asking, “What is a bunker buster?” If so, you’re in for some answers today! A bunker buster is a bomb that can penetrate a long way underground before it explodes and can puncture through over ten feet of concrete before erupting below the surface. These bombs have been in effect since 1942 and continue to be updated for advanced use. Suggested read:Should We Be Worried About Russian Military Strength?

Modern History of the Bunker Buster

Recent prototypes for bunker buster missiles began around the bombing campaign against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. They also became the topic of discussion after it was discovered that Iraqi underground dugouts were so deep in the ground that no normal bomb could reach them. This was until the Air Force implemented the bunker buster in the NATO-led bombing campaign against Serbia in 1999 and during the early phases of the Afghanistan and Iraq missions in 2002 and 2003. This newer version of the U.S. bunker buster consists of a 16-foot casing and an artillery barrel that is 14.5 inches in diameter and covered with solid steel. Inside, there is over 600 pounds of tritonal explosive, a mixture of 80% TNT and 20% aluminum powder. Fastened on the nose of the bomb is a laser guidance system, which casts light upon the designated target. There are tall retractable fins at the end of the bomb to help keep it stable during flight. Once the final product was originally completed, it was coined the GBU-28, weighing approximately 4,400 pounds and standing at a whopping 19 feet tall.

How Does it Work?

Bunker busters work for a few simple reasons. They are encased in a rigid tube, are extremely heavy, narrow, and are dropped from high in the air. Given that they are covered in highly hardened steel, the bombs can withstand and pierce through the Earth's surface. It is fundamental physics; once the giant bomb is dropped from the plane, it develops a significant amount of speed, building up kinetic energy as it falls all the way down. Once it hits the ground, it impales straight through the surface. Typically, there needs to be a delay before the bomb goes off. This is done by using a delay fuze or a hard target smart fuze (HTSF) so that the bomb doesn't blow up before it hits its intended target.

Bunker Buster Pros and Cons

Many of you may be asking, “How deep can a bunker buster go?” These are incredibly heavy bombs with narrow points. Not only that, but they are also dropped from a predetermined height of around 20,000 feet in the sky. In previous trials, the GBU-28 has pierced 100 feet into the ground and has penetrated up to 20 feet of solid concrete. Given its immense weight, smaller military-grade aircraft, such as the F-15E Eagle, can only carry one at a time. To combat this, a smaller twin bomb known as the BLU-109 bunker buster bomb is used for the same purpose. However, it is not even half the size of the GBU-28, only weighing up to 2,000 pounds, making it easier to carry.

Bunker Busters Today

A new and unfinished version of the bunker buster bomb known as the GBU-72 is expected to be more potent than its predecessors. According to James Culliton, the GBU-72 Program Manager, "Lethality is expected to be substantially higher compared to similar legacy weapons like the GBU-28." A few tests of the new design were executed in 2021, and new trials are expected to continue throughout 2022. Some primary differences between the older and newer designs revolve around their weight and internal navigation system. A critical issue with the GBU-28 is that its laser guidance system doesn't navigate well in bad weather conditions. With the new GPS-assisted internal navigation system, the GBU-72 will have the ability to work under any weather conditions. Furthermore, they differ in weight; there is a 600-pound differential between the two. The GBU-72 can also be carried by different bombers, such as a conventional strategic bomber or a stealth bomber (for example, the traditional Air Force B-52 and stealthy B-2 Spirit). As long as there are deeply buried military facilities, as was the case with Iran and North Korea, there will continually be new and improved bunker busters that will penetrate deeper and deeper into the Earth's surface. Related read:The Lean, Mean, Lethal B-52 Bombers - Wise Guy & Ghost Rider Are Back!