BLU-116

The BLU-116 is a United States Air Force bomb, designed as an enhanced "Bunker buster" penetration weapon, designed to penetrate deep into rock or concrete and destroy hard targets. [ [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/blu-116.htm BLU-116 Advanced Unitary Penetrator (AUP) GBU-24 C/B (USAF) / GBU-24 D/B (Navy)] , accessed Oct 2, 2007]

The BLU-116 is the same shape, size, and weight (about 2,000 lb / 900 kg) as the BLU-109 penetration bomb first deployed in the 1980s. The BLU-116 has a lightweight outer shell around a dense, heavy metal penetrator core. The shape and size mean that the BLU-116 could be used by unmodified existing aircraft and bomb guidance units such as the GPS guided GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munition and GBU-24 Paveway III laser guided bomb.

Specifications

From: [ [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/blu-116-specs.htm BLU-116 Advanced Unitary Penetrator (AUP) GBU-24 C/B (USAF) / GBU-24 D/B (Navy) Specifications] , accessed Oct 2, 2007]
* Length: 2.4 m
* Width: 0.37 m
* Weight: 874 kg
* Explosives: 109 kg PBXN

Controversy

Some organizations have linked the BLU-116 design to Depleted uranium, [ [http://nucnews.net/nucnews/2002nn/0210nn/021015nn.htm nucnews.net] , accessed Oct 2, 2007] with evidence including references to a DU penetrator option in US Patent 6,389,977 "Shrouded Aerial Bomb"" [ [http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=6,389,977.PN.&OS=PN/6,389,977&RS=PN/6,389,977 Patent 6,389,977 Shrouded Aerial Bomb] , accessed Oct 2, 2007] which describes the weapon which became the BLU-116. Two options are presented - one using tungsten as the penetrator body, the other using depleted uranium. There is no conclusive answer as to which model was eventually produced.

References

External links

* [http://www.raytheon.com/products/stellent/groups/public/documents/content/cms04_018951.pdf Raytheon Paveway Bomb Datasheet]