Inside America’s 14-Ton “Super Bomb” Designed Exclusively for the B-2 Bomber

The GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) is the U.S. military’s most powerful non-nuclear bomb—capable of punching through 60 meters of reinforced concrete—and is currently deployed only aboard the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber.

On April 16, Fox News reported that the B-2 had been used to drop the MOP on underground Houthi infrastructure in Yemen. However, U.S. defense officials quickly denied the claim, stating no GBU-57/B bombs were deployed in that theater.

Military analysts say the GBU-57/B is one of the most fearsome conventional weapons in the U.S. arsenal, but due to its limited stockpile, it is reserved for only the most strategic missions—making it unlikely the Pentagon would use it against Houthi targets.

Weighing nearly 30,000 pounds (14 metric tons), the GBU-57/B measures 20 feet (6 meters) in length and roughly 31 inches (0.8 meters) in diameter. It’s the largest conventional bomb in active U.S. service and second in size only to the GBU-43/B MOAB—nicknamed the “Mother of All Bombs.”

Development of the MOP began in 2004, and the first units were delivered by Boeing to the U.S. Air Force in 2011. While the exact inventory is classified, experts estimate the U.S. holds at least 20 of these bombs.

The weapon is specifically designed for the B-2 Spirit and is expected to be integrated into the upcoming B-21 Raider fleet. Footage of the GBU-57/B in action is extremely rare, though the Air Force released a video in 2017 showing a B-2 dropping one during a test exercise.

Equipped with GPS and inertial guidance systems, the bomb is engineered for pinpoint accuracy. It uses a delayed-action fuze, allowing it to penetrate deep underground before detonating—maximizing damage to fortified subterranean targets.

According to the U.S. Air Force, the MOP can break through 200 feet (60 meters) of 5,000 psi reinforced concrete. Against denser 10,000 psi concrete, it can still penetrate up to 26 feet (8 meters).

“Designed to defeat deeply buried targets, the MOP can destroy roughly 25% of hardened underground facilities around the globe,” Washington-based GlobalSecurity.org reports.

The warhead contains 5,300 pounds (2.4 tons) of high explosives—a combination of AFX-757 and PBXN-114—optimized for detonation in confined spaces. Its hardened steel casing is engineered to withstand the immense impact of high-speed penetration.

“Even if it doesn’t reach a bunker’s core, the blast is often strong enough to collapse tunnels and sever communication lines,” wrote Stavros Atlamazoglou in The National Interest.

One limitation of the MOP is the lack of a void-sensing fuze, meaning the bomb detonates only after it comes to a full stop—potentially limiting its destructive impact if it passes completely through the target before exploding.

The U.S. is reportedly increasing its stockpile of GBU-57/Bs and ramping up production to meet future strategic needs.

“If the U.S. wanted to use a MOP in Yemen, the Air Force would have to weigh whether doing so compromises readiness for a more critical contingency,” military expert Joseph Trevithick wrote for The War Zone.

One such contingency could be a future conflict with Iran, which is known to operate hundreds of hardened underground military sites.

“Strategic weapons like the GBU-57/B need to be preserved for targets of highest priority—especially in scenarios involving Iran,” Trevithick noted. “Still, that doesn’t rule out the possibility that B-2 bombers could eventually use the MOP against Houthi targets.”

(Sources: The War Zone, Fox News, AFP)

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