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A Bunker Buster is designed to reach and destroy an enemy’s well-protected facility – specifically, those that harbor weapons of mass destruction.
In WWII, German engineer August Conders developed the Rochling shells. These were made from chrome-vanadium steel and could penetrate more than 13ft of concrete. However, they were inaccurate, had low muzzle velocity, and were seldom used.
The satellite-guided weapon weighs 30,000 lbs, caries over 5,300 lbs of high explosives, and can break through 200ft of pure concrete. One of its many suitors is the upcoming B-21 bomber.
In May 2019, the US Air Force released a video showcasing the B-2 Spirit dropping two GBU-57 bombs. The video clip of that is available here.
The next version is planned to be a third of the MOP’s size so it could be carried by fighters. In 2015, Northrop Grumman was awarded a contract to develop the model, but no further details have been revealed to the public.