By Us Airforce

Copyright indiatimes

APUS Airforce orders replacement prototype for GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator

The US Air Force (USAF) has formally started the next era of deep-penetration strike capability by awarding a contract to develop a prototype replacement for its GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), a munition that achieved notoriety after its deployment over Iranian nuclear sites during Operation Midnight Hammer on 22 June 2025.Applied Research Associates (ARA), along with Boeing–the original MOP prime contractor–are leading the design, prototyping, and testing initiative under a two-year contract awarded by the USAF’s Air Force Life Cycle Management Center. The new weapon, designated as the Next Generation Penetrator (NGP), is expected to achieve destructive effects against hard and deeply buried targets that challenge US national security, echoing the proven legacy of the MOP but with significant technical and operational improvements.Why the replacement? Lessons from IranThe current 30,000-pound GBU-57/B MOP was thrust into the spotlight after its first operational use when US stealth B-2 Spirit bombers dropped fourteen units on Iran’s highly-fortified Fordow and other nuclear facilities, punching through repeated layers to target underground assets. While the strike showcased the capability of America’s most potent bunker buster, military leaders noted the evolving nature of hardened target threats and the goal to keep pace with advanced enemy defenses.Operation Midnight Hammer underlined the limitations of both scale and survivability: the B-2 is the only aircraft currently cleared to carry the MOP, and can only take two bombs per sortie. The future B-21 Raider stealth bomber, with its smaller payload bay, is expected to carry just one MOP-sized weapon, creating operational incentives to develop a bomb that is smaller and lighter, yet equally or more effective.Live EventsWhat’s new– The NGP’s tech leapWhile many specifics about the NGP remain classified or under development, key features have emerged. The NGP warhead is expected to weigh up to 22,000 pounds, making it about two-third the weight of the existing MOP. This potentially allows deployment from a wider variety of bombers than the ultra-large MOP and aligns with the B-21’s more modest weapons bay.Guidance will push new boundaries, with the Air Force requiring CE90 within 2.2 m, that is 90 percent of striking within 2.2 meters (about 7.2 feet) of the intended aim point, even in environments where GPS is degraded or denied—a performance leap compared to the current JDAMs and a substantial improvement over older systems can be expected.Who’s building itARA takes the lead as “system design agent” and will coordinate engineering and integration, while Boeing’s role focuses on the tail kit and round integration. Under the contract, sub-scale and full-scale prototype bombs will be produced and tested. The fiscal 2026 USAF budget proposal includes $73.7 million for the NGP effort, funding ongoing ground and static testing. USAF officials clearly state that operational feedback from the Iran strikes, as well as assessments of enemy adaptation, are informing the NGP’s requirements and features. The NGP will eventually succeed the MOP, allowing the USAF to prosecute hard and deeply buried targets with greater precision, flexibility, and survivability. Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now!
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)

Read More News onNext Generation PenetratorUS Air ForceOperation Midnight Hammerstealth bombersbunker busterApplied Research AssociatesBoeing

(Catch all the US News, UK News, Canada News, International Breaking News Events, and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily International News Updates….moreless

(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)Read More News onNext Generation PenetratorUS Air ForceOperation Midnight Hammerstealth bombersbunker busterApplied Research AssociatesBoeing(Catch all the US News, UK News, Canada News, International Breaking News Events, and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily International News Updates….moreless

Explore More Stories123