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p_ing 16 hours ago

MOP is a conventional weapon, 30,000 lbs. Only the B-2 is rated to carry it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GBU-57A/B_MOP

xnx 16 hours ago | parent [-]

Genuinely surprised that Israel couldn't push one out of their c-130s

algorithmsRcool 14 hours ago | parent | next [-]

The kinetics matter here. The B2 flies much higher than the C-130 which would aid the GBU-57 MOP (almost certainly used here) in it's ability to penetrate to maximum depth. 80% of the 15 ton weight of that bomb is just heavy metal to give it maximum energy as it borrows into the ground.

Also, each B2 can carry 2 MOPs making it a better platform than a C-130, and that isn't even taking the stealth of the platform into account

xnx 13 hours ago | parent [-]

> Also, each B2 can carry 2 MOPs

Wow. That is amazing. 60,000 lbs. combined.

1659447091 15 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Don't think the C-130s can fly high enough with a single 30,000lb bomb. The graphic at bbc site show it would be dropped from about 12km (~40,000 ft) in order to gain the speed needed to drive it some 60m underground.

ahazred8ta 13 hours ago | parent [-]

From 40,000 feet, the bomb would take ~ 50 seconds to fall and would impact at mach 1.5.

CyanLite2 14 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Various sources are saying 6 to 12 of these bombs were used. So, you'd need a lot of C-130s and those planes are too slow to NOT get shot down.

giantg2 15 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Do they even have access to this variant? I thought they had access to the older ones that weren't as advanced.

dingaling 12 hours ago | parent | next [-]

The MOP isn't particularly 'advanced', it's basically refined version of the Korean-vintage Tarzon guided earthquake bombs. It's just too heavy for most military aircraft to carry.

The IDF has the F-15I which has a centerline hard point rated for 5,000lb load. That's immense for a fighter but a magnitude too low for the MOP.

There are a variety of smaller US penetrating bombs that the F-15 can handle, but they don't have the mass and structure to penetrate as deeply.

YZF 14 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

They do not.

ceejayoz 14 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Israel hasn’t degraded Iranian air defenses that much. The stuff that can’t threaten a F-35 can still trouble a C-130.

energy123 14 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Why do you say this? Israel only lost 1 drone.

ceejayoz an hour ago | parent [-]

C-130s are very large, slow targets.

invalidname 14 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

According to Israel they fly freely in West/central Iran and use all the plains including F15/16. Initially they relied on the F-35's stealth but as of last week they claim air superiority.

tguvot 11 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

video shows how confused and disoriented are whatever SAM that survived

https://www.reddit.com/r/CombatFootage/comments/1lb8mkc/iran...

p_ing 14 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Israel doesn't have access to the MOP.