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

algorithmsRcool 16 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 16 hours ago \| parent [-]
		> Also, each B2 can carry 2 MOPs Wow. That is amazing. 60,000 lbs. combined.

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1659447091 17 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 16 hours ago \| parent [-]
		From 40,000 feet, the bomb would take ~ 50 seconds to fall and would impact at mach 1.5.

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CyanLite2 16 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.

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giantg2 17 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 14 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 16 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		They do not.

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ceejayoz 17 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.

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energy123 16 hours ago | parent | next [-]

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

	▲	pclmulqdq 42 minutes ago \| parent \| next [-]
		The US has B52s that are cheaper, but they used B2s for this operation. It seems they don't believe Iran's air defenses to be toothless.
	▲	ceejayoz 3 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		C-130s are very large, slow targets.

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invalidname 16 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.

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tguvot 14 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

video shows how confused and disoriented are whatever SAM that survived

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

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p_ing 16 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Israel doesn't have access to the MOP.