The US Air Force has received a contract for the development and production of a next-generation bunker-buster bomb.
The Next Generation Penetrator (NGP) will succeed the 13,660 kg Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) GBU-57/B and will be developed by Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) in close cooperation with Boeing, the current prime contractor for the MOP.
The stealth bomber B-2 is currently the only aircraft authorized to employ MOPs in operation, capable of carrying only two on a single sortie. The future stealth bomber B-21 Raider, smaller than the B-2, is expected to carry a single MOP.
Going forward, both the B-2 and B-21 could be in line to carry NGPs, depending on when this munition is fielded. For now, further details on the NGP’s expected capabilities remain limited.
Under the 24-month agreement, ARA will act “as the Systems Design Agent for the development of a Next Generation Penetrator air-to-ground weapons system prototype,” according to a company press release.
“ARA will also produce and test full-scale and sub-scale munition prototypes. This effort will evaluate capabilities against hard and deeply buried targets that present critical challenges to U.S. national security.”
Additionally, “leveraging decades of experience in guided and penetrating munitions, ARA will lead design maturation, while Boeing will drive the development of the tail kit and support full integration.”
Photo and video: USAF. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
