It's the Big One (MOAB actually fits in a B-2; various tech/geek details)

Aviation Week & Space Technology ^ | March 16, 2003 | David A. Fulghum

[Timesink]

It's the Big One

By David A. Fulghum

The U.S. Air Force has tested its new 10-ton Massive Ordnance Air Blast Weapon to much fanfare, but the service purposefully left the impression that it was a bomb to be dropped only from cargo aircraft for special operations missions.

In fact, the 21,500-lb, all-weather, precision-guided bomb, called MOAB or sometimes the "mother of all bombs," has been sized for carriage by the B-2 stealth bomber and is equipped with stubby wings at mid-body and four large lattice fins as part of its tail kit. The fin design was first used extensively by the Russians. On the MOAB, these unusual, paddle-like fins enhance the weapon's ability to glide long distances and allow for more accurate inflight course corrections and smaller, lightweight packaging. At least a dozen MOABs are being rushed through production for delivery to units that could use them to bomb Republican Guard troops, an Air Force official said.

The design is actually a massively enlarged version of the 250-lb.-class small-diameter bomb (SDB), according to an official at the Air Force Research Laboratory's Munitions Directorate. The new weapon was developed to punch up the firepower of stealth aircraft that must carry their weapons internally to maintain low observability. SDBs, with lattice fins and wings similar in design to MOAB, can glide about 35 naut. mi., enabling them to operate in the presence of new generations of longer range air defense weapons. The SDB's body was designed by Boeing and incorporated lattice fins designed by Dynetics Inc. of Huntsville, Ala.

An advantage of putting MOABs on bombers is that they would be able to launch the weapons from higher altitudes, thereby producing greater standoff ranges, and they would be less vulnerable to air defenses than the low-flying MC-130 that conducted the live-fire demonstration.

MOAB was designed to replace the 15,000-lb. BLU-82 used in Vietnam, the 1991 Persian Gulf war, and against tunnel complexes in Afghanistan. Few test details are available, but blast effects extended for "hundreds of yards," said an AFRL official at the Eglin AFB, Fla., test site.

The new, 30-ft.-long, 40.5-in.-dia. weapon could be used to collapse tunnels, clear broad swaths through mine fields and barbed wire entanglements, or as an anti-personnel weapon against entrenched troops. Of the bomb's weight, 9 tons are explosives. The Air Force also has at least considered a 30,000-lb. MOAB version.

In a parallel program, the Air Force is working on a 30,000-lb. penetrator weapon, designed along the same lines as MOAB. Called "Big BLU," it also is designed for launch from a B-2. The added mass would give the weapon greater penetration for hitting targets buried deep underground. Currently, the Air Force uses 5,000-lb.- class GBU-28s and GBU-37s as its largest penetrating bomb.

The first live test was conducted Mar. 11, but a second was canceled.

AFRL claims credit for building the airframe, but at least one picture has "Dynetics" emblazoned on the tail guidance kit. Dynetics has been developing lattice- or grid-fin technology during the last decade. The fins look like thick, square tennis rackets. They consist of a series of thin, small interconnecting metal lifting surfaces housed within a sturdy rectangular frame. The fins can be readily adapted to a wide range of air- and surface-launched weapons and can endure speeds up to Mach 4-5. The fins could also help slow fast-moving weapons to speeds at which they can launch submunitions.

The Russians used lattice fins on their SS-12, SS-20, SS-21 and SS-23 surface-to-surface missiles as well as the AA-12 (R-77) Adder air-to-air missile and the 92RE1 underwater-launched anti-submarine ballistic missile.

Lattice fins offer a large amount of lifting surface area within a small volume. Folding the fin forward also allows compact stowage of the aerodynamic controls. The forward fold also allows the use of naturally occurring airloads to rapidly and reliably deploy the fins. It eliminates the need for complex folding or large deployment mechanisms.

In addition, the "hinge moment" of a lattice fin is far less than a conventional planar fin. As a result, the torque requirements to move the fin are an order of magnitude less. Since it takes less energy to move a lattice fin, designers can reduce the size of fin actuators and still maintain the same control authority for maneuvering the weapon.

The Air Force spent $1.5 million on the MOAB demonstration program, which began in 2002, and each weapon costs $170,000. Dynetics built the guidance kit and the weapon's cradle, said the AFRL official. For the Eglin demonstration, a parachute pulled the MOAB out of the MC-130 Talon II at an altitude of 6,000-10,000 ft. However, the parachute quickly dropped off and the tail fins deployed for the weapon's GPS/INS-guided flight to its target. The detonation could be heard and the mushroom cloud could be seen from 30 mi. away.

[Timesink]

Fire! F-f-f-f-f-ffffffire! Fire!

[Timesink]

bump list bump

[billclintonwillrotinhell]

OMG! Just a few minutes ago, B-1 Bob Dornan held up a copy of Aviation Week and was showing Rita Cosby and the rest of the Fox News family that exact picture of the MOAB, talking about the article.

[Keith in Iowa]

Me-thinks a little battelfield testing is in order...

[bonesmccoy]

Posted by me at http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/873468/posts?page=268#268

Looks like USA Today is reading Free Republic.

To: Ranger; All

That's it!

If he has 3rd degree burns over a significant part of his body, he may be conscious and barking commands while he is slowly becoming more and more ill.

Eventually, after a few hours to days, the patient has massive fluid shifts as they lose plasma from the denuded skin. They are probably taking steps to bolster blood volume (i.e. plasma/transfusion/etc. via IV).

The bottom line is still the bottom line. If he's getting skin wounds that are infected, he's toast.

Pass the antibiotic all you want. If you ain't got skin to protect you, you're gonna get infected.

The spec ops guys may want to have agents investigate hospital facilities.

CIA should look for ambulances or medical supply vehicles carrying IV bags, transfusion equipment, bandages, etc. to "palaces".

If drones pick up on such vehicles running around, then you might have an indication of where Saddam is.

He would probably need a team of 3-4 physicians/nurses to maintain sterile environs. Plus, if he's actually still conscious, then you got a situation where the commanders will attempt to get orders first.

Burn patients have alot of pain. If he wants to eliminate the pain, he'll have to take high dose opiates/narc's for pain management. This could explain why there is a lack of coordination in military response during the initial 36-48 hours after the initial hit.

If the guy is alive and was under sedation for 2 days, then is being brought out of it; you got an explanation for the situation.

Just some thoughts... have a good night!


268 posted on 03/23/2003 9:16 PM PST by bonesmccoy (Defeat the terrorists... Vaccinate!)
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To: strongbow; Ranger; All

That's true, however the issues you raise are only a consideration if the initial injuries were significant enough.

If he was burned but did not suffer blunt force or compression trauma, then you'd have a situation where he has significant 3rd degree burns and is still capable of thinking and functioning.

Internal injuries don't match the description that is in the original article.

Burns now match because of what Ranger posted.


269 posted on 03/23/2003 9:19 PM PST by bonesmccoy (Defeat the terrorists... Vaccinate!)
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[photogirl]

bump

[Mystix]

HELLLLLL YYYEEEEEEEEEAAAHH

[Timesink]

OMG! Just a few minutes ago, B-1 Bob Dornan held up a copy of Aviation Week and was showing Rita Cosby and the rest of the Fox News family that exact picture of the MOAB, talking about the article.

Which is exactly what prompted me to dig it up and post it. :)

[photogirl]

our minds are connected i tell ya...

[Mystix]

ahhh, you beat me to it

[Teetop]

Rock on!

I can't wait to see that go off on some scumbags on the battlefield!

I was telling someone today that it should fit in the B-52 or B-2.

[Timesink]

extra bump list bump

[11B3]

B-52s should be able to carry one under each wing, and two internally. I'd love to see an Arclight run using MOABs!!! (24 of them from a six plane formation.)

[Teetop]

That's what I was thinking also.

My job in the Air Force gave me access to things as far as weapons loads, delivery, tactics, etc.. I worked very closely with the aircrews.

[Caipirabob]

FIRE and RAGE

Special delivery on it's way to the Republican Guard - Cheers, y'all!

[Jen]

That's a Big ol' Bomb!

[Dark Wing]

A MOAB by heavy bomber ping.

[Pyro7480]

That kicks @$$ Beavis, huh huh huh... ;-)

[Fractal Trader]

I love Aviation Leak!

My father even published an award winning advertisement for his busines.

May have hurt his revenue stream, though.

Showed a picture of a broken landing gear...bad news, you know!

Can never trust those damn pictures!

[Ulmius]

14 years later, your wish is coming true, my fellow FReeper...

MAGA :)