Tag Archive for bunker buster

2 ex-Obama aides: Israel needs bunker-buster bombs to prevent Iranian nukes

 

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

The Iran nuclear deal would be far more effective if the United States provided Israel with weapons capable of destroying the Islamic Republic’s atomic facilities, two former high-level US officials wrote in an op-ed for The Washington Post on Wednesday.

Dennis Ross, the former peace envoy and adviser on Middle East issues to a number of presidential administrations, and David Petraeus, the erstwhile Central Intelligence Agency director and former commander of US forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, argued in an op-ed that Washington needs to make clear that it will use force against Iran if it breaches “the nuclear threshold firewall” after year 15 of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Continue Reading »

Pentagon to restock IDF with Super Penetrator ‘Bunker Busters’ and guided bombs

U.S. State Dept and Pentagon approve extensive weapons deal, worth $1.9 billion to Israel in bid to allay concerns over Iran nuclear negotiations and the recent Gulf states’ military procurements.

By Ron Ben-Yishai & Yitzhak Benhorin

 

The US State Department approved a massive sale of bombs and missiles worth $1.897 billion, pending final congressional authorization. The procurement package includes bunker buster munitions and its timing suggests the Americans are seeking to alleviate Israeli concerns over the developing deal with Iran.

BLU-113 Super Penetrator – Photos Wikipedia Commons

The colossal weapons deal is believed to also be intended to prevent vocal opposition by Israel and its allies to the commitments made by President Barack Obama at Camp David to arming Gulf states. Continue Reading »

Report: John Kerry to Offer Saudi Arabia Anti-Missile System & Bunker Busters

The Washington Times reports the U.S. is likely to offer the Saudis its advanced GBU-28 bunker buster bombs, that so far is only provided to Israel.

By Moshe Cohen

 

The United States is likely to offer Saudi Arabia its advanced GBU-28 bunker buster bombs – so far only provided to Israel – as Washington seeks to beef up Saudi Arabia’s ability to lead Gulf countries in defending themselves against Iranian moves in the region.

Bunker Buster – Screenshot

According to the report in the Washington Times, Secretary of State John Kerry will propose the idea to Saudi officials on his visit to that country this week.
Continue Reading »

WSJ Reports: As Iran nuke talks advanced, Pentagon upgraded its ‘bunker-buster’ bombs

WSJ reported top Obama aides & officials split regarding Iranian deal as the Pentagon expedited work to create better weapon that could destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities if negotiations failed.

By Yitzhak Benhorin

 

WASHINGTON – The Wall Street Journal said on Friday that the Pentagon has been upgrading the biggest bunker-buster bomb in its arsenal as talks with Iran continued over Tehran’s nuclear program, readying a weapon that could destroy Iran’s facilities if negotiations failed.

Iran’s Qom facility – Photo: AP

Work to improve the design, guidance systems and anti-jamming capabilities on the so-called Massive Ordnance Penetrator began before the latest round of negotiations with Iran started. Continue Reading »

Video: Israel Tests Its Own Bunker Buster Bomb

Israel has developed and tested its own bunker buster bomb, that has been described as “a very credible military option,” to use against Iran.

Click here to view ‘IMI Hard-Target Penetration Bomb’ test video.

Lockheed Martin F-16i (Sufa)

F-16i IAF's 'Sufa' - Photo By IAF

The 500-pound “MP-500” bomb is laser-guided, and the video below shows it penetrating four reinforced concrete walls. Iran has buried several of its nuclear facilities, including a uranium enrichment plant, under concrete bunkers in mountainous areas.

The government-owned Israel Military Industries (IMI) developed the bomb, an upgrade of the U.S. Mk82 bunker buster.

“The lethality, precision … and relatively low weight enables its use against multiple targets in a single pass; an element that increases the operational effectiveness of attack,” according to IMI. Continue Reading »