Pentagon Issues Urgent Call for More 'Bunker Buster' Bombs as Stock Dwindles
The Pentagon has issued an urgent request for resupplying its largest 'bunker buster' bombs, with reports indicating only six remain in the US arsenal. The massive 30,000lb GBU-57 bombs, known as Massive Ordnance Penetrators or MOPs, represent America's biggest non-nuclear weapon.
Operation Midnight Hammer Depleted Critical Stockpile
These formidable weapons were first deployed in combat during Operation Midnight Hammer in June, when fourteen of the 20-foot-long bombs were dropped on Iran's underground nuclear facilities at Fordow and Natanz. This operation involved seven B-2 Spirit stealth bombers delivering the largest payload of explosives since World War II, significantly depleting the bunker buster inventory.
Originally, twenty MOPs were ordered in 2009 and delivered by 2015. The use of fourteen bombs in the recent operation leaves approximately half a dozen remaining, creating what military officials describe as a critical shortage.
Air Force Document Reveals Critical Need
An eight-page Air Force document reviewed by the Daily Mail states that more bombs are 'critically needed' as the United States continues military pressure against Iran. The document, signed in early February by senior officers and drawing information from units including the Massive Ordnance Penetrator Program Office, had portions redacted with black marker.
The document emphasizes that the need to replace MOPs is so urgent that competitive tendering should be bypassed. Instead, a contract exceeding $100 million should be awarded directly to Boeing, which manufactured the original bombs in 2009.
Strategic Importance of Bunker Buster Capability
'This procurement and sustainment activity is critically needed to replenish the inventory of GBU-57s expended during Operation Midnight Hammer,' the document states. 'This action is essential to restore operational readiness and ensure Air Force Global Strike Command possesses the necessary assets to support strategic contingency war plans for all Combatant Commands.'
Massive Ordnance Penetrators were specifically designed to target Hard and Deeply Buried Targets (HDBTs), including nuclear facilities, chemical and biological warfare laboratories, and command centers. According to Air Force documentation, they aim to 'destroy our adversaries’ weapons of mass destruction located in well-protected facilities.'
Production Challenges and Future Replacements
The Air Force document outlines various components needed for replacing these massive bombs, noting that MOP tail kits containing navigation systems must be acquired to 'replace expended units.' Projected delivery would only begin on January 10, 2028, due to significant lead times.
Factors contributing to these delays include tariffs and post-COVID supply chain problems. The document asserts that Boeing possesses 'uniquely acquired expertise,' and awarding the contract to any other source would cause unacceptable delays. 'No delay in award is acceptable for this effort,' it states. 'Delaying this requirement would undermine force readiness and efficient acquisitions for this key weapons program.'
While the military successfully reverse-engineered a critical subcomponent of the MOP weapon system in August using technology from the Army's ATACMS ballistic missile system—saving four years of design work—the document notes that reverse-engineering all components would still cause unacceptable mission delays.
Next Generation Weapons on the Horizon
The Air Force document suggests that 'no future production is expected' of MOPs following the current request. These bombs are scheduled to be replaced by the Next Generation Penetrator (NGP), though a prototype design contract was only awarded in September with an 18-to-24-month timeframe.
A total of $107 million was allocated for NGP development in the 2026 Air Force budget. The NGP will be a lighter bunker buster weighing under 22,000 pounds, designed to be carried by the new B-21 Raider stealth bomber and potentially equipped with a rocket booster for longer-range deployment.
Broader Military Context
In August, the Pentagon allocated $123 million specifically for replacing MOPs used in Operation Midnight Hammer. While Boeing manufactures the tail kits, the bombs themselves—including explosives—are constructed at the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant in Oklahoma, which began expanding in late 2024 to increase MOP production capacity.
Recent military actions have seen the US and Israel launch Operation Epic Fury, resulting in the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Hundreds of airstrikes have targeted Iranian government, military, and nuclear facilities, though none have utilized MOPs. Iran has responded with thousands of drones and ballistic missiles directed at Israel, American bases, embassies, and regional energy facilities.
President Trump recently commented on US munitions stockpiles, stating they had 'never been higher or better,' but added: 'At the highest end, we have a good supply, but are not where we want to be.'
The ongoing conflict has rattled financial markets, particularly affecting oil prices, and resulted in significant casualties including six US service members. Official reports indicate at least 1,230 deaths in Iran, more than 70 in Lebanon, and approximately a dozen in Israel.
