Does anyone have PROOF that depleted uranium is used in Bunker Buster bombs currently manufactured for the USA

Question

Specifically Gravity or rocket propelled bunker busters. BLU-109 is one warhead that proportedly uses DU, but I don't have suffecient proof to argue it.

Answer 1

While the current US inventory does contain a number of weapons making use of DU, the BLU-109 is not one. The BLU-109 makes use of a hardened steel alloy case to penetrate 4-6 feet of hardened concrete.

BLU-109 / I-2000 / HAVE VOID

The 2000 lb BLU-109 was originally developed by Lockheed Martin to defeat the enemy's most critical and hardened targets, secure command locations, protected weapon storage, and key transportation and communication resources. The BLU-109's advanced technology case penetrates the target intact to get to the interior of hardened targets, where the warhead explodes, ensuring target destruction.

In 1985, Lockheed Missile and Space Corporation received a contract with the US Air Force to develop a Hard Target Weapon -- an air delivered steel cased bomb that could penetrate up to six feet of reinforced concrete in a shallow buried target. National Forge Company (NFC) manufactured the warhead case assemblies for Lockheed Missiles & Space Corporation, before becoming the Prime Contractor to the US Government, producing both the USAF (Model 110) and NAVY (Model 150) Penetrator Warhead Assemblies.

The BLU-109 improved performance 2,000 pound bomb developed in 1985 under the project name HAVE VOID. The BLU-109 was designed for use against hardened structures and features a high-strength forged steel case and a new delayed-action tail fuze. It carries 550 pounds of high explosives and can penetrate more than six feet of reinforced concrete.

BLU-109 is a primary weapon for the world's air and naval forces. It can be delivered as either a guided or unguided weapon. It has been certified on a variety of combat-proven precision guidance systems, and is available for international sale in certified configuration or can be customized for flight on any aircraft capable of carrying 2000-lb stores.

The BLU series bomb bodies use PBNX-109 as explosive filler. The BLU-109A/B used with the GBU-24 and GBU-31(V)4/B is a special purpose bomb comprised of steel alloy used for hardened targets.

The BLU-109/B (I-2000) is an improved 2,000-pound-class bomb designed as a penetrator without a forward fuze well. Its configuration is relatively slim, and its skin is much harder than that of the standard MK-84 bomb. The skin is a single-piece, forged warhead casing of one-inch, high-grade steel. Its usual tail fuze is a mechanical-electrical FMU-143. The 1,925-pound bomb has a 550-pound tritonal high-explosive blast warhead. The BLU-109/B was always mated with a laser guidance kit to form a laser-guided bomb in Desert Storm.

National Forge Company became responsible in 1986 for the application of Statistical Process Control (SPC) to the machining operations of the BLU-109/B Warhead Case on a FSD contract for Lockheed Missiles & Space Company. The SPC data was utilized by manufacturing and quality control activities to analyze nonconformance unique to each machining center. In 1989, the company was the Quality Assurance Manager on the development of Hard Target Ordnance Package (HTOP) warhead materials and related processes, required to defeat targets identified by Eglin Air Force Base. The company also worked that year on the proposal effort and the follow-on contract to develop a cast steel BLU-109/B or I-2000 that is equal to or better than the forged version of the I-2000 Warhead.

In 1992, National Forge Company was awarded by Hill Air Force Base the production contract (Ref# F42630-92-C-0273), for 1904 assemblies of the BLU-109/B. In 1993, NFC was awarded another production contract (Ref# F42630-93-C-0398) by Hill Air Force Base; this time for the production of 5569 assemblies of the BLU-109/B.

In 1999, NFC assumed the responsibility of Manager Quality Engineering for production contract of 211 assemblies of the BLU-109A/B (FMS). That same year, NFC was awarded another production contract (Ref# DAAA09-99-C-0051) by Hill Air Force Base for and unknown number of BLU-109A/B assemblies.

In 2001, National Forge Company was awarded a production contact (Ref# DAAA09-01-C-0049) by Rock Island Arsenal, for 1099 BLU-109A/B Warhead Assemblies.

Answer 2

Depleted Uranium (DU) is used in many american munitions, quite openly so. You'll hae to be more specific when you say "bunker buster" bombs. Though, since bombs acheive their penetration through explosive and not through the kinetic energy that DU's density gives kinetic projectiles, I don't see why you'd use DU in a bomb...

I've looked into the BLU-109, I see no reason why it would be DU. DU is very dense but not very hard. Not a lot of tensile strength. Again, not the right material for a deep-penetration bomb. DU is most suited for energy transferrence, because it is so dense it allows for a much higher mass in a small projectile, and increased mass = increased kinetic energy.

Answer 3

Depleted uraniun is used in armor-piercing weapons because it is heavier than lead and penetrates steel.

But Bunker Buster bombs are concrete and rock penetrating weapons. I don't think they rely on depleted uranium. What they rely on is ways of accurately shaping the blast effects so that all the blast energy is directed forward in one direction to get more penetration into rock and concrete. Also giant amounts of explosive are used compared to regular bombs.

Answer 4

Well, depleted uranium is being used in a number of other munitions, so it wouldn't surprise me.

That doesn't make the bombs capable of nuclear detention. The depleted uranium is being used because its density makes it effective to penetrate hardened armor,

Answer 5

Like the others have said, you don't need proof. It's not a secret. They're used openly.

They were used in tank shells in during desert storm (the last war in/around Iraq). And in fact, many Canadian solders got sick from radiation from removing the burned out tanks....cleaning up after stupid americans.

Fu(king war mongers

Answer 6

prolly because it is used in the A-10 Warthogs chaingun to penetrate armor. its prolly on the tip of the bomb. they even use DU on the armor of the Abrams tank.

Answer 7

i don't have proof but depleted uranium shell are used to burn thru Armour

Answer 8

http://www.afmo.com/PhotoGallery.asp?ProductCode=219%2D00183

Answer 9

Does it matter if we do?