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Air Force Research Laboratory and Dynetics Weapon Systems

Air Force Research Laboratory and Dynetics is a catalog builder facet for the U.S. GBU-43/B MOAB program, pairing the Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate's rapid munition development role with Dynetics contractor support.

1 weapon systems

This builder page represents a program partnership rather than a single corporation. The Air Force Research Laboratory is the Department of the Air Force's primary science and technology organization, and its Munitions Directorate at Eglin Air Force Base develops air-delivered munition technologies.

The connected catalog entry is the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb. Air & Space Forces Magazine identifies the contractors for the weapon as AFRL and Dynetics, while U.S. Air Force reporting describes the MOAB as a rapid in-house AFRL Munitions Directorate effort that moved from late-2002 request to prototype, test, and inventory delivery in 2003.

air-delivered munitionsmunitions research and developmentrapid prototypingdefense engineering

Notable Systems

GBU-43/B MOAB

Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb developed rapidly by AFRL's Munitions Directorate, with Air & Space Forces Magazine listing AFRL and Dynetics as contractors.

Sources: Air & Space Forces Magazine GBU-43 MOAB, U.S. Air Force Mother of All Bombs feature

Builder History

  1. AFRL officially launches

    The Air Force Research Laboratory officially launched in 1997, consolidating former Air Force laboratories and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.

    Sources: U.S. Air Force AFRL fact sheet

  2. MOAB rapid-development request

    U.S. Air Force reporting says the MOAB request came during Thanksgiving 2002 and moved quickly to AFRL's Munitions Directorate for prototype production.

    Sources: U.S. Air Force Mother of All Bombs feature

  3. MOAB first flight

    Air & Space Forces Magazine lists March 11, 2003 as the GBU-43/B MOAB first flight date.

    Sources: Air & Space Forces Magazine GBU-43 MOAB

  4. Leidos completes Dynetics acquisition

    Leidos completed its acquisition of Dynetics, making Dynetics a wholly-owned subsidiary of Leidos.

    Sources: Leidos completes acquisition of Dynetics

Subsidiaries
Dynetics is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Leidos.
Website links
AFRL Munitions DirectorateAFRL fact sheetLeidos acquisition of Dynetics

This profile intentionally represents the catalog manufacturer string for a program partnership. AFRL and Dynetics also have broader institutional histories outside this single builder facet, but this page is scoped to their sourced role in the MOAB catalog entry.

Builder Sources

  • AFRL Munitions DirectoratePublisher: Air Force Research Laboratory | Note: Official AFRL Munitions Directorate page supporting the builder's air-delivered munitions research and development focus. | Accessed: 2026-06-22
  • U.S. Air Force AFRL fact sheetPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Official fact sheet supporting AFRL's mission, 1997 launch, Wright-Patterson headquarters, and Department of the Air Force research role. | Accessed: 2026-06-22
  • U.S. Air Force Mother of All Bombs featurePublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Official Air Force feature supporting AFRL Munitions Directorate's rapid in-house MOAB prototype, build, test, and inventory delivery context. | Accessed: 2026-06-22
  • Air & Space Forces Magazine GBU-43 MOABPublisher: Air & Space Forces Magazine | Note: Reference profile supporting the AFRL and Dynetics contractor listing, MOAB first flight, IOC, guidance, warhead, dimensions, and MC-130H integration. | Accessed: 2026-06-22
  • Leidos completes acquisition of DyneticsPublisher: Leidos | Note: Official Leidos release supporting Dynetics' acquisition, wholly-owned subsidiary status, Huntsville base, and national security solutions role. | Accessed: 2026-06-22
  • The 'Mother of All Bombs' photoPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Image provenance for the GBU-43/B MOAB photograph; the Air Force photo page marks the image public domain and cleared for release. | Accessed: 2026-06-22

Category

Munitions

Standalone missiles, bombs, rockets, torpedoes, and guided or unguided explosive payloads.

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