Air-dropped bombs are aircraft-delivered explosive munitions documented here as a conflict-use class when sources identify bombing runs but not a specific model. The entry covers Philippine Air Force bombing during the 2017 Battle of Marawi and Colombian government air operations against FARC dissident bases, while separating those conflict claims from representative Mk-series bomb-body background.
Philippine Air Force aircraft dropped bombs during the 2017 Battle of Marawi, including OV-10 Bronco and FA-50PH strike missions against IS-aligned militant positions; public sources often identify the munition only as a bomb or unguided bomb rather than a specific model.
In the 2016 Colombian FARC Dissident Conflict, Colombian Air Force Kfir and Super Tucano aircraft used aircraft-delivered precision weapons in a bombing mission against a FARC dissident camp at Alto Citaca, Fortul, Arauca; public reporting did not identify the exact bomb model.
This page is scoped to aircraft-delivered bombs when conflict sources describe a bombing run or air-dropped bomb without naming a specific weapon model. Linked carrier aircraft and representative bomb-body sources explain what the class can include; the conflict rows stay limited to the direct public evidence for Marawi and Colombian FARC dissident operations.
Marawi reporting identifies Philippine aircraft dropping bombs, with OV-10 coverage emphasizing mostly unguided weapons and separate reporting describing an SF-260 bomb release in a friendly-fire incident.
U.S. conventional-bomb references describe Mk 80-series and BLU general-purpose bomb bodies, penetrator bodies, practice bombs, fuzes, fins, lugs, and guidance-kit compatibility.
A named Mk, BLU, GBU, or local bomb type should be cataloged separately when a source directly identifies that specific munition in a conflict.
This aggregate page covers aircraft-delivered bomb classes when public conflict reporting does not identify one exact model. Variant rows are representative configurations, not claims that every listed configuration appeared in each conflict row.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| Unguided/free-fall general-purpose bombs | Low-drag bomb-body configuration | U.S. Army bomb-body guidance describes the Mk 80 series as 500- to 2,000-pound general-purpose bombs and notes that general-purpose bombs may use mechanical or electronic fuzes and conventional fins. |
| Retarded low-altitude bombs | Retarding-fin configuration | The same U.S. Army reference says general-purpose bombs may use retarding fins, including 500-pound BLU-111/Mk 82-class bodies. |
| Precision-guided bomb configurations | Bomb body fitted with laser, GPS, or INS guidance kits | U.S. Army bomb-body data describes laser/GPS guidance airfoil-kit compatibility for general-purpose bomb bodies and laser/GPS/INS guidance-kit compatibility for the BLU-129/B. |
These aircraft pages document air-dropped bomb carriage in bomber and light-attack loadout references or conflict-use reporting.
| Carrier | Carrier type | Carriage evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Light attack and observation aircraft | Marawi reporting described Philippine OV-10 Broncos supporting the operation with mostly unguided bombs in close proximity to friendly forces. Sources: Urban Counter-Insurgency Airstrikes On ISIS Targets In The Philippines Suited to Legacy OV-10 Bronco |
 | Trainer and light attack aircraft | Philippine Daily Inquirer reporting on a Marawi friendly-fire incident identified an air-dropped bomb released by a Philippine SIAI-Marchetti SF-260 during a bombing run. Sources: Airstrike kills 11 soldiers, wounds 7; AFP probe on |
 | Strategic bomber | The U.S. Air Force fact sheet says the B-52H Stratofortress can drop gravity bombs, documenting it as a carrier for air-dropped bombs. Sources: B-52H Stratofortress |
 | Long-range bomber | The U.S. Air Force fact sheet describes the B-1B Lancer as carrying conventional bombs and missiles, documenting it as a carrier for air-dropped bombs. Sources: B-1B Lancer |
 | Stealth bomber | The U.S. Air Force fact sheet describes the B-2 Spirit as capable of delivering conventional munitions, which includes air-dropped bombs in its strike role. Sources: B-2 Spirit |
 | Light attack aircraft | Embraer's A-29 Super Tucano brochure lists MK-81 and MK-82 general-purpose bombs among the aircraft's weapon configurations. Sources: A-29 Super Tucano brochure |
 | Light combat aircraft | Korea Aerospace Industries' FA-50 brochure lists general bombs and MK-82 500-lb bombs among the aircraft's combat capabilities. Sources: FA-50 ENG Brochure |
 | Light bomber | The H-5 armament table lists 4 500kg bombs or 12 Type 1 250 kg bombs, documenting the Harbin H-5 as a carrier for air-dropped bombs. Sources: H-5 China Aircraft Special Weapons Delivery Systems |
IS-aligned militants seized central Marawi, leading Philippine forces to use aircraft-delivered bombs during the urban counteroffensive.
Sources: Urban Counter-Insurgency Airstrikes On ISIS Targets In The Philippines Suited to Legacy OV-10 Bronco
A Philippine SF-260 bombing run in Marawi accidentally hit government troops during close combat, illustrating the risk of air-dropped bombs in dense urban fighting.
Sources: Airstrike kills 11 soldiers, wounds 7; AFP probe on
Reporting described a Colombian military bombing against a former FARC dissident base in Calamar, Guaviare, during the post-2016 dissident conflict.
Sources: Colombia military operation kills 10 FARC dissidents
