GBU-43/B MOAB

The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast, widely known as MOAB, is a very large U.S. GPS/INS-guided conventional bomb developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory with Dynetics support. Its only documented combat use was a 2017 U.S. strike on an ISIS-K tunnel complex in Afghanistan, where its blast effect was selected to collapse defenses and reduce risk to Afghan and U.S. clearing forces.

War in AfghanistanUnited States and Afghan government forces

Conflict side: United States and Afghan government forces
Built by: Air Force Research Laboratory and Dynetics
Built in: United States

GBU-43/B MOAB, GPS/INS-guided massive ordnance air blast bomb, Munitions

Image source: Mother of all Bombs

Profile

Type: GPS/INS-guided massive ordnance air blast bomb
Conflict side: United States and Afghan government forces
Origin: United States
Service note: Developed in 2002-2003; first used in combat in Afghanistan in 2017

precision firesgps-guidedair-delivered strike

Service History

In service: Entered U.S. inventory in 2003; first combat use on April 13, 2017
Used by: United States Air Force
Wars: War in Afghanistan

Production History

Designer: Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate
Designed: 2002-2003
Built by: Air Force Research Laboratory and Dynetics
Built in: United States
Produced: 2003
Variants: GBU-43/B

Specifications

Weight: About 21,000-21,600 lb
Warhead: BLU-120/B high-explosive warhead with about 18,700 lb of explosive fill
Guidance: GPS/INS guidance with fins and inertial gyro control
Dimensions: About 30 ft long and 3.3 ft in diameter
Delivery platform: Designed for ramp deployment from MC-130/C-130 aircraft

Conflict Usage

War in Afghanistan: Side: United States and Afghan government forcesRole: Large air-delivered strike against an ISIS-K tunnel complexstrike precision fires
U.S. Forces Afghanistan used a GBU-43/B MOAB on April 13, 2017 against an ISIS-K cave and tunnel complex in Achin district, Nangarhar Province, to reduce bunkers, tunnels, and improvised obstacles during clearing operations.

GBU-43/B MOAB Images

GBU-43/B MOAB, GPS/INS-guided massive ordnance air blast bomb, Munitions - view 1 — Source: Mother of all Bombs

GBU-43/B MOAB, GPS/INS-guided massive ordnance air blast bomb, Munitions - view 2 — Source: Five years later, it's still known as 'Mother of all bombs'

GBU-43/B MOAB, GPS/INS-guided massive ordnance air blast bomb, Munitions - view 3 — Source: Five years later, it's still known as 'Mother of all bombs'

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Sources

Air & Space Forces Magazine GBU-43 MOABPublisher: Air & Space Forces Magazine | Note: Supports GBU-43/B specifications, AFRL and Dynetics contractor background, GPS/INS guidance, warhead, dimensions, delivery platform, and first operational use context. | Accessed: 2026-06-22 Five years later, it's still known as 'Mother of all bombs'Publisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports Air Force development background, GPS-guided munition description, AFRL Munitions Directorate role, delivery to the operational theater, and public-domain Air Force imagery. | Accessed: 2026-06-22 U.S. Bombs, Destroys Khorasan Group Stronghold in AfghanistanPublisher: U.S. Department of Defense | Note: Supports War in Afghanistan direct use: a GBU-43/B MOAB was used by U.S. Forces Afghanistan against an ISIS-K tunnel complex in Achin district, Nangarhar Province on April 13, 2017. | Accessed: 2026-06-22 Aerial Footage of MOAB Bomb Striking Cave, Tunnel SystemPublisher: DVIDS | Note: Supports War in Afghanistan direct use: a GBU-43/B MOAB was used by U.S. forces against ISIS-K cave and tunnel systems in Nangarhar Province, with public-domain DoD video context. | Accessed: 2026-06-22 Mother of all BombsPublisher: U.S. Department of Defense | Note: Supports image provenance for the primary GBU-43/B MOAB photograph, credited as a courtesy photo with Defense Department VIRIN 170414-D-XT155-002. | Accessed: 2026-06-22