Mark 81 bomb

Also known as

MK-81 (250 lb.) general purpose bomb
Mk 81
Mk-81
Mark 81
MK81
Mk 81 250-pound unguided bomb
MK 81 GP aircraft bomb
250 lb bomb
250-pound bomb

The Mark 81 bomb is a U.S. 250-pound-class general-purpose aircraft bomb produced by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems. Current technical listings give its 115 kg body weight, 1,180 mm length, about 228 mm diameter, TNT filler, and multiple fuze families; Textron Aviation Defense lists it among the AT-6 Wolverine's supported loads.

Mark 81 bomb, 250-pound general-purpose bomb, Munitions

Image source: Mark 81 bombs.jpg | Wikimedia Commons

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin: United States
Built by: General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems
Type: 250-pound general-purpose bomb

bomb unguided air-dropped

Specifications

Weight: 115 ±5 kg without tail assembly (about 250 lb class)
Length: 1180 ±10 mm without tail assembly
Maximum diameter: ~228 mm
Filler: TNT, about 40 kg
Fuze options: M904, M905, Onur 1 MOD 3 series, Onur 2 series, FMU-139 series, and FMU-152 series

Carrier Aircraft

Sources tie the Mark 81 bomb to carrier aircraft ranging from U.S. Navy attack jets to Textron's AT-6 Wolverine light attack aircraft.

Carrier

Carrier type

Carriage evidence

A-4 Skyhawk, Carrier-based light attack aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs

Carrier-based attack aircraft

The photo caption identifies three Mark 81 general-purpose bombs aboard a Douglas A-4F Skyhawk aircraft from Marine Attack Squadron 133 at Naval Air Station Fallon in 1982.

Sources: Mark 81 bombs.jpg | Wikimedia Commons

Aero L-39NG, Two-seat subsonic jet trainer and light-attack aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs

Light-attack trainer

Aero's Skyfox brochure lists GP bombs MK 81 (118 kg) among western payload options.

Sources: L-39 SKYFOX brochure | Aero

AT-6 Wolverine, Light attack and armed reconnaissance turboprop aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs

Light attack and armed reconnaissance aircraft

Textron Aviation Defense lists the MK-81 (250 lb.) general purpose bomb among the AT-6 Wolverine's supported loads.

Sources: AT-6 Wolverine and Beechcraft T-6 Texan II | Textron Aviation Defense

Service And Conflict Use

Service History

In service: Reference 250-pound bomb for soft, fragment-sensitive targets; current manufacturer listings publish technical specifications and fuze options.

Media

Mark 81 bomb Images

Mark 81 bomb, 250-pound general-purpose bomb, Munitions - view 1 — Source: Mk. 81 250-lb and Mk. 82 Snakeye I 500-lb.jpg | Wikimedia Commons

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Sources

MK 81 GP Aircraft Bomb | MKE USAPublisher: MKE USA | Note: Supports the Mark 81 bomb's technical specifications, including weight, length, diameter, filler, and fuze options. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 AT-6 Wolverine and Beechcraft T-6 Texan II | Textron Aviation DefensePublisher: Textron Aviation Defense | Note: Supports the AT-6 Wolverine stores capability list that includes MK-81 (250 lb.) general purpose bomb among supported loads. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 L-39 SKYFOX brochure | AeroPublisher: Aero Vodochody | Note: Supports the Skyfox payload list showing GP bombs MK 81 (118 kg) among western payload options and permitted external stores. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 MK 81 (250lb) Bomb | U.S. Army PEO AmmunitionPublisher: U.S. Army Program Executive Office Ammunition | Note: Supports the MK81's role as a soft-target general-purpose bomb and the Army ordnance reference context for the 250-pound bomb family. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 PROCUREMENT PROGRAM - Air Force Financial ManagementPublisher: U.S. Air Force Financial Management | Note: Supports General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems as the bomb-body producer and McAlester Army Ammunition Plant as the load, assemble, and pack site for the bomb family. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 Mark 81 bombs.jpg | Wikimedia CommonsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for the public-domain photo captioned with three Mark 81 bombs aboard a Douglas A-4F Skyhawk aircraft. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 Mk. 81 250-lb and Mk. 82 Snakeye I 500-lb.jpg | Wikimedia CommonsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a public-domain photo showing a Mark 81 and a Mark 82 Snakeye bomb together. | Accessed: 2026-06-27