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Air-Delivered Bomb
Unpowered munitions dropped from an aerial vehicle, such as a plane or drone. They can be either guided or unguided and range in weight from only a few kilograms to more than 2,000 kilograms — roughly the weight of a car. Heavier air-delivered bombs are among the most destructive munitions in military arsenals.
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Analyst Note
15 August 2026
This image shows a functioned AGM-154A Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) air-to-surface missile. Upon functioning, a flexible linear shaped charge (FLSC) is used to cut open the munition body, dispensing 145 BLU-97B/B submunitions. The clean-cut edges visible on the bottom hanging section of the JSOW are the hallmark of the functioning of the FLSC. (ARES)
Analyst Note
10 June 2026
Highlighted are four GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) guided air-delivered bombs loaded onto the belly of a U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft. The GBU-31-series consists of a 2,000-pound-class bomb (Mk 84, BLU-109, or BLU-109A/B) and a guidance kit comprising a tail unit with four articulating fins and a guidance control unit with inertial navigation system (INS) and global positioning system (GPS) functions. The GBU-31 munitions seen here are built around the BLU-109, a penetrator munition with a solid nose and a thicker, one-piece body which flares slightly at the base. It has no body welds; the heavy steel base plate is held in place by an equally robust threaded steel closure ring. The BLU-109 is painted olive drab with a single yellow band towards the nose. (ARES)
Analyst Note
2 March 2026
Positive identification of the model of air-delivered bomb to which the UMPK kit is fitted cannot be made from the source imagery. Based on the size of the UMPK and historical use in the area, it is likely an OFAB-250-270 model. (ARES)
Analyst Note
23 July 2026
This image of an F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft operating during the conflict with Iran was released by U.S. Central Command. The munitions indicated are built around the ‘stores suspension and release item unit’ (SUU) series of containers used as the outer casings of several cluster munitions. In this case, the image may be associated with the use of BLU-91/B scatterable anti-tank mines in Iran. These would be delivered by the CBU-78/B or CBU-89/B air-delivered bombs, which can incorporate the Lockheed Martin Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser (WCMD), although the distinctive tail elements needed to ID the latter are not visible here. (ARES)
Analyst Note
15 August 2026
These images show a relatively intact GBU-39/B air-delivered bomb, with the distinctive Diamond Back Wing Assembly still mounted to the bomb body. Whilst the source claims that the U.S. feared this bomb would be exploited for its technology, the GBU-39/B has been in widespread use since its introduction in 2006, including in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen. Similar glide bombs have been designed and produced by other nations. (ARES)
7 March 2026
The Incendiary Bomb Never Seen in Israel Before
Analyst Note
5 March 2026
Photos released by the Israeli Air Force show an F-16 aircraft carrying two 2,000-pound-class air-delivered bombs fitted with Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guidance kits. Whilst the bomb body is visually similar to a MK 84 general-purpose aerial bomb, the marking scheme is distinctly different. The combination of yellow and red bands most likely indicates both a high explosive and incendiary payload. This is consistent with the marking scheme applied to specialised U.S. munitions intended for use against chemical and biological weapons targets. The best known of these is the BLU-119/B CrashPAD ('Prompt Agent Defeat'), which uses a MK 84 bomb body and contains 170 lbs of PBX-109 and 420 lbs of white phosphorus. It is not clear if agent defeat weapons were ever exported to Israel, or if a local analogue was developed. Capabilities of this type often remain classified. (ARES)
6 February 2026
‘Fragments’ magazine highlights OSMP importance for civilian protection
4 April 2025
Turkish drone in northern Mali: What the images show
14 October 2024
New Open Source Tools and Tips to Investigate Bombing of Civilians
29 September 2024
OSMP confirms U.S.-made bombs used in strike on Hezbollah’s chief
17 April 2025
Gazans survive among unexploded bombs
6 September 2024
How GBU-39 bombs became Israel’s ‘weapon of choice’
Collection
Ірансько-ізраїльський конфлікт. Червень 2025 року
Десятки перевірених зображень боєприпасів, використаних Іраном та Ізраїлем під час конфлікту між Ізраїлем та Іраном у червні 2025 року
Collection
Ізраїль і Газа 2023 – 2026
7 жовтня 2023 року бойовики ХАМАС прорвали міцно укріплений кордон між Ізраїлем і Сектором Газа, атакувавши численні міста і села. За повідомленнями, в Ізраїлі загинуло понад 1000 осіб, а понад 250 було взято в заручники і перевезено до Гази
Analyst Note
31 December 2025
This munition, despite being adapated from the design of a 120 mm mortar projectile and closely resembling such, is actually a small air-delivered bomb intended to be dropped by UAV. The manufacturer clearly states that the munition should not be fired from a mortar. Additional data from the manufacturer states that it uses a UT M18 “special impact fuze”. (ARES)
Analyst Note
31 December 2025
The UMPK guidance package is a ‘bolt-on’ kit that can be fitted to unguided air-delivered bombs to convert them to guided munitions. The UMPK kit also greatly extends the range of the munition to which it is fitted, allowing aircraft to strike from beyond the range of many air-defence systems. Currently only Russia manufacturers and uses these kits. (ARES)
Analyst Note
31 December 2025
This image shows a russian air-delivered bomb fitted with a UMPK guidance kit. Not enough of the bomb is visible to positively identify the model, but it is most likely an OFAB-250-270 based on what can be seen of the tail section. (ARES)
Analyst Note
9 January 2026
The AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) is a guided air-delivered ‘glide bomb’ that allows for long-range strikes using an unpowered munition. The AGM-154C and AGM-154C-1 variants (a remnant of the latter pictured here) carry a Bomb Royal Ordnance Augmented Charge (BROACH) multi-stage warhead which uses a WDU-44 shaped-charge warhead as its first stage, to help penetrate hardened targets, whilst the WDU-45 second stage comprises a conventional high explosive penetrator warhead (also called a ‘follow-through’ warhead). The AGM-154C-1 is described by the U.S. Navy as their “first air-to-ground Network-Enabled Weapon (NEW) capable of attacking stationary land and moving maritime targets. It includes GPS/INS guidance, terminal IR seeker and a Link 16 weapon data link. Integration of the Link-16 weapon data link and updated seeker software algorithms provide a capability against at-sea moving/relocatable targets.” (ARES)
Analyst Note
28 November 2025
Markings on the forward section of this small, air-delivered bomb suggest that the designation is ‘BK-3OF’ (“БК-3ОФ”). The physical features of the munition suggest that it is laser-guided and likely carries a high explosive fragmentation (HE-FRAG) payload. This image shows the only known example, which was allegedly captured by Russian forces in conjunction with a Ukrainian UAV. (ARES)
Analyst Note
9 January 2026
This Russian air-delivered cluster bomb is marked with a threatening message directed at the French people: «Français! Changer la politique du président dans le pays, sinon ces bombes vont changer le lieu d'atterrissage!» (“French people! Change the president’s policy in the country, otherwise these bombs will change their landing site!”). (ARES)
Analyst Note
8 December 2025
This image shows a ‘120mm TB’ air-delivered bomb that has been adapted from a 120 mm mortar projectile. It is claimed by the manufacturer that this thermobaric munition offers improved fragmentation and blast effects when compared with standard (high explosive) 120 mm mortar projectiles. The “with special FUZE” marking refers to the use of the UT M18 impact fuze. Note that this munition cannot be fired from a mortar, despite the munition body showing features consistent with this use (e.g., gas-check bands). Instead of a standard mortar projectile tailboom which would contain an ignition cartridge and be perforated by flash holes, this munition is fitted with a simplified, plastic tailfin assembly that is designed to stabilise the munition as it falls after being released by a UAV. (ARES)
Analyst Note
15 September 2025
This image shows a remnant of a control fin from a Paveway III bomb guidance kit that is compatible with 2,000-pound-class air-delivered bombs. In U.S. service, this combination receives designations in the GBU-24 series. Based off this remnant alone, it cannot be determined which model of air-delivered bomb was paired with this particular guidance kit. (ARES)
Analyst Note
15 September 2025
This image shows markings on an SUU-30H/B dispenser which comprises part of a CBU-52B/B Cluster Bomb Unit, including a National Stock Number (“NSN 1325 00 477 2053-E800”), design reference (“AF DRAWING NO: 716514-10”), total explosive weight of the submunitions (“CYCLOTOL: 133 LBS:”), lot number (“LOT NO: MA-77G246-002”), and serial number (“SERIAL NO: EE-97391”). This lot number indicates that this CBU-52B/B was manufactured at the Milan Army Ammunition Plant in the U.S. in July 1977. (ARES)