Do not approach munitions
under any circumstances
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ID

OSMP781

Date

28 September 2024

Source

Reported Location

Year

Munition Category

Functional use

Tentative Model

Base Colour

Marking Colour

Condition

Guidance

Domain

Fins Characteristic

Weight Class

3 Analyst Notes

This is an image released by the Israeli Defense Forces that shows an F-15I of 69 Squadron Israeli Air Force preparing to take part in a high-profile airstrike on 27 September 2024, in which the leader of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed.
Three BLU-109 bombs fitted with JDAM kits can be clearly seen on the aircraft in this image. The BLU-109 is a 2,000-pound-class air-delivered bomb made with a thick steel body to enhance penetration of hard targets. As a result, it contains approximately 400 pounds less explosive material than the general-purpose MK 84 air-delivered bomb, despite being in the same weight class. Such bombs are often referred to as bunker busters by media organisations. (ARES)

External Research

The Washington Post

“Initial available videos of the strike show that numerous large air-delivered bombs were used,” N.R. Jenzen-Jones, director of Armament Research Services, wrote in a message to The Post. Jenzen-Jones added that the repeated impacts from multiple munitions suggests they were "aimed at penetrating a heavily protected space.”

Read More on www.washingtonpost.com

The i

“Unfortunately, there are few munitions options for destroying a bunker located under one or more sizeable reinforced-concrete buildings," N.R. Jenzen-Jones said. "Larger, specialised penetrator models do exist, but the use of multiple 2,000lb-class bombs is a fairly predictable choice for this type of target, likely to ensure the destruction of the hardened bunker being described.”

Read More on inews.co.uk