How strong is a MOAB?

The MOAB, which contains over 8,000 pounds of an Australian explosive called H6 that’s typically used underwater, is powerful: It has an explosion equivalent to 11 tons of TNT.

How powerful is the MOAB bomb compared to Hiroshima?

The nuclear device dropped on Hiroshima was in the range of 13-15 kilotons of TNT equivalent. By way of comparison, one of the US military’s biggest conventional weapons, the GBU-43/B MOAB (“Massive Ordnance Air Blast”) device, has a yield of around 11 tons.

How does the MOAB work?

Instead of being dropped from a bomber through the bomb bay doors, the MOAB is pushed out of the back of a cargo plane such as a C-130. The bomb rides on a pallet. A parachute pulls the pallet and bomb out of the plane and then the pallet separates so that the bomb can fall.

How does MOAB explode?

The MOAB can clear out trees in a 150 meter (492 foot) diameter. – The explosive fuel is Tritonal, a mixture of four parts TNT to one part aluminum powder. The aluminum increases the destructive power the TNT would have on its own by almost 20 percent.

How deep can a Moab penetrate?

The bomb, which was used for the first time in combat on Thursday in Afghanistan, can penetrate through 60 meters (200 feet) of enforced concrete and is therefore especially suitable for deployment in contained environments such as caves and bunkers.

How much does a Moab cost?

One MOAB costs about $170,000, an Air Force representative said Friday. The Air Force has not confirmed the development costs associated with the larger weapons system. For comparison, aircraft from the USS Harry S.

Is the Moab a nuclear bomb?

The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB /ˈmoʊæb/, colloquially known as the “Mother of All Bombs”) is a large-yield bomb, developed for the United States military by Albert L. At the time of development, it was said to be the most powerful non-nuclear weapon in the American arsenal.

What is the strongest nuclear bomb?

Tsar Bomba
On October 30, 1961, the Soviet Union tested the largest nuclear device ever created. The “Tsar Bomba,” as it became known, was 10 times more powerful than all the munitions used during World War II.