A Gathering of Eagles at Diego Garcia.

By G Murphy Donovan

“Thus spoke Zarathustra”

Bombers now on alert/roosting at Diego Garcia and their capabilities are impressive. IAF and US Naval carrier air would provide cap should they be fragged for the Levant.

(Hat tip to Grok AI.)

B-2 Spirit:

The only aircraft currently capable of carrying and deploying the GBU-57 MOP, a 30,000-pound bunker-buster designed to penetrate deeply fortified underground targets. The B-2 can carry two GBU-57s.

B-52 Stratofortress:

Can carry a range of precision-guided munitions, including older bunker-busting weapons like the GBU-28 (a 5,000-pound laser-guided bomb). While it has been considered for GBU-57 integration, the B-2 remains the primary platform for that munition. 

F-15E Strike Eagle: 

Capable of carrying the GBU-28 and other smaller bunker-busting munitions, such as the GBU-31 JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition) with BLU-109 penetrator warheads. It’s used for less heavily fortified targets compared to the MOP.

A-10 Thunderbolt II: 

Can carry smaller precision-guided bombs like the GBU-31 with penetrator warheads, though its role in bunker-busting is limited compared to strategic bombers or multirole fighters.

F-35 Lightning II: 

Can carry the GBU-31 JDAM with BLU-109 or BLU-137 penetrators, suitable for moderately fortified targets. Future integrations may expand its bunker-busting capabilities.

The GBU-57 MOP is the most powerful non-nuclear bunker-buster in the USAF arsenal, and its use is exclusive to the B-2 due to the weapon’s size and the stealth requirements for penetrating heavily defended areas. For less demanding targets, the GBU-28 and JDAM variants with penetration warheads can be deployed by tactical aircraft like the F-15E and F-35.

Open source Intelligence says the bomber fleet at Diego Garcia is being augmented.

Sometimes a squadron isn’t enough.

G Murphy Donovan writes about the politics of national security and Intelligence.