The Mother of All Bombs (MOAB) 2026 – GBU-43/B is a GPS-guided US Air Force blast bomb that weighs about 21,700 lb (9,800 kg), carries 18,700 lb (8,500 kg) of H-6 explosive, yields about 11 tons of TNT, and has an Air Force unit cost estimate of $170,000. The US built 15 of them in 2003, dropped one in combat on April 13, 2017, and as of October 22, 2026 has reportedly drawn up strike plans that include the bomb against Iran.
Mother of All Bombs (MOAB) – GBU-43/B – Introduction
The Mother of All Bombs (MOAB) 2026 – GBU-43/B is back in the news. On October 15, 2026, CNN reported that US military planners built strike options around the weapon for a possible renewed fight with Iran. The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb is the largest GPS-guided weapon the US has ever built. Air Force Research Laboratory engineers rushed it out in 2002 and 2003, and the military has used it in combat just once.
This report answers the questions Americans type into Bing most: how much the bomb weighs, how big its blast is, what it costs, and where the US has used it. Every figure comes from named reporting or public military records, and the report flags numbers that sources dispute. The MOAB is a blast weapon, not a bunker buster. That one fact explains most of the 2026 debate.
Interesting Facts About the Mother of All Bombs (MOAB)
GBU-43/B Weight Split (share of 21,700 lb total)
H-6 explosive ███████████████████████████████████████████░░░░░░░ 86%
Case, fins, GPS ███████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ 14%
| Fact | Confirmed 2026 Data |
|---|---|
| Official name | GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) |
| Nickname origin | Saddam Hussein’s “mother of all battles” phrase from 1991 |
| Designer | Albert L. Weimorts Jr., Air Force Research Laboratory |
| Manufacturer | McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, Oklahoma |
| Units built | 15 (in 2003) |
| Total weight | 21,700 lb (9,800 kg) |
| Explosive fill | 18,700 lb (8,500 kg) of H-6 |
| Size | 30 ft long, 40.5 in wide |
| Blast yield | About 11 tons of TNT |
| First tests | March 11, 2003 and November 21, 2003, Eglin Air Force Base |
| Only combat use | April 13, 2017, Achin District, Afghanistan |
| Unit cost | $170,000 (Air Force estimate) |
| Status in 2026 | In service; Iran strike plans reported October 15, 2026 |
Source: GlobalSecurity.org; Wikipedia’s compiled US Air Force records; CNN (October 15, 2026).
The table gives the core profile of the Mother of All Bombs (MOAB) 2026 – GBU-43/B. The Air Force Research Laboratory designed it, and the McAlester plant in Oklahoma filled the 15 units. Albert Weimorts led the design. The bomb took its nickname from Saddam Hussein’s 1991 boast, and the military later wrote the formal name, Massive Ordnance Air Blast, to fit the letters. The weight split in the chart above shows the design goal: 86% of the bomb is explosive.
The dates tell the rest. Engineers tested the weapon twice in 2003, in March and November, at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. The first real strike came 14 years later, in 2017. The Air Force puts the unit cost at $170,000. The last row matters most in 2026: the bomb remains in service, and reports now link it to Iran planning.
How Much Does the MOAB Weigh in 2026? GBU-43/B Weight and Size
US Heavy Bomb Weights (thousand lb)
BLU-82 Daisy Cutter ███████████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ 15.0
GBU-43/B MOAB █████████████████████░░░░░░░░░ 21.7
GBU-57 MOP ██████████████████████████████ 30.0| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Total weight | 21,700 lb (9,800 kg); some listings say 21,715 lb (9,850 kg) |
| Explosive fill | 18,700 lb (8,500 kg) of H-6 |
| Case weight | About 2,900 lb of thin aluminum |
| Length | 30 ft (about 9.19 m) |
| Diameter | 40.5 in (103 cm) |
| Explosive share of weight | About 86% |
| Guidance | GPS and inertial navigation with grid fins |
| Guided glide distance | About 3 nautical miles |
Source: GlobalSecurity.org; Wikipedia’s compiled US Air Force records.
The GBU-43/B weighs about 21,700 lb, and 18,700 lb of that is H-6 explosive. H-6 mixes RDX, TNT, and aluminum powder. The case adds only about 2,900 lb because it is thin aluminum, so the explosive share reaches 86%. A penetrator bomb carries a heavy steel case instead. That is why the 30,000 lb GBU-57 outweighs the MOAB but holds less explosive.
The bomb measures 30 ft by 40.5 in. It rides on a cargo platform inside a C-130 and leaves the aircraft on a drogue parachute. Grid fins and a GPS and inertial system then steer it for about 3 nautical miles. The old 15,000 lb BLU-82 Daisy Cutter had no guidance. The MOAB added it, so the aircraft can drop from higher and safer altitudes.
How Powerful Is the MOAB Bomb in 2026? Explosive Power and Blast Radius
MOAB Blast Reach (kilometers)
Surface lethal radius (expert estimate) █ 1
Mushroom cloud seen in tests (US Air Force) ████████████████████████████████ 32
| Power Metric | Reported Value |
|---|---|
| Blast yield | About 11 tons of TNT (46 GJ) |
| Explosive type | H-6 (RDX, TNT, aluminum) |
| Detonation style | Air burst a few feet above the ground |
| Surface destruction radius | About 1 km (0.6 mi), expert estimate |
| Mushroom cloud visibility | About 20 miles in tests |
| Ground penetration | None by design |
| Russian FOAB claim | 44 tons of TNT, disputed |
Source: GlobalSecurity.org; Al Jazeera (October 15, 2026); Wikipedia’s compiled US Air Force records.
The MOAB yields about 11 tons of TNT, or 46 GJ. That is huge for a conventional bomb. It is also about 1,000 times smaller than the Hiroshima bomb. The weapon detonates just above the ground and sends a blast wave across open terrain. One military expert told Al Jazeera that the wave destroys everything above ground within about 1 km. In tests, observers saw the mushroom cloud from roughly 20 miles away.
Sources disagree on one label. Some call the MOAB thermobaric. GlobalSecurity says it is neither a fuel-air explosive nor strictly thermobaric, and that blast does most of the killing. Russia claims its Father of All Bombs yields 44 tons, four times more. Western experts dispute that number. The key limit is the same for every figure here: the MOAB does not dig in. Its 0 m of penetration is the reason deep targets are hard for it.
How Much Does the MOAB Cost in 2026? GBU-43/B Price Per Bomb
Unit Cost Comparison (USD, each █ = $50,000)
MK-83 1,000-lb bomb ▏ $12,000
GBU-43/B MOAB (AF) ███▍ $170,000
Tomahawk missile ████████████████████ $1,000,000
| Cost Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Air Force unit cost | $170,000 |
| Early media unit estimate | $16 million |
| Early development claim | $314 million |
| Gap between estimates | About 94 times |
| Fleet cost at Air Force price | About $2.55 million for 15 units |
| MC-130 flight cost (2017 estimate) | $32,752 per hour |
Source: Business Insider (April 2017, citing the US Air Force); The Fiscal Times; Jalopnik.
The Air Force says each MOAB costs $170,000. Early news reports said $16 million per bomb and $314 million to develop it. The service rejected both numbers. The gap between $16 million and $170,000 is about 94 times. The Air Force built the bomb in-house, so no standard procurement cost exists. An Air Force official said the same thing in 2017. The $170,000 figure also dates to the mid-2000s.
Treat the price as a floor. A restart would cost more because old parts are gone and new testing would be needed. At the Air Force figure, the whole fleet of 15 bombs is worth about $2.55 million. A single 1,000 lb MK-83 runs about $12,000, and a Tomahawk about $1 million. The delivery aircraft adds cost too. An MC-130 flight hour ran $32,752 in 2017. No source has published a new 2026 unit price.
Has the US Ever Used the MOAB? MOAB Combat History and Tests 2026
Reported ISIS-K Deaths, April 2017 Strike (each █ = 2 people)
Afghan Defense Ministry, April 14 ███████████ 36
Afghan army spokesman, April 15 ███████████████████████████████████ 94
| Event | Date | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Program start | 2002 | Air Force Munitions Directorate begins the MOAB work at Eglin |
| First test | March 11, 2003 | Drop from a C-130 on the western test range |
| Second test | November 21, 2003 | Launch from an MC-130E Combat Talon I |
| Combat strike | April 13, 2017 | Islamic State–Khorasan tunnel complex, Achin District |
| Tunnel depth claim | 2017 | Afghan officials said some tunnels ran 300 m deep |
| Reported deaths | April 14-15, 2017 | 36 first, then 94, including 4 commanders |
| Civilian claim | April 2017 | A local lawmaker said a teacher and his son died; ISIS denied losses |
Source: GlobalSecurity.org; Associated Press via Orlando Sentinel; Wikipedia’s compiled US Air Force records.
The Air Force finished the 2003 tests before the Iraq invasion, but the bomb saw no use there. The first and only combat drop came on April 13, 2017. General John Nicholson, then the top US commander in Afghanistan, called it a purely tactical decision. Pentagon officials said he held standing authority to use it. Afghan forces had failed to take the tunnels in weeks of fighting, so the US chose its largest bomb.
The casualty numbers moved. The Afghan Defense Ministry first said 36 fighters died. An Afghan army spokesman later said 94. ISIS denied any losses, and a local lawmaker reported civilian deaths. The BLU-82 that inspired the MOAB saw use in Afghanistan in November 2001, during a campaign that drew on the joint US-UK base at Diego Garcia in the Chagos Archipelago. No MOAB has dropped in combat since 2017.
Will the US Use the MOAB Against Iran in 2026? October 2026 Strike Plans
Blast Reach vs Target Depth (meters, each █ = 50 m)
MOAB surface blast radius ████████████████████ 1,000
Pickaxe Mountain to Natanz ██████████████████████████████ 1,500
Granite above Pickaxe halls ██ 100+
MOAB ground penetration ▏ 0
| Factor | 2026 Detail |
|---|---|
| Report date | October 15, 2026, CNN citing multiple US officials |
| Plan scope | Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear sites, including Pickaxe Mountain |
| Trigger | Only if President Trump orders renewed combat |
| Timing | Before or after the November 3, 2026 midterm elections |
| Expert doubt | Effects likely stay at the surface |
| Civilian risk | Blast radius could reach populated and non-military sites |
| Current status | Planning only; fighting has lulled |
Source: CNN (October 15, 2026); Al Jazeera (October 15, 2026); Atalayar (October 15, 2026).
CNN reported on October 15, 2026 that planners drew up options using the MOAB against Iranian energy and nuclear targets. Nothing says the president has ordered a strike. Several sources told CNN the bomb would devastate the surface but likely do little underground. One called it mostly a huge area-clearing weapon with a strong signaling effect. Iran moves about 90% of its crude exports through Kharg Island, where US forces already struck military sites on March 13, 2026 and spared the oil facilities.
The chart explains the doubt. The MOAB’s blast reaches about 1,000 m across the surface but goes 0 m into rock. Underground halls sit under 100+ m of granite. Analysts told Al Jazeera the bomb would flatten refineries and terminals yet leave buried chambers intact. Civilian harm is the second worry. A 21,700 lb blast near populated areas would draw sharp criticism, and it falls just 12 days before the November 3 vote.
MOAB vs GBU-57 MOP vs Russian FOAB in 2026: Bomb Comparison
Claimed or Rated Yield (tons of TNT equivalent)
US GBU-43/B MOAB ███████████ 11
Russian FOAB (disputed) ████████████████████████████████████████████ 44
| Weapon | Weight | Type | Combat Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBU-43/B MOAB | 21,700 lb | Surface blast | 1 use, 2017 |
| GBU-57 MOP | 30,000 lb (14,000 kg) | Deep penetrator | Used in the 2026 Iran war |
| Russian FOAB | Not confirmed | Thermobaric, claimed | Tested 2007; claims disputed |
| British Grand Slam | 22,000 lb | Earthquake bomb | 42 uses in World War II |
| T-12 Cloudmaker | 44,000 lb | Demolition bomb | Never used in combat |
Source: Wikipedia’s compiled US Air Force records; GlobalSecurity.org; Al Jazeera.
The GBU-57 MOP and the MOAB do different jobs. The MOP weighs 30,000 lb and bores into hardened targets. The MOAB weighs 21,700 lb and carries more explosive, but it bursts above ground. The MOAB is also not the heaviest bomb ever dropped. The 22,000 lb Grand Slam of 1945 beat it by weight. The MOAB is the largest GPS-guided weapon, and the largest by explosive weight ever used in combat.
Russia’s FOAB claim of 44 tons is four times the MOAB’s 11 tons, but experts doubt the figure. The comparison matters in Iran. Pickaxe Mountain sits under more than 100 m of granite, about 1.5 km from Natanz. Analysts question whether even the 30,000 lb MOP can reach it. A surface blast bomb has far less chance.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Mother of All Bombs (MOAB) 2026
What Is the Mother of All Bombs (MOAB) – GBU-43/B?
The Mother of All Bombs (MOAB) 2026 – GBU-43/B is a 21,700 lb GPS-guided US Air Force bomb. It carries 18,700 lb of H-6 explosive and bursts above the ground. The military built 15 in 2003.
How Much Does the MOAB Bomb Weigh in 2026?
It weighs about 21,700 lb (9,800 kg). Some listings say 21,715 lb (9,850 kg). The bomb is 30 ft long and 40.5 in wide.
How Powerful Is the MOAB Compared to a Nuclear Bomb in 2026?
The MOAB yields about 11 tons of TNT. The Hiroshima bomb yielded roughly 15,000 tons. The MOAB is far smaller, and it produces no radiation.
How Much Does a MOAB Cost in 2026?
The Air Force estimates $170,000 per bomb. Early reports claimed $16 million, and the Air Force rejected that. No official 2026 price exists.
How Many MOABs Does the US Have in 2026?
The US built 15 at McAlester in 2003. One dropped in 2017. Public sources give no current inventory.
Has the MOAB Ever Been Used in War as of 2026?
Yes, once. A MOAB hit an Islamic State–Khorasan tunnel complex in Achin District, Afghanistan, on April 13, 2017. Reported deaths ranged from 36 to 94.
What Aircraft Drops the MOAB in 2026?
Special operations MC-130 aircraft carry it, mainly the Combat Talon I and II. The bomb leaves the rear cargo ramp on a drogue parachute, then glides under GPS guidance.
Can the MOAB Destroy Underground Nuclear Sites in 2026?
Probably not. The MOAB has a thin case and detonates above the surface. Sites under 100+ m of granite, such as Pickaxe Mountain, sit far below its reach.
Is the MOAB the Biggest Bomb in the World in 2026?
No. It is the largest GPS-guided bomb the US has built. The 30,000 lb MOP is heavier, the 22,000 lb Grand Slam was heavier, and Russia claims a 44-ton FOAB.
Will the US Use the MOAB Against Iran in 2026?
No order exists. CNN reported on October 15, 2026 that planners drew up options that include the MOAB. Experts doubt it would reach buried targets.