Mark 82 Bomb (Bomb)

The Mark 82 (Mk 82) is an unguided, low-drag general-purpose bomb (dumb bomb), part of the U.S. Mark 80 series.

Specification

Type: Low-drag general purpose bomb
Unit cost: $268.50
Weight: 500 lb (241 kg)
Length: 87.4 in (2220 mm)
Diameter: 10.75 in (273 mm)
Filling: Tritonal, Minol or H6
Filling weight: 192 lb (89 kg)

Development & deployment

With a nominal weight of 500 lb (227 kg), it is the smallest of those bombs in current service, and one of the most common air-dropped weapons in the world. Although the Mk 82's nominal weight is 500 lb (227 kg), its actual weight varies considerably depending on its configuration, from 510 lb (232 kg) to 570 lb (259 kg). It is a streamlined steel casing containing 192 lb (87 kg) of Tritonal high explosive. The Mk 82 is offered with a variety of fin kits, fuses, and retarders for different purposes.

This photograph shows an unfused, museum display Mk. 82 with its usual combat paint scheme. For display purposes, the optional low-drag tailfins used for high-altitude release are shown.

The Mk 82 is the warhead for the GBU-12 laser-guided bombs and for the GBU-38 JDAM.

Currently the Mk 82 bomb body is manufactured by 17 plants worldwide. Currently only the General Dynamics plant in the Garland, Texas is DoD certified to manufacture bombs for the US Armed Forces.

The Mk 82 is currently undergoing a minor redesign to allow it to meet the insensitive munitions requirements set by Congress.

Variants

BLU-111/B- Mk 82 loaded with PBXN-109 (vs H-6); item weighs 480 lbs. PBXN-109 is a less sensitive explosive filler. The BLU-111/B also is the warhead of the A-1 version of the Joint Stand-Off Weapon JSOW.

BLU-111A/B- Used by the U.S. Navy, this is the BLU-111/B with a thermal-protective coating added to reduce cook-off in (fuel-related) fires.

BLU-126/B- Designed following a U.S. Navy request to lower collateral damage in air strikes. Delivery of this type will start no later than March 2007. Also known as the Low Collateral Damage Bomb (LCDB), it is a BLU-111 with a smaller explosive charge. Non-explosive filler is added to retain the weight of the BLU-111 so as to give it the same trajectory when dropped.