Fourteen Massive Ordnance Penetrators dropped during Operation Midnight Hammer to be replaced under sole-source deal starting 2028 deliveries.
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Boeing a contract worth more than $100 million to rebuild its stockpile of 30,000-pound bunker-busting bombs used in strikes on Iran in June.
Redacted government documents posted online Thursday show the deal covers new Massive Ordnance Penetrators, though the exact quantity and final cost remain classified. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2028.
The award follows combat operations carried out earlier this year and marks a significant step in restoring the Air Force’s heavy strike inventory after the first operational use of the weapon.
Contract award follows combat use in June
The replenishment comes months after Operation Midnight Hammer, when U.S. bombers targeted underground nuclear facilities in Fordow and Natanz. During the mission, U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bombers dropped 14 of the 30,000-pound bombs on hardened sites.
It marked the first time the Massive Ordnance Penetrator was used in combat.
According to procurement documents, officials determined that awarding the contract to any vendor other than Boeing would cause delays. The agreement is structured as a sole-source contract, meaning Boeing will produce the weapons exclusively.
The military said the supply was “critically needed” to replenish bomb inventory, “essential to restore operational readiness,” and would ensure that the Air Force Global Strike Command “possesses the necessary assets to support strategic contingency war plans for all Combatant Commands.”
While the overall value exceeds $100 million, the documents do not disclose how many bombs are being purchased.
Restoring strategic strike readiness
The Air Force previously signaled its intent to replace weapons used in the June strikes through a budget reprogramming request submitted in August 2025. That request sought $123 million to replenish multiple munitions, including GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs, AGR-20F Falco guided missiles, and GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators.
The newly released documents emphasize that replenishing these bunker-busters is necessary to restore the affected unit’s combat readiness, though the unit’s name has been redacted.
The contract covers both complete bombs in the All-Up-Round configuration and individual tail kits. Tail kit deliveries are expected to begin January 10, 2028.
Officials noted that this order represents the final procurement of the current version before transitioning to the next iteration of the weapon.
Inside the 30,000-pound Massive Ordnance Penetrator
The GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator is one of the heaviest conventional bombs in the U.S. arsenal, weighing approximately 30,000 pounds. Built with a high-strength steel casing, it is engineered to withstand impacts from dense materials before detonating.
The weapon is designed to destroy deeply buried and fortified targets, including underground laboratories, bunkers, command centers, and weapons storage facilities. Military estimates indicate it can penetrate up to 200 feet through rock, soil, or reinforced concrete before exploding.
Guidance is provided by a GPS system integrated with inertial navigation, allowing the bomb to strike with high precision. After release, it burrows into the target structure before detonating with a delayed fuse.
Currently, the only operational aircraft capable of carrying the weapon is the B-2 Spirit, which transports the bomb inside its internal bays. The next-generation B-21 Raider is expected to integrate the weapon.
With deliveries set to begin in 2028, the Air Force is moving to restore its heavy bunker-buster inventory while preparing for an upgraded version of one of its most powerful conventional strike weapons.