BLU-109

Summary

CategoryPenetration Bomb
Sub-typeHardened penetration bomb
Origin country 🇺🇸 United States
ManufacturerLockheed Martin
StatusIn service
Year of service1985
Number built30000 units

Technical specifications

WarheadTritonal
Warhead weight250 kg (551 lb)
Diameter370 mm (14.6 in)
Length2,388 mm (94.0 in)
Weight874 kg (1,927 lb)

BLU-109 scale diagram

BLU-109 — Penetration Bomb 1.75 m 2.39 m
Weight
874 kg
Warhead
250 kg

Operators

🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates • 🇦🇺 Australia • 🇧🇪 Belgium • 🇨🇦 Canada • 🇩🇪 Germany • 🇩🇰 Denmark • 🇫🇷 France • 🇬🇧 United Kingdom • 🇬🇷 Greece • 🇮🇱 Israel • 🇮🇹 Italy • 🇰🇷 South Korea • 🇲🇦 Morocco • 🇳🇱 Netherlands • 🇳🇴 Norway • 🇵🇰 Pakistan • 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia • 🇷🇸 Serbia • 🇹🇷 Turkey • 🇺🇸 United States

Description

The BLU-109 entered service in 1985. Development of a variant designated HAMMER began in 2015.

The BLU-109 is a penetration bomb designed to defeat concrete shelters and hardened structures. The munition features a steel casing and a tritonal explosive filler. It utilizes a mechanical-electrical delayed-action tail-fuze to ensure detonation occurs after target penetration. The BLU-109 serves as the warhead component for several guided weapon systems, including the GBU-15 electro-optically guided bomb, the GBU-24 and GBU-27 Paveway III laser-guided bombs, the GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM), and the AGM-130 air-to-surface missile. A variant designated the BLU-118 utilizes the same basic casing and design but incorporates a thermobaric explosive filler.

The system is widely deployed and has been produced in large quantities. It is operated by the United States Air Force and is part of the armament of numerous international air forces. Operators include Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, South Korea, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.

Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) and other open sources. Last updated on 4 April 2026. Suggest a change