US Air Force Awards Contract for Next Generation Bunker Buster Prototype
Sept. 26, 2025
The U.S. Air Force recently awarded a two‑year contract to Applied Research Associates (ARA) to design and prototype a next‑generation bunker‑busting munition, referred to as the Next Generation Penetrator (NGP).
Boeing, the original manufacturer of the GBU‑57 “Massive Ordnance Penetrator” (MOP), will serve as partner, responsible for development of the tail kit and integration support.
The contract calls for ARA to deliver approximately 10 subscale prototypes and 3 to 5 full‑scale warheads within 18–24 months, followed by testing against hardened and deeply buried targets. The Air Force has requested funding of about $73.7 million in FY 2026 and plans to conclude prototype demonstration by end of FY 2027.
According to requirements issued earlier, the NGP warhead is to weigh no more than 22,000 pounds, while still delivering blast, fragmentation, and penetration effects. The NGP is also to include advanced guidance/navigation capabilities able to operate in GPS‑denied or degraded conditions.
The NGP is intended as a successor to the 30,000‑pound GBU‑57 MOP. The lighter weight and enhanced guidance goals could allow for broader carriage options beyond the B‑2 bomber, and potentially more flexible deployment in future bomber platforms.
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