Israel develops its own bunker buster

The Israeli designed bunker-buster could very well be Israel’s answer to Barack Obama offering the American made GBU-28  in return for a commitment to not attack Iran in 2012.

Israel has developed an improved precision, bunker-burrowing weapon which Israeli Military Industries (IMI) unveiled on March 6 at peak US-Israel friction over a strike against Iran. The 500-pound MPR-500 is an electro-optical bomb that can penetrate double-reinforced concrete walls or floors without breaking apart.  “The lethality, precision… and relatively low weight of the new weapon,” say its manufacturers, “enable its use against multiple targets in a single pass.”  The MPR-500 bridges a gap between the US 250-pound US GBU-39 and the 5,000-pound GBU-28 super-bunker buster.

Full article: Israel develops its own bunker buster (DEBKAFile)

Obama offered bunker-busters if Israel agreed not to strike Iran in 2012

WASHINGTON — Officials said the administration of President Barack Obama was not expected to ship advanced GBU-28 bunker-busters to Israel.

The officials said Obama himself offered to transfer the GBU-28 as well as the KC-135 refueling aircraft to Israel. They said the president, however, demanded an Israeli commitment not to attack Iran in 2012.

The president’s offer was relayed during his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on March 5. Officials said Netanyahu said Israel would welcome the advanced U.S. platforms but could not commit to allowing Iran to develop nuclear weapons.

They said the advanced weapon was in short supply in U.S. military stocks amid threats in Asia.

Full article: Obama offered bunker-busters if Israel agreed not to strike Iran in 2012 (World Tribune)