Overview

• Applied Research Associates was selected by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Eglin Munitions Directorate to serve as system design agent and build sub-scale and full-scale prototypes over 24 months.
• The Next Generation Penetrator is scoped as a follow-on to the GBU-57, with requirements calling for a weapon at or below 22,000 pounds and terminal accuracy within 2.2 meters even when GPS is degraded or denied.
• Program documents highlight blast, fragmentation, and penetration effects and the potential use of embedded fuze technology to optimize detonation after deep penetration.
• Boeing will develop the tail kit and support all-up-round integration, and the Air Force’s 2024 RFI envisioned delivery of about 10 sub-scale and 3–5 full-scale warheads within 18–24 months.
• Budget plans allocate $120.8 million in FY25 and $73.7 million in FY26, with prototype demonstration slated to wrap by the end of FY27 following the MOP’s first combat use against Iranian sites in June.