Believe it or not, weapons specialists at Whiteman AFB, Mo., have managed to fit a mock-up of the Massive Ordnance Penetrator—a 30,000-pound class weapon yet to enter production—in a mock-up of the B-2 bomber. Northrop Grumman got a contract last summer to begin the MOP integration effort for the B-2, expected to carry two MOPs in its internal weapons bays. Don’t confuse MOP with the 21,000-pound Massive Ordnance Air Blast, also known as the Mother of All Bombs for its acronym MOAB, which the Russians claim to have bested with the Father of All Bombs. (Whiteman report by A1C Stephen Linch)
The Space Force is finalizing its first contracts for the Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve and plans to award them early in 2025—giving the service access to commercial satellites and other space systems in times of conflict or crisis—officials said Nov. 21.