The BLU-82/B Daisy Cutter bomb (also known as Big Blue 2) is part of the BLU-82/MC-130H Commando Vault system. It is designed to create corridors in minefields and eliminate enemy personnel. During the Vietnam War, it was used to clear jungle landing sites for helicopters.
During anti-terrorist operations in Afghanistan, the bomb was employed in the mountains to combat the Taliban in mountainous regions.
Design and Explosive Power
To prevent the bomb’s immense power from entirely forming a giant crater, it was equipped with a specially designed M904 pin fuze, 1.24 meters long. The bomb is filled with a GSX-type explosive (ammonium nitrate DBA-22M, aluminum powder, and a polystyrene binding gel). Upon detonation, it generates a pressure of up to 73 kg/cm².
Deployment Operations
The bomb is dropped from an MC-130H Combat Talon transport aircraft by pushing it out of the cargo bay. The use of this system requires precise aircraft piloting, guided by commands from a fixed ground radar or onboard navigation equipment. The ground radar operator or the aircraft’s navigator is responsible for the countdown and release of the bomb. The minimum drop height is no less than 1800 meters above the ground.
Combat Use: Operation Desert Storm
During Operation Desert Storm, 11 BLU-82/B bombs were dropped. These were released from an altitude of approximately 5200 meters. A Circular Error Probable (CEP) of 30 meters was achieved, which, considering the bomb’s power, is equivalent to a direct hit.