EditTurkey unveils its most powerful bunker-buster aerial bomb
The GAZAP bomb is compatible with F-16 fighter jets and is described as possessing a highly destructive blast effect
Turkey unveiled its most powerful conventional aircraft bomb, named GAZAP, at the 17th edition of the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) 2025, held in Istanbul.
The GAZAP bomb is compatible with F-16 fighter jets and is described as possessing a highly destructive blast effect.
The new weapon features a warhead weighing 970 kilograms and was developed by the research and development (R&D) centre of the Turkish Ministry of National Defence.
Following the outbreak of wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, Turkey’s influence has increased significantly, and the country is becoming an indispensable actor in international affairs. However, its relations with Greece remain tense and both countries build their armies as deterrent against each other.
Turkey possesses the second-largest army in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and, in recent years, has demonstrated considerable success in developing its own military industry. This progress has been most notably exemplified by the success of the Bayraktar drone on the battlefield in Ukraine and in the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Ankara has also set out plans to develop its own fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, which is expected to enter into service no later than 2033. The project is being developed in cooperation with the British defence giant BAE Systems.
Alongside GAZAP, the Turkish Ministry of National Defence also introduced a separate bomb, the NEB-2 Ghost, which also weighs 970 kilograms. According to the official, it is the “best bunker-buster in the field.”
“Normally, US-made missiles penetrate 2.4 metres of C35 standard concrete. NEB-2 penetrates seven metres of C50 concrete, which is three times stronger than that used in nuclear power plants,” the official said.
The NEB-2 Ghost bunker-buster bomb is also compatible with F-16 aircraft. As part of its aircraft testing, the NEB-2 bomb was dropped onto an island, where it penetrated 90 metres, causing landslides, gas leaks, and destruction of rock within an island diameter of 160 metres, the official explained.
“The explosion, which normally takes 25 milliseconds, was timed to 240 milliseconds, making it more destructive,” the official added.
The seventeenth edition of the six-day IDEF defence fair (22 – 27 July), was held simultaneously at the Istanbul Fair Centre, Atatürk Airport, WOW Hotel, and Ataköy Marina.
The event is organised by KFA Fairs, with support from Turkey’s Defence Industries Secretariat and the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation. Anadolu Agency serves as the event’s global communication partner.
With Anadolu agency. Edited by k.n.
Caption: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivers a speech at the 32nd Consultation and Evaluation Meeting in Ankara, Turkey, 12 July 2025. EPA/NECATI SAVAS
Updated: July 28, 2025 - 13:32
