MOAB (Mother of All Bombs)
USA · 2003 · 11 tons TNT · conventional high-explosive
Overview
GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast.
With a yield of 11 tons TNT, the MOAB (Mother of All Bombs) is 1364× smaller than the Hiroshima bomb. It is a conventional high-explosive weapon that releases its energy through chemical reactions, not nuclear processes.
MOAB (Mother of All Bombs) Blast Effects
The table below shows the calculated radius of each effect zone for an air burst (optimal altitude, maximum blast spread) and a surface burst (ground level, with massive radioactive fallout). Formulas are scaling laws from The Effects of Nuclear Weapons (Glasstone & Dolan, 1977).
| Effect zone | Air burst | Surface burst |
|---|---|---|
| Fireball radius | 0.02 km | 0.02 km |
| Severe blast (20 PSI) | 0.11 km | 0.06 km |
| Moderate blast (5 PSI) | 0.23 km | 0.13 km |
| Light blast (1 PSI) | 0.66 km | 0.36 km |
| 3rd-degree thermal burns | 0.11 km | 0.06 km |
| 2nd-degree thermal burns | 0.19 km | 0.11 km |
| Lethal fallout zone | minimal | ~2.0 km |
All values are 1-D ground-distance estimates from the detonation point. Real-world effects depend on terrain, weather, and building construction.
Run the MOAB (Mother of All Bombs) on a City
Use the interactive simulator to detonate the MOAB (Mother of All Bombs) on any city worldwide. Click any location on the map to see the fireball, blast, and thermal radii overlaid on real geography with population-density-based casualty estimates.
🎯 Simulate MOAB (Mother of All Bombs)Related Weapons
FAQ
How big is the MOAB (Mother of All Bombs) blast radius?
In an air burst, the MOAB (Mother of All Bombs) produces a fireball roughly 0.02 km in radius and a 5 PSI moderate-blast zone of about 0.23 km — the area in which most residential buildings would collapse. The 1 PSI light-damage radius extends to roughly 0.66 km, where windows shatter.
What is the yield of the MOAB (Mother of All Bombs)?
The MOAB (Mother of All Bombs) has a yield of 11 tons TNT of TNT equivalent. That is 1364× smaller than the Hiroshima bomb.
Is the MOAB (Mother of All Bombs) bigger than the Hiroshima bomb?
The Hiroshima bomb (Little Boy) had a yield of approximately 15 kilotons. The MOAB (Mother of All Bombs) at 11 tons TNT is 1364× smaller than the Hiroshima bomb.