At the International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF) in Istanbul last week, Turkey revealed the NEB-2 Ghost, a new 970 kg bunker-buster bomb.
"American bombs can penetrate 2.5 m of standard C35 reinforced concrete, while the NEB-2 can pierce up to 7 m of C50 concrete, three times stronger than the concrete used to protect nuclear power plants. This is currently the best bunker-buster bomb in the world," a Turkish official claimed at the event.
In a test, a Ghost bomb penetrated 90 m, causing landslides, gas leaks, and destroying the rock layer on the targeted island, the official added. "The typical explosion occurs within 25 milliseconds of impact, but this has been adjusted to 240 milliseconds for increased damage."
Some observers expressed skepticism. "Only larger weapons, like the American-made GBU-28 weighing 1,800-2,300 kg, possess comparable destructive power when dropped from high altitudes," noted Ukrainian military website Militarnyi.
Also unveiled was the GAZAP, a 970 kg bomb designed by the Turkish Ministry of National Defense's research and development center, reportedly Turkey's most powerful non-nuclear bomb.
"The research and development center adjusted the design of the explosives and filler materials, allowing it to produce three times the shrapnel density of similar bombs. The evaluation and certification process is complete, and it is ready for use," the official stated.
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The GAZAP bomb at IDEF 2025 in Istanbul on 27/7. Photo: Daily Sabah |
The GAZAP bomb at IDEF 2025 in Istanbul on 27/7. Photo: Daily Sabah
Turkey, once reliant on foreign arms imports, has shifted towards domestic weapons development. The country is now a major arms exporter, with notable products and clients across Europe and the Middle East.
Turkey's arms exports have steadily increased, reaching 7.1 billion USD in 2024, up from 1.9 billion USD a decade earlier.
Pham Giang (Anadolu, Militarnyi, Al Jazeera)
