Mark 83 bomb

The Mark 83 is part of the Mark 80 series of low-drag general-purpose bombs in United States service.

Development & deployment

The nominal weight of the bomb is 1,000 lb (454 kg), although its actual weight varies between 985 lb (447 kg) and 1,030 lb (468 kg), depending on fuze options, and fin configuration. The Mk 83 is a streamlined steel casing containing 445 lb (202 kg) of Tritonal high explosive. When filled with PBXN-109 thermally insensitive explosive, the bomb is designated BLU-110.

The Mk 83/BLU-110 is used as the warhead for a variety of precision-guided weapons, including the GBU-16 Paveway laser-guided bombs, the GBU-32 JDAM and Quickstrike sea mines.

This bomb is most typically used by the United States Navy. According to a test report conducted by the United States Navy's Weapon System Explosives Safety Review Board (WSESRB) established in the wake of the 1967 USS Forrestal fire, the cooking off time for a Mk 83 is approximately 8 minutes 40 seconds.

See also