The Turkish Ministry of National Defense’s research and development (R&D) arm has equipped the country with its “most powerful” conventional aerial bomb to date.
Unveiled at this year’s International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF 2025) in Istanbul, the thermobaric “GAZAP” reportedly weighs over 2,000 pounds (970 kilograms) and scatters more than 10,000 fragments within a one-kilometer (0.62-mile) radius.
This makes it just a step below nuclear weapons in terms of destructive capacity, according to military analysts.
“Traditional bombs of this category typically disperse around three fragments per square meter,” R&D Director Nilufer Kuzulu said. “GAZAP disperses 10.16 fragments per square meter,” making it “three times more powerful than standard MK-series bombs.”
With a ribbed internal structure, the GAZAP breaks apart like a giant grenade, producing concentrated blast power without crossing into nuclear territory. It is compatible with Turkey’s F-16 and F-4 fighter jets, with potential drone integration now in the pipeline.
According to the defense ministry, the bomb has passed all qualification and certification trials, indicating it is ready for operational use.
Bunker Busters
The Turkish defense ministry also introduced a new bunker-buster bomb known as the NEB-2 Ghost.
Weighing roughly the same as GAZAP, the NEB-2 Ghost is built to penetrate reinforced surfaces. In tests, it penetrated around 7 meters (23 feet) of C50 concrete, a material typically used in bridges, viaducts, and nuclear facilities.
Standard bombs, by comparison, penetrate only 1.8 to 2.4 meters (5.9 to 7.9 feet), Kuzulu said.
The NEB-2 is also reportedly compatible with Turkey’s F-16 aircraft.
