Editing General-purpose bomb (section)

===Modern American general-purpose bombs: the Mark 80 series===
[[File:Mark82Bomb.JPEG|thumb|right|A Mk&nbsp;82 GP bomb loaded on an F/A-18 Hornet, showing nose fuze and textured thermal insulation]]
During the [[Korean War]] and [[Vietnam War]] the U.S. used older designs like the [[Mark 65 bomb|M65]], [[Mark 117 bomb|M117]] and [[Mark 118 bomb|M118]], which had an explosive content about 65% higher than most contemporary weapons. Although some of these weapons remain in the U.S. arsenal, they are little used and the M117 is primarily carried only by the [[B-52 Stratofortress]].

The primary U.S. GP bombs are the '''Mark 80 series'''. This class of weapons uses a shape known as Aero 1A, designed by  [[Ed Heinemann]] of [[Douglas Aircraft]] as the result of studies in [[1946 in aviation|1946]]. It has a length-to-diameter ratio of about 8:1, and results in minimal drag for the carrier aircraft. The Mark 80 series was not used in combat until the Vietnam War, but has since replaced most earlier GP weapons. It includes four basic weapon types:

* [[Mark 81 bomb|Mark 81]] – nominal weight {{convert|250|lb|kg|sigfig=3}}
* [[Mark 82 bomb|Mark 82]] – nominal weight {{convert|500|lb|kg|sigfig=3}}
* [[Mark 83 bomb|Mark 83]] – nominal weight {{convert|1,000|lb|kg|sigfig=3}}
* [[Mark 84 bomb|Mark 84]] – nominal weight {{convert|2,000|lb|kg|sigfig=3}}

Vietnam service showed the Mk 81 "Firecracker" to be sub par, and it was withdrawn from U.S. service. However, recently, precision-guided variants of the Mk&nbsp;81 bomb have begun a return to service, based on U.S. experience in [[Iraq]] after 2003, and the desire to reduce [[collateral damage]] compared to Mk&nbsp;82 and larger bombs (e.g., when attacking a single small building in a populated area).

Since the Vietnam War and the [[1967 USS Forrestal fire]], [[United States Navy]] and [[United States Marine Corps]] GP bombs are distinguished by a thick [[ablation|ablative]] fire-retardant coating, which is designed to delay any potential accidental explosion in the event of a shipboard fire. Land-based air forces typically do not use such coatings, largely because they add some {{cvt|30|lb|kg}} to the weight of the complete weapon.{{citation needed|date=June 2010}} Fire is less a danger in a land-based facility, where the personnel can be evacuated with relative ease, and the building be the only loss. At sea, the crew and munitions share a facility (the ship), and thus are in much more danger of fire reaching munitions (which tend to be more closely packed, due to space limitations). Also, losing a munitions storage building on land is far cheaper than sacrificing an entire naval vessel, even if one could easily evacuate the crew.

All Mk&nbsp;80 bombs have both nose and tail fuze wells and can accept a variety of fuzes. Various nose and tail kits can be fitted to adapt the weapon for a variety of roles.

Mk&nbsp;80 series bomb bodies are also used in the following weapons:
* [[BDU-50]] A practice (no explosive) version of the [[Mark 82 bomb|Mk 82]] bomb body
* [[BDU-56]] A practice (no explosive) version of the [[Mark 84 bomb|Mk 84]] bomb body
On August 14, 2020, Kaman Precision Products received roughly $57.3 million for a "cockpit-selectable" bomb fuze to be used on Mark 80 warheads (guided and unguided).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Contracts for August 14, 2020|url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/2313931/|access-date=2020-09-09|website=U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE|language=en-US}}</ref> The contract involved foreign military sales ([[Foreign Military Sales|FMS]]) to 25 unnamed countries.[[File:Paveway II p1230135.jpg|thumb|right|Guidance accessories for a 500&nbsp;lb body and a Laser-Guided Training Round, bottom]]

====Smart bomb kits====
Dumb Mk 80 bombs could be converted to ''smart bombs'' with attached kits:
* [[GBU-12]]D Paveway II (Mk&nbsp;82) laser-guided
* [[GBU-16]]B Paveway II (Mk&nbsp;83) laser-guided
* [[GBU-24]]B Paveway III (Mk&nbsp;84) laser-guided
* [[GBU-38]] JDAM (Mk&nbsp;82) INS/GPS guided
* [[GBU-32]] JDAM (Mk&nbsp;83) INS/GPS guided
* [[GBU-31]] JDAM (Mk&nbsp;84) INS/GPS guided
* [[GBU-X]] - a guided general-purpose bomb under development as of 2017<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/dubai-textron-thales-mini-bomb-wrapping-up-flight-t-418816/|title=DUBAI: Textron-Thales mini-bomb wrapping up flight test campaign|date=9 November 2015|work=FlightGlobal.com|access-date=14 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/usaf-reveals-slimmed-down-sacm-air-to-air-missile-co-422413/|title=USAF reveals slimmed-down SACM air-to-air missile concept|date=25 February 2016|work=FlightGlobal.com|access-date=14 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.janes.com/article/57493/raytheon-selected-to-deliver-next-generation-tactical-air-to-air-missile-solutions|title=Janes &#124; Latest defence and security news}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2016/01/21/Raytheon-to-research-tactical-missile-capabilities/7671453398070/|title=Raytheon to research tactical missile capabilities|work=UPI.com|access-date=14 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://fightersweep.com/4499/sacm-affordable-highly-lethal-missile/|title=SACM: Affordable, Highly-Lethal Missile - Fighter Sweep|date=7 March 2016|work=FighterSweep.com|access-date=14 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://insidedefense.com/inside-air-force/textron-explores-capabilities-next-generation-gbu-x-munition |title = Textron explores capabilities for next-generation GBU-X munition {{!}} InsideDefense.com}}</ref>

[[File:North American F-100D-75-NA (SN 56-3184) in flight dropping a Snake-Eye bomb 060922-F-1234S-005.jpg|thumb|Snake Eye]]

====Retarded (high drag) versions====
* ''Mk 82 Snake Eye'' was a standard Mk&nbsp;82 with folded retarding petals.
* ''Mk 82 Retarded'' was a standard Mk&nbsp;82 with a [[ballute]].
* ''Mk 83 Retarded'' was a standard Mk&nbsp;83 with a ballute.
* ''Mk 84 Retarded'' was a standard Mk&nbsp;84 with a ballute.
The retarder is used to allow the aircraft escape the "blast pattern" in low altitude delivery.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/197591/mk82-air-inflatable-retarder-bomb/ |title=MK82 Air Inflatable Retarder Bomb |access-date=30 March 2024 |website=www.nationalmuseum.af.mil}}</ref>