MOAB stands for "Massive Ordnance Air Blast", so I'm pretty sure it also explodes in-air.
Russia's bomb was developed later, so I absolutely believe it can be a more powerful weapon... but that is textbook US/Russia one-upmanship that we've had going for ages.
It's kinda comforting to see them back in the game, actually. Probably because the MOAB (and similar devices) only work well in areas that you have an entrenched enemy and absolute air superiority; this is type of weapon has little practical application fighting the West.
MOAB stands for "Massive Ordnance Air Blast", so I'm pretty sure it also explodes in-air.
Russia's bomb was developed later, so I absolutely believe it can be a more powerful weapon... but that is textbook US/Russia one-upmanship that we've had going for ages.
It's kinda comforting to see them back in the game, actually. Probably because the MOAB (and similar devices) only work well in areas that you have an entrenched enemy and absolute air superiority; this is type of weapon has little practical application fighting the West.
You're correct actually, I was thinking of the GBU-57 MOP, not the GBU-43 MOAB.
You're correct actually, I was thinking of the [GBU-57 MOP](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massive_Ordnance_Penetrator), not the [GBU-43 MOAB](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/GBU-43/B_Massive_Ordnance_Air_Blast).
Except these two bombs are not comparable.
The Moab is designed to penetrate deep within solid rock before detonating. Creating a massive pressure wave the propagates through the rock itself and rendering fortified subterranean structurally unstable, if not completely collapsed. It's a massive bunker busted bomb similar to the WW2 tallboy design.
The foab is a less impressive fuel air bomb. Created to cause maximum devastation to the affected area. But it has to be an air burst to be effective. If they had used it on the underground complex which was targeted, it would have little to effect aside from maybe collapsing the entrance and or sucking up some of the oxygen in the tunnels closest to the air vents.
Furthermore, if we or them used a weapon similar to the foab, the civilian casualties would be catastrophic. It's designed solely for a full on battlefield scenario, not a guerilla war with nearby civilians as has been the standard for the last 15 years.