Turkey unveiled two new domestically developed bombs on Sunday, significantly upgrading the capabilities of its air force, which is undergoing a sweeping modernization and rearmament effort.
At the International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF) 2025 in Istanbul, Turkey's military defense industry introduced the GAZAP, the most powerful conventional air-to-surface bomb it has produced to date.
Video: The Turkish Air Force's bunker-busting bomb // Turkish defense industry
Developed by the Research and Development Center of the Turkish Defense Ministry, the GAZAP disperses 10.16 fragmentation explosions per meter, surpassing the previous record of three explosions for any bomb in service with the Turkish Air Force, a government official told the Anadolu news agency.
According to the agency, the bomb's explosive effect makes it highly destructive and it can be dropped from an F-16 fighter jet. The official noted that "the R&D center redesigned the explosive and filling components," adding that certification and testing processes have been completed and the bomb is ready for operational use.
Alongside the GAZAP, Turkey also revealed the NEB-2 Ghost, a 970-kilogram (2,000-pound) bunker-busting bomb. A defense industry source told Anadolu that the NEB-2 is "the best bunker-buster bomb in the field," capable of penetrating seven meters (23 feet) of reinforced concrete, exceeding the capabilities of standard American bunker-busting bombs.
The bomb can also be deployed from F-16 jets, which are actively used by the Turkish Air Force. As part of aircraft testing, the NEB-2 was dropped on an island, penetrating 90 meters (295 feet) underground and triggering landslides, gas leaks, and the destruction of rock formations across a 160-meter (525-foot) radius, the official added.
Bunker-buster bombs offer a significant advantage for the Turkish Air Force in a region where many actors rely on underground fortifications for shelter, weapon storage, and command continuity.
