Matra Durandal
| Industry | Defense |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1960s |
| Fate | Part of MBDA |
| Headquarters | France |
| Products | Durandal anti-runway penetration bomb |
The Durandal is an anti-runway penetration bomb engineered by the French firm Matra (currently part of MBDA), intended to incapacitate airport runways and distributed to numerous nations. Unlike traditional bombs that produce simple craters which can be quickly repaired, the Durandal employs a dual-explosion mechanism that shifts concrete slabs on the runway, greatly increasing the difficulty of restoration. Its name is derived from the legendary medieval French sword Durendal.
Overview
The bomb is designed to be deployed at low altitudes, with its descent decelerated by a parachute. It can be released while flying at speeds up to and from altitudes as low as . Once it reaches an angle of 40°, a rocket booster ignites, driving it into the runway surface. The initial charge detonates after penetration, forcing the secondary charge further into the substrate, which then explodes following a delay of one second. More recent models feature programmable fuses that enable the secondary explosion to be delayed by several hours.
Capable of penetrating up to of concrete, the Durandal creates craters approximately deep and wide. It disrupts adjacent concrete slabs within a diameter of about , elevating them up to above ground level—this displacement significantly complicates runway repairs compared to damage caused by conventional bombs.
Service history
Despite widespread misconceptions, the Matra Durandal was not first employed by Israeli Mirage aircraft during the Six-Day War, which took place ten years before the Durandal entered production. Instead, an earlier French/Israeli prototype anti-runway weapon deployed in 1967 utilized rocket propulsion rather than the parachute braking system characteristic of the Durandal. Matra initiated development in 1971, culminating in the current Durandal design.
In the 1980s, the United States adopted a modified variant known as the BLU-107/B, which featured a steeper impact angle and could be deployed at speeds reaching 630 knots. This version was carried by F-111 and F-15E strike aircraft.
| U.S. Air Force procurement program for Durandal | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiscal Year | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | Total |
| Dollars in millions | 9.2 | 23.3 | 87.5 | 184.1 | 195.1 | 499.2 |
| Quantity | 350 | 840 | 3,000 | 6,000 | 6,000 | 16,190 |
Apart from the United States, Durandal remains in service with Argentina, Turkey, and at least fourteen additional countries; however, it has been retired from use by the French Armée de l'Air.
During Desert Storm, the US Air Force deployed Durandal munitions using F-111E aircraft from the 20th Fighter Wing based in Turkey. Flight commander Captain George Kelman commended its capability in effectively disabling runways.
In May 2014, reports surfaced indicating that China developed its Type 200A anti-runway bomb inspired by the Durandal after acquiring units from France during the 1980s.
Users
See also
- BAPI – Brazil's anti-runway munition
- DRDO SAAW – Precision-guided anti-airfield weapon developed in India
- JP233 – United Kingdom’s anti-runway ordnance
- BAP 100 – Compact French anti-runway munition deployed by the French Air Force