200kg Anti-Runway Bomb

The PLAAF developed its 200-4 anti-runway bomb based on the Durandal developed by the French company MATRA. The Durandal bomb is still in service today with a number of Western countries including the United States. The bomb was designed solely for the purpose of destroying runways. Once the parachute-retarded low-level drop bomb attains a nose-down attitude (50~70m), it fires a rocket booster that penetrates the runway surface, and a delayed explosion buckles a portion of the runway. The bomb can penetrate up to 40cm of concrete, creating a 200 square metres crater causing damage more difficult to repair than the crater of a general-purpose bomb.

Last update: 5 November 2006