Türkiye unveils HAYALET-2 bunker-buster that outperforms US analogues Photo / Video

Türkiye has unveiled a new bunker-busting bomb, the HAYALET-2, which it says significantly outperforms global counterparts in penetration capability and compact efficiency.

The announcement, shared by Defence Turk on the X page, marks a major addition to the country’s growing arsenal of advanced precision munitions, Caliber.Az reports.

🛡️🇹🇷MSB ARGE Merkezi'nden HAYALET-2 Nüfuz Edici Bomba (NEB)

📎@MKEgovtr pic.twitter.com/3mhl9kyGCw

— Defence Turk (@Defence_Turk) July 23, 2025

The HAYALET-2, now entering serial production, has passed all trials successfully, according to Turkish defence officials. Designed to strike heavily fortified underground targets, the bomb is reported to deliver devastating impact despite being considerably lighter than existing alternatives.

At just one tonne, HAYALET-2 is six times lighter than some U.S. munitions used on B-52 bombers, yet boasts superior penetration capability—up to 7 metres—compared to the 1.8–2.4 metres achieved by similar American bombs.

During field trials, HAYALET-2 was air-dropped onto an island within Türkiye’s territory. Observers noted that blast fragments reached as far as the surrounding sea, and a surface-level air burst was recorded, suggesting high-impact kinetic force.

The bomb is a development of Türkiye’s earlier NEB (penetrating bomb) programme, engineered to neutralise underground storage facilities, mountain hideouts, and reinforced enemy infrastructure.

Its design enables deployment from multiple platforms, including the F-16 fighter jet, with potential adaptation kits allowing integration with other aircraft types.

Officials described the bomb as “a compact but potent option” for future battlefield scenarios, especially in environments with hardened or subterranean enemy positions.

By Aghakazim Guliyev