The Most Powerful Non-atomic Weapons That the U.S. Has

Oppenheimer (2023) focused on the creation of the technology and the regulation of atomic bombs: the most destructive weapons known to human creatures. But what are the most destructive weapons that are non-atomic?

We will use the U.S. - the mother of all militaries - as a case study.

Oppenheimer looking upon his device | Screenshot from Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer (2023)

Exploring the most powerful non-atomic weapons in the U.S. arsenal especially in regards to their explosive yield provides a deeper understanding of the strategic purpose and technological sophistication behind each system. These weapons are developed to ensure the United States maintains a decisive advantage in various conflict scenarios, leveraging explosive power to achieve tactical and strategic objectives without resorting to nuclear force.

The M57A1 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missile is fired over the cab of an M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System launcher | Image from U.S. Army via Defense Visual Information Distribution Service

MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS)

• Yield: Approximately 0.25 tons of TNT

• The ATACMS missile serves as a key long-range precision strike capability for the U.S. Army, capable of hitting targets up to 300 miles away. Its modular warhead options allow commanders to tailor the explosive yield for specific missions, making it an adaptable tool for shaping the battlefield and striking strategic assets deep behind enemy lines.

3D rendering of an AGM-158 JASSM | Image by AkelaFreedom via Deviant Art

AGM-158 JASSM (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile)

• Yield: Approximately 0.5 tons of TNT

• Engineered for stealth and precision, the AGM-158 JASSM allows aircraft to engage fortified, high-value targets from outside enemy air defenses. Its 1,000-pound warhead delivers a potent combination of blast and fragmentation effects, ideal for neutralizing enemy command and control centers, air defenses, and critical infrastructure.

General Dynamic's (now Raytheon's) Tomahawk cruise missile on display | Image by U.S. Navy via Naval-Technology.com

Tomahawk Cruise Missile

• Yield: Approximately 0.5 tons of TNT

• A cornerstone of U.S. naval power projection, the Tomahawk cruise missile offers unmatched flexibility and reach, capable of launching from surface ships and submarines to deliver precision strikes at long distances. Its programmable flight paths and GPS guidance ensure the warhead reaches its target with high accuracy, making it an essential asset in the initial stages of conflict to degrade enemy capabilities.

Guided Bomb Unit-28 (GBU-28) rendering | Image by U.S. Air Force

GBU-28 Bunker Buster

• Yield: Specifically designed for deep penetration, the GBU-28's explosive payload is optimized not just for the initial impact but for the subsequent detonation within enemy fortifications. This ability to breach and destroy buried targets underscores the U.S. focus on neutralizing threats that are inaccessible to standard munitions, ensuring that no adversary can hide from justice.

Sailors on the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Columbia (SSN 771) load a Mark 48 advanced capability torpedo for Exercise Agile Dagger 2021. | Image by Michael B. Zingaro / U.S. NAVY via Seapower Magazine

Mk 48 ADCAP Torpedo

• Yield: Though classified, the Mk 48 ADCAP torpedo is one of the most feared weapons in underwater warfare. Its advanced guidance system, combined with a powerful high-explosive warhead, allows it to hunt and destroy enemy submarines and surface ships with devastating efficiency, securing U.S. dominance beneath the waves.

A rendering of GBU-57A/B | Image via NewAtlas.com

MOP GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator

• Yield: Approximately 5.3 tons of TNT

• The MOP represents the pinnacle of penetration technology, capable of delivering its massive payload through concrete and soil to reach underground facilities thought to be beyond the reach of conventional attacks. This capability is critical in the modern era, where adversaries increasingly rely on subterranean complexes to shield their military assets from aerial bombardment.

Containing 11 tons of explosives, the Massive Ordinance Air Blast (MOAB) is the U.S. military’s largest non-nuclear weapon and first saw combat use in 2017 | Image by Eglin Air Force Base via AP / CartridgeCollecetor.org

GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB)

• Yield: Approximately 11 tons of TNT

• The MOAB's sheer destructive power is unmatched in the conventional arsenal, designed to obliterate entire grid squares with a single blast. Beyond its physical impact, the MOAB (also dubbed, "the Mother of All Bombs") serves a strategic psychological role, demonstrating the overwhelming force the U.S. is capable of deploying against its adversaries, thereby deterring aggression and promoting stability through strength.

Image by wragg via Getty Images

Conclusion

The development and deployment of these high-yield conventional weapons underscore the United States' commitment to maintaining a versatile and powerful military capability. By prioritizing precision, adaptability, and raw destructive power, these systems play a crucial role in deterring conflict, supporting allies, and, when necessary, decisively defeating adversaries. The strategic value of these munitions extends beyond their individual capabilities, contributing to a broader posture of strength that supports the U.S. objectives of global security and stability.

May we all live free and in peace with each other!