CENTCOM has launched pictures of F-16s loaded with cluster bombs for operations in Iran, every week after BLU-91/B ‘Gator’ anti-tank mines have been discovered on the bottom.
The U.S. Central Command has launched on Apr. 4, 2026, new pictures of U.S. Air Power F-16CM Preventing Falcon fighter jets (particularly Block 40s from Aviano, Italy) being refueled within the air throughout Operation Epic Fury. Notably, the fighters will be seen every armed with 4 cluster bombs, two below every wing put in on a triple ejector rack.
GATOR Mines
Only a week in the past, pictures emerged on-line exhibiting anti-tank mines scattered within the southern Iranian countryside, with some ending in a village. These have been later recognized as air-scattered BLU-91/B anti-tank mines, recognizable by their rectangular aeroballistic shell.
Extra proof of USAF F-16s deploying Tactical Munition Dispenser items, possible loaded with BLU-91/B scatterable anti-tank mines, over Iran. 👇 pic.twitter.com/hSo23zXdVW
— Air Energy (@RealAirPower1) April 4, 2026
The mine, which weighs simply shy of two kg (4.4 lb) and is 12.7 cm (5 inches) in diameter, makes use of a magnetic sensor to detect targets. A formed cost is then triggered, with the potential of penetrating 70 mm (2.75 inch) armor.
Bellingcat recognized the mines discovered in a single day in Kafari, Iran as US BLU-91/B anti-tank mines from the Gator Scatterable Mine System. At the very least two individuals have been reportedly killed.
These mines have been deployed over a village close to a Iranian missile base. pic.twitter.com/Ymzb9iu9Bp
— Trevor Ball (@Easybakeovensz) March 26, 2026
The BLU-91 is a part of the GATOR household of mines which additionally consists of the BLU-92/B anti-personnel mine, though the latter was not reported in Iran. These mines are deployed by the CBU-89/B 450-kg (1,000 lb) cluster munition and its guided variant CBU-104, obtained with the addition of a Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser (WCMD) steerage equipment.
BLU-91/B anti-tank mines from the U.S. GATOR aerial mining system have been found within the village of Kafri, two kilometers from a missile base in southern Shiraz.
The system makes use of CBU‑78/B or CBU‑89/B cluster bombs, which deploy each BLU‑91/B anti-tank mines and BLU‑92/B… pic.twitter.com/uYEjT3tMHw
— OSINTWarfare (@OSINTWarfare) March 26, 2026
Each weapons are reported to include 72 BLU-91 antitank and 22 BLU-91 antipersonnel mines, though it may be potential the latter have been eliminated to scale back collateral harm to civilians. Whereas the 2 variants of the cluster bomb are extremely comparable, it’s potential to determine the one carried by the F-16s within the pictures launched by CENTCOM because the CBU-89.
Being an unguided free-fall weapon, the CBU-89 will be put in on a normal BRU-42/A Improved Triple Ejector Rack (ITER). Then again, the guided CBU-104 requires the BRU-57/A Good Rack, which is often seen used with GBU-38 JDAM bombs and GBU-52 Laser JDAM bombs.
The U.S. isn’t among the many nations who signed the Conference on Cluster Munitions in 2008, which prohibits all use, switch, manufacturing, and stockpiling of cluster munitions. Nonetheless, a 2008 U.S. coverage was as an alternative introduced to dam the usage of cluster munitions that lead to greater than 1 p.c unexploded ordnance (UXO) from 2019, however in 2017 its implementation was indefinitely delayed.
Use in Iran
In accordance with an investigation by Bellingcat, a few of the BLU-91 anti-tank mines have been discovered within the neighborhood of Shiraz South Missile Base, within the south of the nation. The bottom was already focused by the U.S. navy, ensuing within the destruction of a number of missile launcher.
For greater than a month, U.S. and Israeli forces have continued to strike Iranian missile capabilities, nevertheless assaults with ballistic missiles nonetheless proceed to focus on neighboring nations. In accordance with CNN, U.S. intelligence decided that “roughly half of Iran’s missile launchers are nonetheless intact and 1000’s of one-way assault drones stay in Iran’s arsenal.”
Earlier this week, CENTCOM acknowledged that U.S. forces struck greater than 12,300 targets inside Iran. Moreover, Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth stated that “ballistic missile assaults towards our forces, down 90 p.c for the reason that begin of the battle, similar with a technique assault UAVs, suppose kamikaze drones, down 90 p.c.”
CENTCOM’s movies have proven many cellular launchers being destroyed, typically hidden in tunnels and delivered to mild shortly earlier than firing. Iran has an intensive community of underground amenities and tunnels, which makes tough to targets these high-value launchers.
For the reason that launchers may solely be within the open for a short while, this makes them a time-sensitive targets, and the extension of Iran doesn’t make straightforward to have persistent surveillance on your entire territory.
The usage of CBU-89s or CBU-104s to scatter GATOR mines may thus be an effort to make tough for the Iranian navy to maneuver cellular missile launchers, in addition to different heavy gear. In truth, with strikes additionally focusing on the doorway of underground amenities, the mines wouldn’t solely forestall the exit of cellular launchers, but in addition the arrival of heavy gear to restore the amenities.
