US GBU-43/B MOAB ‘Mother of All Bombs’ vs Iran’s Sejjil Missile: Which Weapon Has More Destructive Power? Check Range, Speed, Explosive Payload, Price, Weight, First Use and More

MOAN vs Sejjil Missile: The United States’ reported consideration of the GBU-=43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB), widely known as the “Mother of All Bombs,” has renewed attention to the military capabilities of Washington and Tehran. As questions continue over whether the massive US bomb could damage Iran’s deeply buried facilities, Iran’s Seiji ballistic missile offers a different kind of destructive capability: the ability to carry a warhead across long distances.

Although both weapons can cause serious damage, they are designed for very different missions. The MOAB is an air-dropped conventional bomb built to create a large blast against surface targets, while the Sejjil is a road-mobile, two-stage, solid-fuel ballistic missile with a reported range of around 2,000 kilometres.

Comparing their explosive payloads, range, delivery systems and intended targets helps explain why neither weapon can be described as simply more powerful in every respect.

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MOAN vs Sejjil Missile: Key Specifications

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US GBU-43/B MOAB

Iran’s Sejjil missile

Specifications are based on publicly available defence research. Payload figures vary by reported Sejjil version, and the missile’s total warhead payload should not be treated as equivalent to the MOAB’s explosive-fill weight. 

What is the US GBU-43/B MOAB?

The GBU-43/B MOAB is one of the largest conventional bombs in the US military’s arsenal. The weapon weighs approximately 9.85 tonnes and contains about 8.5 tonnes of explosive material. It uses GPS-aided guidance and is designed to create a powerful blast across a broad area. 

The US first used the MOAB in combat on April 13, 2017, when it struck an Islamic State tunnel complex in Afghanistan. Its large explosive charge makes it suited to certain surface targets and exposed or accessible structures, but its size does not automatically make it effective against deeply buried facilities protected by thick rock. 

What is Iran’s Sejjil Missile?

The Sejjil is an Iranian medium-range ballistic missile that uses two stages of solid-propellant fuel. Its road-mobile launch system allows it to be transported and launched from mobile platforms, while solid fuel reduces the need for lengthy fuelling preparations before launch compared with liquid-fuel systems. 

The US-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) lists the Sejjil’s range at approximately 2,000 kilometres and its commonly reported warhead payload at 700 kg. Some Sejjil-2 estimates describe payloads of up to 1,500 kg, with a shorter range of around 1,000 kilometres. These figures depend on the version and payload configuration, and independent confirmation of every specification remains limited.