A general-purpose bomb is an air-dropped bomb intended as a compromise between blast damage, penetration, and fragmentation in explosive effect. They are designed to be effective against enemy troops, vehicles, and buildings.
American AN-M64 500 lb General Purpose Bomb as seen in Boeing B-29 Superfortress weapons bay.
A 4000 lb GP bomb, 1943
A Mk 82 GP bomb loaded on an F/A-18 Hornet, showing nose fuze and textured thermal insulation
Guidance accessories for a 500 lb body and a Laser-Guided Training Round, bottom
An aerial bomb is a type of explosive or incendiary weapon intended to travel through the air on a predictable trajectory. Engineers usually develop such bombs to be dropped from an aircraft.
GBU-31 JDAM aerial bombs in the hangar bay of the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71)
German aerial bombs from World War II. From left to right: explosive, 250 kg concrete practice bomb, 50 kg concrete practice bomb.
An F-100 Super Sabre being loaded with M117 bombs during the Vietnam War
Royal Air Force "Grand Slam" earthquake bomb