The US Bunker-Buster Bomb is the only conventional weapon able to reach Iran’s deeply buried nuclear sites as hostilities in the Middle East climb. Should the US choose to assist Israel in attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities, this weapon might become a major tool of choice.
GBU-57: A Powerful Weapon Designed for Deep Targets
At thirty,000 pounds (13,607 kg), the GBU-57 Mass Ordinance Penetrator (MOP) Before detonating, it can pass through 200 feet (61 meters) of rock and concrete. Recent strikes by Israel have aimed at military hardware and Iranian officials. It does not, however, possess the sophisticated capacity required to demolish Iran’s highly fortified subterranean facilities.
Why the US Bunker-Buster Bomb Is a Key Factor
Israeli forces have lately targeted surface installations and Iranian military leadership. This begs issues regarding the degree of success these strikes have in so undermining Iran’s nuclear aspirations.
Director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracy (FDD), Behnam Ben Taleblu notes Israel has compromised command centers, manufacturing plants, and missile stockpiles. Still, Iran’s most important nuclear asset is unharmed.
About three hundred feet below Tehran, the Fordo Uranium enrichment plant is buried The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reports that it is still totally operational.
Fordo’s depth makes it inaccessible for Israel’s present weaponry unlike other sites like Natanz and Isfahan. The only practical conventional choice for hitting such a target is still the US Bunker-Buster Bomb.
Developed in the early 2000s, the GBU-57 was designed to neutralize deeply buried targets. Its thick steel casing allows it to smash through layers of rock and concrete. A delayed fuse triggers a powerful explosion deep underground.
This design ensures that the bomb penetrates without detonating too early. Masao Dahlgren, a missile defense expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), says this feature is essential to its success against fortified structures.
Deployment: Only the B-2 Stealth Bomber Can Deliver the Bomb
The GBU-57 is carried and used by just the B-2 Stealth Bomber. Its great operational range allows it to fly from the US to the Middle East.
B-2 installations on Diego Garcia are shown in recent satellite pictures. Still unknown, though, is their exact position. Multiple GBU-57 strikes would be required to completely neutralize Fordo, according former US Army Lieutenant General Mark Schwartz. Luckily, Israel’s control of regional airspace lowers US bomber risks.
Though it provides a military answer, the US Bunker-Buster Bomb carries major political hazards. United States direct intervention might intensify hostilities even more.
Taleblu claims that non-military actions like targeting entrances, cutting power, or collapsing tunnels could let Israel stop Iran’s nuclear advancement without fully deploying the GBU-57.
