US Airstrikes on Iran: Key Developments

In a significant escalation of tensions, President Donald Trump announced that the US military has conducted airstrikes on three Iranian sites, notably targeting their nuclear facilities.

Targeted Sites

• Fordo:
  • A critical uranium enrichment site, located 300 feet beneath a mountain.
  • Believed to be central to Iran’s nuclear program.
  • Previously unscathed in Israeli attacks.
• Natanz and Esfahan:
  • Previously struck by the Israeli Air Force.
  • Also targeted by the US in these recent operations.

Military Technology Utilized

• Bunker Buster: GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP):
  • Designed to reach and destroy deeply-buried facilities and hardened bunkers.
  • Measures about 20.5 feet in length, 31.5 inches in diameter, and weighs approximately 13,000 kg.
  • Capable of penetrating up to 60 meters of earth before detonation.
• B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber:
  • Capable of deploying two MOPs.
  • Features advanced stealth capabilities reducing infrared, acoustic, electromagnetic, and radar signatures.
  • Unrefueled range of approximately 9,600 kilometers; with mid-air refueling, over 19,000 km.
  • Built by Northrop Grumman with key contributions from Boeing and others.
  • Operational since 1997 with 19 units currently in service.

Strategic Implications

• US-Israel Strategic Cooperation:
  • Airstrikes may have been influenced by Israeli pressure on the US to deploy the MOP.
• Technological Superiority:
  • Only the US possesses non-nuclear capabilities to strike such fortified sites.

Operational History of the B-2

• Previous Missions:
  • Kosovo War: Responsible for 33% of Serbian target destruction.
  • Afghanistan War: Notable for long-range missions.
  • Operation Iraqi Freedom: Released over 1.5 million pounds of munitions.

The strategic use of the MOP and the B-2 underscores the US's military prowess and its significant role in international military operations.