U.S. heavy-duty strike on Iran’s nuclear sites

• US President Donald Trump announced precision strikes on three key Iranian nuclear facilities: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.

• The strikes were a “spectacular” military success, obliterating Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities.

• B-2 Spirit stealth bombers dropped GBU-57 bunker busters to penetrate the Fordow facility, which was beyond Israel’s capability.

• The strikes were carried out under ‘Operation Midnight Hammer’ by the U.S. Central Command.

• The initial mission included deception tactics and the deployment of 14 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs.

• A U.S. submarine launched over two dozen Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles at the Isfahan site, bringing the total of precision-guided weapons employed to approximately 75.

• Initial battle damage assessments indicate all three sites sustained severe damage and destruction.

Understanding the B-2 Stealth Bomber

Understanding the B-2 Stealth Bomber

• The B-2 is the only fully stealth aircraft in the U.S. Air Force’s bomber fleet.

• The B-2 is a dual-capable multi-role heavy bomber, powered by four engines.

• Its low observability is due to reduced infrared, acoustic, electromagnetic, visual, and radar signals.

• The B-2 made its first flight in 1989 and began operations in 1997.

• The B-2s are extremely maintenance intensive, requiring 100 hours of maintenance for every hour of flight.

The Need for ‘Bunker-Busters’

• The nuclear fuel enrichment site at Fordow in Iran was a significant target for the B-2s.

• The GBU-57 MOP and B-2 Spirit were needed to reach and destroy the weapons of mass destruction located in well-protected facilities.

• The B-2 Spirit is the only aircraft in the USAF capable of employing the 20.5ft, 30,000 lb MOP guided by GPS to reach and destroy targets.

The Next Generation Bomber

• The B-21 Raider, a dual-capable penetrating-strike stealth bomber, is currently under development.

• The B-21 is designed with an open systems architecture for faster new software integration.

• The USAF is looking at acquiring a minimum of 100 aircraft at an average unit procurement cost of $550 million.