What is the US 60-metre penetrating bunker buster bomb?

Bunker Buster Bomb: US President Donald Trump stated that the war involving Israel has escalated sharply since the US military launched strikes on three key locations in Iran. American aircraft hit Fordo, a vital uranium enrichment facility that had, until now, evaded Israeli bombardment. Trump emphasized that Fordo received “a full payload of bombs,” according to his post on Truth Social.

Iran has reportedly been enriching uranium for weapons use and storing it at Fordo, buried 300 feet beneath a mountain. In addition to Fordo, US forces also struck Esfahan and Natanz, both of which the Israeli Air Force had previously targeted.

B-2 Spirit Bomber:

The American-made bomb, so heavy that only a US B-2 Spirit bomber can carry it, gave Israel its best chance to destroy the Fordo complex. While the extent of damage at Fordo remains unclear, the latest bombing seems to have struck the target. The US used the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) to hit Fordo. Designed to destroy heavily fortified installations, the MOP targets deeply buried facilities, hardened bunkers, and tunnels. Only the US possesses bombs capable of reaching depths like Fordo’s; neither Israel nor any other country has such a weapon.

Also Read: Iran-Israel Tensions Spike as US Steps Into the Conflict

The GBU-57 MOP: Bunker Buster Bomb

According to the US Air Force, the MOP weighs over 13,000 lb. It measures about 20.5 feet in length and 31.5 inches in diameter. The bomb is designed to explode after penetrating up to 60 meters of ground. An Air Force data sheet states that the warhead is protected by a unique high-performance steel alloy. This allows it to carry a sizable explosive payload while maintaining the integrity of the penetrator case during impact. The Fordo site lies approximately 90 meters underground. The extent of the bombing’s damage to Fordo remains unknown. CBS, citing the US Air Force, reported that Boeing developed the GBU-57. As of 2015, Boeing held a contract to manufacture 20 of these bombs.

Also Read: Is World War 3 Happening? Tensions Shaping Today’s Global Crisis