US strikes Iran: What to know about the massive 'bunker buster' bombs used
- President Trump announced the U.S. bombed three Iranian nuclear sites, marking official U.S. entry into the war.
- The bombing targeted Fordo, a key underground nuclear facility, and two other sites.
- The "bunker buster" is designed to penetrate deeply buried targets.
On June 21, President Donald Trump announced American warplanes dropped bombs on three nuclear sites in Iran, more than a week after Israel’s initial attack.
Trump disclosed the bombing on social media shortly before 8 p.m. ET, saying that a "full payload" of bombs had been dropped on Fordo, the underground facility considered critical to the country's nuclear program, and two other sites, and that "all planes are now outside of Iran air space" and on their way home. GBU-57 bombs, known as 'bunker buster' bombs, were dropped on Fordo during the strikes, Gen. Dan Caine confirmed in a Pentagon press briefing Sunday morning.
Trump and his administration have been considering U.S. involvement following Israel's attack in Iran on June 12, with specific interest from Israeli officials in the American-made 'bunker buster' bomb, which can penetrate deep, fortified targets like Iran’s Fordo nuclear facility, buried about 300 feet underground. Only U.S.-made B-2 warplanes can carry these bombs. Caine said Saturday night's mission, dubbed 'Operation Midnight Hammer,' employed seven of the aircraft and dropped 14 total Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), or 'bunker-buster' bombs.
Here's what to know about this “bunker buster” bomb, the GBU-57.
What is the Massive Ordnance Penetrator?
The Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) is a weapon system designed to destroy weapons of mass destruction located in well-protected facilities, according to the U.S. Air Force. It can only be delivered by the U.S. B-2 Spirit stealth bomber.
How deep can a 'bunker buster' bomb go?
The Guided Bomb Unit (GBU) 57, also called the "bunker buster," is a large, GPS-guided, penetrating weapon designed to attack deeply buried targets such as bunkers and tunnels, according to the Department of Defense's office for weapons tests and evaluations. It weighs 30,000 pounds, and while previous reports suggest it can penetrate 200 feet into the ground, there have been a number of updates to the bomb over the past several years, including a $21 million update contract in 2019, that could have increased its reach and other capabilities.
Contributing: Cybele Mayes-Osterman and Tom Vanden Brook, Paste BN; Reuters.
Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for Paste BN. You can reach her at kapalmer@usatoday.com and on X @KathrynPlmr.