As Iran remains undeterred by President Donald Trump’s calls for surrender in its conflict with Israel, the president is considering using a “bunker-buster” bomb to take out a critical Iranian nuclear facility.
Fordow, a key nuclear enrichment site in Iran, was found to have 60% enriched uranium last month, according to the Washington Post. Once uranium reaches 90% enrichment, it can be used to fuel a nuclear weapon.
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While Israel has already damaged Natanz, one of Iran’s nuclear facilities, Fordow remains untouched. Left unchecked, there is concern that the Iranians could use this facility to build a nuclear weapon quickly, prompting Trump to consider hitting the facility with a “bunker-buster” bomb as a proactive measure to cripple Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
Here is everything you need to know about the United States’s “bunker-buster” bomb.
What is the ‘bunker-buster’ bomb?
The GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, also known as the “bunker-buster” bomb, is a GPS-guided bomb measuring 20 feet long and weighing 30,000 pounds, according to the Aviationist.
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The bomb is transported using B-2 Spirit planes. According to Air Force Global Strike Command, their stealth and ability to carry significant weight make them the only planes capable of successfully delivering the GBU-57. Typically, each plane can carry two bombs at a time.
Why would the weapon be used?
Trump has received repeated requests from Israel to come alongside its forces to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities, namely its Fordow nuclear enrichment site, Axios reported.
The Fordow facility is buried deep underground in the city of Qom. It is believed to be roughly 262 to 360 feet below the surface, according to the Center for Strategic & International Studies. While Israel does not possess the weapons necessary to penetrate that deep, the U.S. does.
The “bunker-buster” bomb is described as having the ability to breach 200 feet before detonating, according to the Aviationist. If the bomb is successful and destroys the Fordow nuclear enrichment site, it will cripple Iran’s nuclear capabilities for the foreseeable future.
Is it guaranteed to get the job done?
It is unclear whether the weapon would successfully destroy Iran’s key nuclear facilities.
“So even with bunker-busters, when you’re talking about sites like Fordow that are half a mile under mountains, there’s no certainty that the U.S. can actually completely destroy the stuff,” Rosemary Kelanic, the director of the Middle East program at Defense Priorities, told the Washington Examiner.
“And so, where does that lead you?” she continued. “Well, if the U.S. bombs them, and we’re not certain whether or not it will actually destroy its sites, or we’re not certain that we’ve gotten all the stockpiles. … If we leave it only partly disabled, that gives Iran every incentive to run for a bomb.”
What would using it mean for US involvement in the Iran-Israel conflict?
An Iranian official said Wednesday that any U.S. military intervention on behalf of Israel, including bombing Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility, would risk “all-out war,” CBS News reported.
One way the Iranians could retaliate against the U.S. for getting involved is by attacking military bases in the region. An Iranian missile has already damaged the U.S. Embassy in Israel, though no military bases have been hit and no U.S. lives have been lost.
Trump has reportedly approved attack plans on Iran but, as of Wednesday night, had not made a call on whether to proceed. U.S. support may be necessary to take out Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and Israel’s defense minister has since hinted at an intention to kill what he deemed the “modern Hitler.”
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Trump vetoed an Israeli plan to kill Khamenei but has since taunted the supreme leader, suggesting the U.S. could assassinate him in the future.
“We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding,” Trump said of Khamenei in a Tuesday post on Truth Social. “He is an easy target, but is safe there — We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now. But we don’t want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”