On Sunday, the United States launched airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, targeting sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. President Donald Trump hailed the operation as a “spectacular military success.” The attacks were carried out using the US Air Force’s B-2 Spirit stealth bombers—among the most advanced and expensive strategic aircraft in the world.
B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber
The B-2 Spirit is a highly sophisticated long-range bomber developed by Northrop Grumman. Designed to penetrate advanced air defenses, it is capable of delivering precision strikes on fortified targets, including deeply buried nuclear installations like those in Iran.
Each B-2 bomber costs approximately $2.1 billion, making it the most expensive military aircraft ever built. Initially developed during the Cold War, only 21 units were produced after the program was scaled back post-USSR collapse.
The B-2 has a range of over 6,000 nautical miles (11,112 km) without refueling and can strike virtually any global target with aerial refueling support. Past missions have included strikes in Afghanistan, Libya, and now Iran—direct from US bases.
With a payload capacity exceeding 40,000 pounds (18,144 kg), the B-2 can carry both nuclear and conventional weapons. It features internal weapons bays that maintain its stealth profile while carrying large munitions, including the GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), a 30,000-pound “bunker buster” bomb.
Reports indicate that six MOPs were used to strike the underground Fordow nuclear site.
Operated by a two-person crew, the B-2 integrates advanced automation for enhanced efficiency. Its stealth capabilities rely on radar-absorbing materials and a unique angular design, giving it a radar signature comparable to that of a small bird, making it nearly undetectable to enemy air defense systems.
GBU-57/B – Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP)
The GBU-57/B is the largest non-nuclear bomb in the US arsenal. Weighing 30,000 pounds, it was designed specifically to destroy deeply fortified underground bunkers. Measuring 20.5 feet (6.25 meters) long, the MOP uses a GPS-guided system to strike with exceptional accuracy.
Its ability to penetrate more than 200 feet of reinforced concrete makes it ideal for disabling high-security nuclear facilities.
Conventional Weapons Options
The B-2 is also equipped to deploy a variety of conventional precision-guided weapons:
- Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM): GPS-guided bombs capable of targeting multiple sites simultaneously with high precision.
- Joint Standoff Weapons (JSOW): Glide bombs that allow the B-2 to strike from outside heavily defended airspace.
- Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM): Stealthy long-range cruise missiles, including the extended-range JASSM-ER, which can hit targets more than 500 miles (805 km) away.
Nuclear Capability
As a central pillar of the US nuclear triad, the B-2 is also capable of delivering strategic nuclear weapons. It can carry up to 16 B83 nuclear bombs, combining stealth with nuclear strike capabilities.
