In a bold and highly coordinated airstrike, the US reportedly used its ultra-secretive B-2 Spirit stealth bombers to target Iran’s underground Fordow nuclear enrichment facility—one of Tehran’s most protected and closely watched sites. The move came just days after US jets were spotted over Iranian skies and President Donald Trump declared “Fordow is gone.”
What Is the B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber?
Think of the B-2 Spirit as the Batman of bombers—sleek, silent, and terrifyingly effective. Built during the Cold War by Northrop (now Northrop Grumman), the B-2 is shaped like a bat and is almost invisible to radar. On screens, it looks like a bird, not a bomber. But don’t let its size fool you—it’s a deadly piece of flying tech.
Each one costs around $2.1 billion, and only 21 of them exist. They’re flown by a two-person crew and can sneak deep into enemy territory, drop precision weapons, and vanish without ever being seen. That stealth is exactly what made it perfect for this mission.
Why Was Fordow the Target?
Fordow isn’t just any facility—it’s Iran’s heavily fortified nuclear site, dug 80 meters (260 feet) into the side of a mountain near the city of Qom. It’s considered the crown jewel of Iran’s nuclear program. Getting to it is no joke.
It’s shielded by layers of rock, soil, and surface-to-air missile systems, some of which are believed to have been knocked out in earlier Israeli strikes. So if you’re trying to neutralize Fordow, you need something that hits hard and deep—enter the GBU-57 A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP).
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What’s a Bunker Buster Bomb?
A “bunker buster” does exactly what it sounds like—it busts bunkers. These are massive bombs designed to penetrate deep underground before exploding, reaching targets that are far below the surface.
The MOP weighs a whopping 30,000 pounds (13,600 kg) and can burrow through up to 200 feet of reinforced material. It’s so heavy that a B-2 can carry only one or two per mission. In this strike, the US reportedly dropped up to six MOPs to drill through Fordow’s mountain cover.
Why Use the B-2 for This?
Technically, other bombers could drop a MOP, but only the B-2 has the software, stealth, and precision needed to pull it off cleanly. According to the US Air Force, the B-2 is the only aircraft in the world currently configured to deliver the GBU-57 A/B.
And it’s not just about power—the B-2 can fly 7,000 miles without refueling, and up to 11,500 miles with just one aerial refuel. It can hit any spot on the planet within hours. It’s also nuclear-capable, meaning it plays a key role in America’s nuclear triad.
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What Happens Now?
It’s still unclear how much damage the strike caused at Fordow, but this bold move sends a clear message—not just to Iran, but to the rest of the world. Trump has remained vague about whether the US will fully join the escalating Middle East conflict, saying only that “nobody knows what [he’s] going to do.”
Meanwhile, with Israel pushing hard to wipe out Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure, tensions in the region are at a boiling point. Iran’s nuclear deal talks, which once seemed promising, are now completely off the table.
Final Thoughts
The B-2 Spirit isn’t just a bomber—it’s a statement. When it takes off, it’s not just carrying weapons; it’s carrying intent. The strike on Fordow shows just how far the US is willing to go when it comes to eliminating what it sees as global threats
(With inputs from agencis)
