What Are B‑2 Stealth Bombers and Why the US Used Them to Target Iran’s Nuclear Sites | Explained

What Are B‑2 Stealth Bombers: U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday confirmed that American forces carried out coordinated strikes on three nuclear sites in Iran, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict. The move places the U.S. directly alongside Israel in efforts to dismantle Tehran’s nuclear capabilities, even as Iran threatens retaliation that could potentially widen tensions across the region.

A US official later confirmed bunker-buster bombs were dropped on the Fordow and Natanz sites, The New York Times has reported.

Shortly after the strike, Mr Trump has threatened further attacks against Iran if the nation does not surrender, adding, "Remember, there are many targets left".

So, what is a B-2 stealth bomber, and the bunker-buster weapon it used to attack the Iranian facilities?

The US B-2 costs about $2.1 billion each, making it the most expensive military aircraft ever built. Made by Northrop Grumman, the bomber, with its cutting-edge stealth technology, began its production run in the late 1980s but was curbed by the fall of the Soviet Union. Only 21 were made after the Pentagon's planned acquisition program was truncated.

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The bomber's range of over 6,000 nautical miles (11,112 km) without refueling enables global strike capabilities from continental US bases. With aerial refueling, the B-2 can reach virtually any target worldwide, as demonstrated in missions from Missouri to Afghanistan and Libya and now Iran.

Its payload capacity of more than 40,000 pounds (18,144 kg) allows the aircraft to carry a diverse array of conventional and nuclear weapons. The bomber's internal weapons bays are specifically designed to maintain stealth characteristics while accommodating large ordnance loads, which could include two GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOP), a 30,000-pound precision-guided "bunker buster" bomb.

"While each B-2 can carry two GBU-57/Bs, such an attack would require redundancy since the weapons would have to function and be delivered perfectly to get down into the facility, and explode at the right depth to cause critical damage," Justin Bronk, an air power specialist at the Royal United Services Institute, told.

The GBU-57 is the most powerful bunker buster in the US arsenal. It is about 20 feet in length and has a diameter of 2.6 feet. This sophisticated weapon was developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory's Munitions Directorate, and Boeing conducted its design and testing. Twelve such bombs are reported to have been used as the US struck Iran today.

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According to reports, US submarines launched 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles during their strikes on Iranian facilities today. A long-range cruise missile used for deep land attacks, the Tomahawk can be fired from US ships and submarines. What makes these missiles lethal is the option to change targets in-flight through satellite communications. According to the US Navy, these missiles can loiter over a target area to respond to emerging targets and also provide battle damage information. This provides the military control room the flexibility to attack long-range fixed targets or support Special Operations Forces. The first operational use of Tomahawk missiles was in Operation Desert Storm in 1991. They were also used in Operation Odyssey Dawn in Libya and Operation Inherent Resolve in Syria. The US reportedly used submarines from its Virginia and Los Angeles line-up to launch the Tomahawk missiles at its targets in Iran.

Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) provide the B-2 with precision conventional strike capability against fixed targets. These GPS-guided weapons can be deployed in large numbers, with the bomber capable of simultaneously engaging multiple targets with high accuracy.

Joint Standoff Weapons (JSOW) extend the aircraft's engagement range while maintaining stealth characteristics during approach. These glide bombs allow the B-2 to strike targets from outside heavily defended airspace perimeters.

Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM) offer long-range precision strike capability with their own stealth features. The extended-range JASSM-ER variant provides strike options against targets over 500 miles (805 km) away.

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