Deep Bunker Showdown: The GBU-57 - Iran's Fortress Buster
- Fresh take by Gernot Kramper
- Approx read time: 4 minutes
Large Explosive Device: The Amorphous Projectile, Designed to Penetrate and destroy deep underground bunkers, particularly in Iran. - Potent Weapon GBU-57: Designed to Penetrate and Destroy Iran's Deepest Underground Bunkers
Israel's dominance over the skies of Iran is undeniable. The remnants of air defense are hardly a nuisance to the Israeli air force. But, the air supremacy isn't the whole story.
The Israeli air force might hold the upper hand, but critical objectives remain unscathed. Iran's uranium enrichment facilities and the mammoth stockpiles of drones and missiles are largely intact, tucked away in subterranean sanctuaries like Natanz and Fordo.
Fordo, nestled up to 90 meters beneath earth, boasts multiple layers of concrete and labyrinthine tunnels, providing a degree of resistance to enemy attacks. Israel can demolish the surface structures and block access points, but the core remains out of reach for conventional bombs. This leaves the facilities temporarily inoperable but rearmed and repaired in the event of a truce.
Impenetrable Barrier for Most Weapons
The earth and rock above the deep bunkers render conventional bombs, long-range missiles, and rockets powerless. Most rockets carry about 500 kg of warheads, barely causing a ripple in underground facilities. Harder, more specialized bunker busters like the German Taurus and Israel's SPICE-2000 don't measure up to the task. Even Russia faces similar challenges in neutralizing fortified Cold War factory plants in Ukraine.
Bunker-Busting Techniques
Three general methods exist for tackling deep bunkers. First, causing a massive surface explosion that primarily affects structures beneath, striking them like a giant hammer blow and devastating any structures below. Examples of such bombs include the USA's "Mother of All Bombs" (MOAB) and Russia's "Father of All Bombs." These bombs employ thermobaric technology, inducing pressure waves that only effectively damage surface targets. They, however, have limited effectiveness on deep bunkers.
Second, bombs that penetrate the ground, explode, and create a kind of earth tremor. The US-made GBU-28 "Deep Throat" can penetrate around 6 meters of concrete and cause local seismic activity. Again, though, their efficacy on exceptionally deep bunkers is questionable.
Enter the GBU-57: The Game Changer
The GBU-57, a beacon of hope for many Israelis, employs a third method, akin to a classic armor-piercing projectile. Officially known as the GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) or Heavy Bomb Penetrator, the GBU-57 rockets through the surface at high speed, penetrating up to 60 meters of earth or 8 meters of reinforced concrete. Once inside a deep bunker, it detonates, wreaking havoc with its 2.4-ton explosive payload. Developed in 2011 and upgraded in 2016 for facilities like Fordo, the GBU-57 costs approximately $3.5 million, and the USA possesses roughly 20.
The GBU-57 primarily uses kinetic energy for penetration, a strength that also becomes a weakness as its mass makes it impossible for combat aircraft to carry. Only strategic bombers like the USA's B-2 Spirit can deploy the GBU-57. Israel doesn't have equivalent heavy bombers, necessitating direct US involvement in any potential conflict. The GBU-57 is a self-guiding bomb, but precise placement is vital to maximize impact.
The GBU-57: Pushing the Limits
The limitations of the GBU-57 stem from its design. It can't penetrate chambers beneath mountains, and its destructive power is finite. A single hit would eradicate a chamber or cavern, but sprawling facilities with separated areas via shafts and bulkheads would remain untouched. The principle of operation is known, and it's reasonable to assume that the Iranian facilities were designed to mitigate the effects of such a penetrator or delay its destructive force. Completely neutralizing the Iranian arsenal would necessitate numerous attacks and deplete the already scant number of GBU-57 bombs. However, strategically targeting symbolically significant facilities like Natanz or Fordo might make the GBU-57 an attractive option.
On September 27, 2024, the Israelis demonstrated an alternative approach to the GBU-57, though not using the heavy bomb itself. In Beirut, they destroyed a command center buried beneath residential buildings in the Haret Hreik neighborhood. The assault began with the destruction of the above-ground structures followed by further explosions that dispersed debris, filling a gaping hole in the ground. Over 80 bunker-busting bombs, presumably BLU-109 or SPICE-2000 with 900-kg warheads, were deployed. Such attacks are complex but could be possible in Iran, provided the USA maintains a distance from direct combat and shuns the use of the GBU-57.
- Iran
- Israel
Additional Details:
- Hardened underground bunkers require specialized weapons like the GBU-57 for neutralization.
- The GBU-57 can penetrate up to 200 feet of reinforced material, destabilizing or demolishing deep underground targets.
- Its devastating explosive payload and self-guiding capability make it a potent weapon against strategic targets like Iran's uranium enrichment facilities.
- The GBU-57 shows promise foraspiring powers seeking to counterhardened underground threats, but its limited availability and deployment challenges remain concerns.
The specialized weapon, the GBU-57, is crucial for neutralizing hardened underground bunkers like Iran's uranium enrichment facilities, as demonstrated by its ability to penetrate up to 200 feet of reinforced material. ThisAttribute makes it a potent weapon against strategic targets, particularly for Israel in its potential conflicts with Iran. However, its limited availability and complex deployment challenges remain significant concerns for both Israel and aspiring powers tackling hardened underground threats.
