Military-grade explosive: U.S.'s potent GBU-57 bunker-busting bomb

Potential Earth-shattering weapon: GBU-57 mass destruction bomb

Blasting Underground Fortresses: The Monster Bomb GBU-57

Ever wondered what weapon the US President would employ if they decided to intervene in the tussle between Israel and Iran? Look no further, pal. It's the GBU-57—the ultimate bunker-busting bomb. The only strategic weapon that can demolish Iran's subterranean nuclear facilities.

Weighing a whopping 13 tons, this bad boy can burrow deep into the earth, penetrating several meters before detonation. Since it's missing in Israel's artillery, it's been their mission to prevent Tehran from building an atomic bomb. But what exactly can it accomplish? Time to get the scoop.

Why is this bomb the ace up the sleeve?

Even if Israel's military had wiped out Iran's command and tons of surface facilities in just five days, says Behnam Ben Taleblu, "questions remain regarding the effectiveness of Israeli attacks on the heart of the Iranian nuclear program." According to the expert from the neoconservative Foundation for Defense of Democracies, all eyes are on Fordo.

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At this uranium enrichment plant located south of Tehran, no damages were reported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Unlike the Natanz and Isfahan facilities, Fordo is located deep in the earth, out of range of Israeli bombs.

"Only the USA has the conventional capability" to destroy such a facility, stresses Mark Schwartz. The US general served in the Middle East and is now an expert at the RAND Corporation think tank. By "conventional," he means the GBU-57.

What sets the GBU-57 apart from the pack?

This US bomb stands out due to its capacity to pierce up to 61 meters deep into rock and concrete, according to the US Army. Unlike other rockets and bombs that explode on impact, bunker-busting bombs first dig their way into the earth before detonating once they reach the subterranean facility.

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These weapons are equipped with "a very thick shell of hardened steel" that allows them to slice through rock layers, explains Masao Dahlgren, an armor specialist at the CSIS research center in Washington. This explains their size and weight: over 13 tons and 6.6 meters long. Their power to penetrate also comes from their sophisticated fuze that identifies voids to explode when it enters the bunker, Dahlgren adds.

Development of this bomb began in the early 2000s. In 2009, 20 units were ordered from Boeing.

How is it deployed?

The only aircraft capable of carrying this bomb are US B-2 stealth bombers. Some of these aircraft were stationed at the US military base Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean in early May. However, they were no longer visible there in mid-June, as satellite image analysis from PlanetLabs revealed.

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But B-2 bombers with their long range can fly to the Middle East and drop bombs there, as Dahlgren points out. Each B-2 aircraft can transport two GBU-57s.

If the decision has been made to drop them, "they won't deploy a single bomb and call it a day, but they'll use multiple ones to guarantee a 100% hit probability," adds Schwartz. Israel's air superiority over Iran "reduces the risks" that the B-2 bombers may face, the retired general notes.

What would be the repercussions?

Such an intervention would come at a "high political cost" for the USA, says Behnam Ben Taleblu. He emphasizes that the GBU-57 is not "the only solution" to halt Iran's nuclear program permanently—besides a diplomatic solution.

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Without this bunker-busting bomb from the USA, the Israelis could attack subterranean facilities like Fordo "by trying to hit the entrances, bring down as much as they can, cut off the power supply," the expert suggests. This seems to have been the case at the nuclear facility in Natanz.

Source: ntv.de, als/AFP

Israel
Israel War
Iran
Iran Conflict
Iranian Nuclear Program
USA
Donald Trump

Enrichment Data:

The GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) is a standout bunker-busting bomb created by the United States, capable of demolishing deeply buried and fortified underground targets, such as Iran's Fordow nuclear facility.

Unique Characteristics

Extraordinary penetration depth: Can penetrate approximately 200 feet (around 61 meters) beneath the earth's surface before detonating, allowing it to obliterate hardened underground bunkers that traditional bombs cannot reach[1][3][4].
Settings: It weighs about 13,600 kilograms (approximately 30,000 pounds) and measures 6.2 meters in length, making it one of the largest conventional bombs in the US arsenal[1][4].
Pinpoint accuracy: Equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) and Inertial Navigation System (INS) guidance for precise targeting, usually within meters of its intended objective, stabilized in flight by grid fins that allow mid-course corrections[2].
Advanced explosive design: Its warhead utilizes high-performance polymer-bonded explosives optimized for controlled detonation in confined spaces, and an intelligent fuze that times the explosion based on penetration depth and structure features[2].
Delivery method: Can only be transported by B-2 stealth bombers due to its weight and size, offering it a strategic, stealthy delivery potential[1].

Potential Fallout in a US-Israel-Iran Conflict

Targeting Iranian nuclear sites: The bomb may be the sole weapon capable of destroying Iran's deeply buried Fordow nuclear enrichment facility, which lies beneath a mountain and is hardened against standard strikes[3][4].
Combat debut: If deployed, it would mark the GBU-57's combat debut in a conflict situation, potentially intensifying tensions significantly[5].
Risk of contamination: The Fordow plant generates highly enriched uranium. Detonating a conventional bomb like the GBU-57 at such a site could trigger radioactive leaks, causing potential environmental and health hazards beyond the immediate blast area[5].
Strategic escalation: The use of the GBU-57 in direct military support of Israel signals an escalated US role in the conflict, which could provoke broader regional confrontation and amplify the risk of Iranian reprisals against US interests and allies[5].
Military and political implications: The bomb's use signifies the US's readiness to intervene militarily following failed diplomatic attempts to restrain Iran’s nuclear program, possibly reshaping the conflict dynamic between Israel and Iran[3][5].

In brief, the GBU-57 bunker-buster bomb's extraordinary penetration capability and delivery via B-2 stealth bombers make it a vital strategic asset for targeting Iran’s fortified nuclear sites. But using it could carry severe consequences, including radioactive leaks risks and heightened regional conflict escalation in the context of a US-Israel intervention against Iran[1][2][3][4][5].

The Commission, given the ongoing tension between Israel and Iran, has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation in the event of a potential conflict, as the GBU-57, a powerful bunker-busting bomb, could potentially cause radioactive leaks if deployed at Iran's Fordow nuclear enrichment facility.
Amidst the politics of war-and-conflicts and the general news about the escalating Iranian Nuclear Program, the GBU-57, a US bunker-busting bomb, is controversial not only for its potential to obliterate Iran's underground nuclear facilities but also for its implications in the realm of politics, as its use could signal a significant US military intervention in the Middle East conflict, potentially escalating the tensions and leading to broader regional confrontation.