The Powerhouse beneath: Unveiling the US's Ultimate Bunker-Buster - the GBU-57
Potential Game-Changer: The GBU-57 Massive Ordinance Penetrator (MOP) Bomb
Connect with Us: Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Email Print Copy Link
In the event of a military confrontation between the US and Iran, President Donald Trump might opt for the GBU-57 as his weapon of choice against Iran's clandestine nuclear facilities lurking beneath the earth. This colossal bunker-busting bomb is the game-changer, exclusive to the US military arsenal.
Weighing a formidable 13 tons, the GBU-57 boasts the ability to burrow deep into the ground before detonating. Its absence in Israel's inventory is a significant hurdle in fulfilling Prime Minister Netanyahu's declared objective of obstructing Tehran's nuclear ambitions. Here's the lowdown on this titanic weapon.
Why this beast?
Despite Israel's impressive consecutive decimation of Iran's military command and surface facilities, Behnam Ben Taleblu, an expert from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, questions the long-term effectiveness of Israeli attacks on the crux of Iran's nuclear program. "The focus is on Fordo," he says.
At this renowned uranium enrichment plant nestled south of Tehran, no signs of devastation have been reported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Unlike the Natanz and Isfahan facilities, the Fordo plant is designed to withstand direct assaults, being embedded around a hundred meters deep within the earth.
Politics Fortress Fordo: A Hard Nut to Crack
As Israel's bombardments remain futile against such ingrained installations, the US is the only power with the conventional capability to annihilate buried facilities like Fordo. The US general Mark Schwartz, former Middle East veteran and now expert at the RAND Corporation, elucidates, "The GBU-57 is the only solution."
What sets it apart?
The US bomb is extraordinary due to its remarkable penetrative power. According to the US Army, it can perforate up to 61 meters deep into rock and concrete. Unlike many explosives, bunker-busters like the GBU-57 penetrate before detonating once they reach the underground target. This devastating weapon boasts a robust, hardened steel shell and an advanced fuze that detects voids to detonate upon entering the bunker.
Masao Dahlgren, an armor specialist at the CSIS research center in Washington, explains, "Its penetration power lies in its resilient steel shell, enabling it to cut through rock layers, and its fuze, which is designed to detonate once it enters the underground facility."
Development of this formidable bomb commenced in the early 2000s, with the order of 20 units placed from Boeing in 2009.
How does it make its entrance?
Only B-2 stealth bombers could carry and deploy this colossal weapon. Some of these stealthy aircraft were stationed at the US military base Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean in early May, yet vanished from the radar mid-June, as per an analyst's review of satellite imagery from PlanetLabs.
Built for long-range missions, B-2 bombers can fly from the US to the Middle East, dropping multiple GBU-57s if called upon. Israel's air superiority in Iran "reduces the risks" that B-2 bombers would face during deployment, according to retired general Mark Schwartz.
What lies ahead?
Unleashing such military action would bear a "high political cost" for the US, says Behnam Ben Taleblu. The GBU-57 is not the silver bullet to permanently put an end to Iran's nuclear program - a diplomatic solution remains necessary, he emphasizes.
Should the GBU-57 be unleashed, the Israeli military might attempt to disable other underground facilities like Fordo by targeting entrances or power sources, as observed in the attack on the nuclear facility in Natanz.
FACTS & FIGURES:
- The GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) is a non-nuclear, extremely large bunker-busting bomb developed by the U.S. military.
- Approximately 15 tons heavy, the GBU-57 measures around 6.6 meters in length.
- Reportedly capable of penetrating up to 60 meters of earth or 18 meters of reinforced concrete.
- Equips about 5,000 pounds of explosives, which detonate once it penetrates the target underground.
- The B-2 Spirit stealth bomber is the only aircraft capable of carrying and deploying the GBU-57, with the upcoming B-21 Raider also designed to carry it.
- Despite the impressive efforts by Israel to hinder Iran's nuclear ambitions, the need for a diplomatic solution is emphasized by Behnam Ben Taleblu, as the GBU-57, a non-nuclear bunker-busting bomb, is not a silver bullet to permanently end Iran's nuclear program.
- The United States, given its conventional capability to annihilate buried facilities like Iran's Fordo plant, has been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation—a consequence that may arise during military confrontations involving the use of weapons like the GBU-57.
%20Bomb){kind=link}