B-2 bombers, bunker busters and alternatives: How US strikes Iran’s nuclear sites
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The US B-2 costs about US$2.1 billion (S$2.7 billion) each, making it the most expensive military aircraft ever built.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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WASHINGTON – The US Air Force’s B-2 Spirit stealth bombers were involved in strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites
Three sites were struck in a “very successful attack”, US President Donald Trump said on June 21, adding that the crown jewel of Tehran’s nuclear programme, Fordow, is gone.
The B-2 is one of America’s most advanced strategic weapons platforms, capable of entering sophisticated air defences and delivering precision strikes against hardened targets such as Iran’s buried network of nuclear research facilities.
B-2 spirit specifications
The US B-2 costs about US$2.1 billion (S$2.7 billion) each, making it the most expensive military aircraft ever built. Made by Northrop Grumman, the bomber, featuring 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 programme was truncated.
The bomber’s range of over 11,112km without refuelling enables global strike capabilities from continental US bases.
With aerial refuelling, 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 18,144kg 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 that could include two GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), a 13,607kg precision-guided bunker buster bomb.
Reports said six bunker buster bombs were used on Iran’s Fordow research site.
The B-2’s two-pilot crew configuration reduces personnel requirements while maintaining operational effectiveness through advanced automation systems.
The B-2’s stealth technology incorporates radar-absorbing materials and angular design features that minimise detection by enemy air defence systems. Its radar cross-section is reportedly comparable with that of a small bird, making it nearly invisible to conventional radar.
Massive ordnance penetrator
The 13,607kg MOP represents the largest conventional bomb in the US arsenal, specifically engineered to defeat hardened underground bunkers. Its massive size requires the B-2 to carry only one or two MOPs per mission but provides unmatched bunker-penetration capability.
The weapon’s 6.25m length and precision targeting system guided by a Global Positioning System (GPS) enable accurate strikes against specific underground facilities. Its penetration capability of over 61m through hardened concrete makes it effective against the world’s most protected underground installations.
Conventional payloads
Joint Direct Attack Munitions 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 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 JASSM-Extended Range variant provides strike options against targets over 805km away.
Nuclear payload capabilities
The B-2 Spirit serves as a key component of America’s nuclear triad, capable of delivering strategic nuclear weapons with stealth and precision. The aircraft can carry up to 16 B83 nuclear bombs. REUTERS
