The mission to take out Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility relied on the deployment of a B-2 Spirit bomber along with 15 tons of large munitions. This hefty task required a single aircraft capable of carrying such extensive weapons. The bombers executed a 37-hour round trip from Missouri, effectively striking their target.
A B-2 Spirit bomber embarked on its journey from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, equipped with essentials like a mini-fridge, microwave, and some snacks for the long flight.
The strategic bomber is designed with ample space, allowing a pilot to rest comfortably.
On Friday, this B-2 took off for Operation Midnight Hammer, hitting Iran’s nuclear sites after an 18-hour global flight before the airstrikes on Saturday.
This mission marks the longest flight for the B-2 since 2001, completing a significant 37-hour round trip in response to earlier threats.
Reports indicated that for several hours, seven B-2 bombers operated with minimal radio communication. A squadron of fighter jets joined them as they neared Iranian airspace.
The bombers specifically targeted Iranian nuclear sites buried under mountains, but only the B-2, along with one support aircraft, managed to strike the Natanz enrichment facility.
During the operation, six B-2s dropped around a dozen 30,000-pound bombs on Fordow.
To effectively dismantle this underground site, the stealth bomber deployed a 15-ton bunker buster, identified as the largest non-nuclear bomb in the U.S. arsenal, aimed at an approximately 300-foot target. This bomb, known as GBU-57A/B or MOPS, is specially designed for deep penetration.
Due to its weight, only the B-2 Spirit can deliver such an ordinance.
The MOP, costing over $500 million, is capable of reaching deep enough to destroy facilities like Fordow, which resist regular bombing methods.
On Saturday evening, President Trump announced that the U.S. had successfully carried out attacks on three of Iran’s nuclear sites: Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.
He emphasized, “No other military in the world could have accomplished this,” in a post on social media.
Satellite imagery post-attack showed the impact of bombs described as weighing three adult African elephants, indicating the effectiveness of the operation.
Chairman General Daniel Kane commended the bombers and supporting aircraft for executing a “complex, closely timed operation” that required careful coordination across multiple platforms.
The general noted that the 25-minute operation within Iran was executed with minimal communication.
The strikes on the nuclear site reportedly occurred at 6:40 PM on Saturday (1:40 AM local time in Iran).
“The other bombers also engaged additional targets with a total of 14 MOPs,” the general elaborated.
The B-2 bombers, which entered service in 1997, were initially designed for nuclear capabilities against the Soviet Union. Each bomber boasts a wingspan of 172 feet and costs around $2 billion.
