Department of Defense officials discussed the bomb used against Iran’s Foldau nuclear facility at a press conference held at the Pentagon on Thursday.
The United States targeted facilities in Fordou, Natanz, and Isfahan using a large GBU-57 weapon. This operation, carried out on a Sunday morning, involved a 37-hour mission with seven B-2A Spirit bombers. General Dan “Razin” Kane, who co-leads the operation, shared that the development of this specific bomb began long before its use, showing a video of a weapons test.
“They recognized the inadequacy of existing weapons for effectively destroying the target,” Kane explained. “So, they collaborated with industry experts to create the GBU-57, achieving hundreds of successful test drops against realistic targets.” He mentioned that the design was aimed at ensuring effectiveness at the time and location chosen by the U.S. “Fifteen years of work culminated in this moment when the President ordered the B-2 to deploy the weapon.”
Kane expressed gratitude for the support he received from two officers of the defense threat reduction agency, noting one officer’s pride in being part of such a significant mission.
The GBU-57 is a 27,125-pound GPS-guided bomb with a capacity for 5,342 pounds of explosives, able to be utilized by B-2 bombers. Based on information from designated Systems.net, Kane showcased a demonstration of the GBU-57’s capabilities.
“The GBU-57, weighing around 30,000 pounds, can only be deployed from a B-2. Its design includes steel and explosives with a specialized fuse system that determines when it detonates,” Kane elaborated. “In Fordow, the aims were to penetrate deeply— the fuse delay dictates how far it goes.” He mentioned that Iranians attempted to cover shafts leading to the facility with concrete prior to the attack.
“They may not have shared the exact dimensions of those concrete caps, but the planners needed that info,” Kane added. “The initial strike would break the cap, exposing the main shaft, followed by subsequent strikes that traveled deep within the complex, resulting in significant explosions.” Kane emphasized that this operation was the result of a long development process.
On June 12, Israel conducted a military operation targeting Iran’s nuclear capabilities, highlighting the lack of success in diplomatic efforts to halt this program.
Kane explained how the GBU-57 differs from traditional surface bombs. “These bombs are designed to detonate deep underground, which means we don’t see impact craters,” he said. “All six of the bombs deployed at Fordow hit their targets accurately. The main force behind this mission was the overpressure and blasts damaging critical infrastructure.” He also pointed out that the assessment of damage is based on detailed models.
In conclusion, Kane noted, “The intelligence community handles bomb-damage assessments. However, we can confirm that the deployment was precise, and we have indications from additional sources that the first weapon functioned as intended.”
