13,000 kg, extends 60 m into the ground prior to detonation: The enormous bunker-buster utilized by the US at Fordo.
US President Donald Trump announced that military airstrikes have been conducted on three locations in Iran, indicating a notable escalation in the ongoing tensions with Israel.
These airstrikes targeted a vital uranium enrichment facility, Fordo, which had not been impacted by previous Israeli operations and is thought to play a crucial role in Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Situated 300 feet under a mountain, Fordo is allegedly where Iran has attempted to enrich uranium for weaponization and gather the enriched material.
Trump mentioned in a post on Truth social that “a complete load of bombs” was deployed against Fordo.
The most effective method for Israel to neutralize the Fordo facility required a bomb produced in the US, which is so heavy that only a US B2 Spirit bomber can deliver it. The latest attack appears to have accomplished this objective, although the level of damage inflicted on Fordo remains uncertain.
The bomb utilized by the US on Fordo is referred to as the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, or MOP. It has been engineered to target “deeply-entrenched facilities and fortified bunkers and tunnels”, specifically aimed at demolishing targets within secure installations. Israel, along with any other nations apart from the US, lacks bombs capable of reaching such depths as Fordo.
The GBU-57 MOP
The MOP is approximately 20.5 feet long and 31.5 inches wide, weighing about 13,000 kg, as per the US Air Force.
It is designed to penetrate up to 60 m of soil before detonating. The warhead is encased in a specialized high-performance steel alloy, which is intended to allow it to bear a significant explosive load while preserving the integrity of the penetrator casing upon impact, according to an Air Force fact sheet.
The depth of the Fordo site is around 90 meters. It remains unclear how extensive the destruction from the bombings at Fordo has been.
The GBU-57 was developed by aerospace manufacturer Boeing, and as reported by CBS, it was contracted to produce 20 of these devices by 2015, according to the Air Force.
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