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US used "bunker buster" bomb in Iran nuclear facility strikes, according to sources
The United States used the GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bomb, known as a “bunker buster,” in its strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, two sources familiar with the operation said.
The MOP — a 30,000-pound bomb with 6,000 pounds of explosives — was designed for “reaching and destroying our adversaries’ weapons of mass destruction located in well-protected facilities,” according to a fact sheet from the US Air Force.
It’s unclear how many MOPs were dropped. Saturday is the first known instance of the bomb being used operationally.
Prior to Saturday’s strikes, some US officials had raised pointed questions about whether the MOP would be able to destroy Iran’s nuclear architecture completely, especially where the enrichment facilities are deeply buried.
President Donald Trump said on social media on Saturday that the US had “completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.”
“All planes are now outside of Iran air space,” Trump said on Truth Social.
The MOP was believed to be the only ordnance able to reach the deeply buried facilities, though there were doubts that one singular munition would be able to penetrate deeply enough to reach them.
The US’ B-2 Spirit bombers are the only aircraft capable of carrying the bombs. CNN reported Saturday that B-2s were used in the operation.
The United States used the GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bomb, known as a “bunker buster,” in its strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, two sources familiar with the operation said.
The MOP — a 30,000-pound bomb with 6,000 pounds of explosives — was designed for “reaching and destroying our adversaries’ weapons of mass destruction located in well-protected facilities,” according to a fact sheet from the US Air Force.
It’s unclear how many MOPs were dropped. Saturday is the first known instance of the bomb being used operationally.
Prior to Saturday’s strikes, some US officials had raised pointed questions about whether the MOP would be able to destroy Iran’s nuclear architecture completely, especially where the enrichment facilities are deeply buried.
President Donald Trump said on social media on Saturday that the US had “completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.”
“All planes are now outside of Iran air space,” Trump said on Truth Social.
The MOP was believed to be the only ordnance able to reach the deeply buried facilities, though there were doubts that one singular munition would be able to penetrate deeply enough to reach them.
The US’ B-2 Spirit bombers are the only aircraft capable of carrying the bombs. CNN reported Saturday that B-2s were used in the operation.
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