The GBU-57/B: America’s Deep-Penetration Weapon and the Fordow Challenge

The Israel-Iran conflict is heating up, with the U.S. expected to make significant decisions in the coming weeks. A central point of contention is Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility, a deeply buried site. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s determination to target this facility, even without U.S. backing, emphasizes the strategic importance of the site. The GBU-57/B, a powerful American bunker-buster bomb, is seen as the potential ‘Brahmastra’ to destroy the facility. The weapon is capable of penetrating up to 200 feet into the earth, a capability no other conventional weapon possesses. Fordow, located near Qom, is protected by hundreds of feet of rock and concrete. The facility’s depth and defenses present a significant challenge, which is why the GBU-57/B is seen as the only viable option. The bomb can only be deployed by the U.S. Air Force using the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber. The bomb uses GPS guidance for pinpoint accuracy, and its warhead is designed to inflict maximum damage even deep within the facility.