Amid rising tensions in the Middle East, military analysts and U.S. officials have revisited the possibility of using America’s advanced bunker-busting capabilities to neutralize deeply buried nuclear sites in Iran. A central focus of this discussion is the Fordow uranium enrichment facility—one of Iran’s most secure and fortified nuclear sites, reportedly buried 80 to 90 meters (260–295 feet) underground.
Experts point out that the only weapon currently capable of potentially reaching such a depth is the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), a 30,000-pound precision-guided bomb designed to target hardened underground bunkers. Dropped from a B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber; the MOP can penetrate up to 60 meters (200 feet) of reinforced earth and concrete before detonating.
Although this capability falls slightly short of the estimated depth of Fordow, analysts suggest that multiple strikes at the same target location could be required to cause significant damage. This strategy would rely on the B-2 bomber’s ability to evade detection and deliver successive, precise strikes on a single, heavily reinforced site.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump recently commented on the strategic role of such force, stating, “I’m always a peacemaker, but sometimes, you need some toughness to make peace.”
The GBU-57 remains a key component of U.S. deterrence strategy, as no other nation currently possesses a comparable system. Whether it can effectively destroy Fordow in a real-world scenario remains uncertain—but it is, at present, the only known option with the potential to breach such fortified depths.
