Daijiworld Media Network- Washington
Washington, Jun 18: Amid rising tensions in West Asia and speculation surrounding possible military intervention against Iran’s nuclear facilities, defence analysts have turned the spotlight on a formidable weapon in the United States’ arsenal—the GBU-57, also known as the Massive Ordnance Penetrator. This 30,000-pound behemoth is the only known conventional bomb capable of reaching Iran’s most fortified nuclear sites, including the deeply buried Fordo facility.
Recent Israeli military actions have significantly disrupted Iran's surface-level infrastructure, targeting missile launchers, bases, and even high-ranking commanders. Yet, despite the damage inflicted, there remains growing concern over Iran’s untouched underground nuclear strongholds. Among them, the Fordo uranium enrichment site, buried beneath 300 feet of rock, has remained impervious to Israeli strikes. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the site has not sustained any visible damage so far.
Former US Army lieutenant general and Rand Corporation defence researcher Mark Schwartz noted that only the United States possesses the conventional capability to reach such depths, specifically citing the GBU-57 as the key to breaching Fordo’s massive underground shield. Developed in the early 2000s and contracted to Boeing in 2009, the GBU-57 is specially engineered with hardened steel casings and an advanced delayed-fuse system that allows it to burrow through concrete and rock before detonation.
Unlike traditional explosives that detonate on impact, the GBU-57 is designed to penetrate as deep as 200 feet underground before exploding—making it the most potent non-nuclear solution for deeply embedded targets. The bomb is deployed exclusively by the American B-2 stealth bomber, which can carry two such bombs per mission. Satellite imagery recently confirmed the presence of these bombers at the Diego Garcia military base in the Indian Ocean, though they were reportedly moved from the location by mid-June.
Military experts suggest that any attempt to neutralize Iran’s subterranean nuclear infrastructure would require multiple GBU-57 strikes. With Israel currently lacking access to this bomb, analysts believe the US remains the only nation capable of directly targeting and destroying Iran’s hidden nuclear assets.
However, the use of such a weapon would not be without political consequences. Experts caution that any American military intervention, particularly involving such a powerful device, would carry significant geopolitical ramifications. While Israel may attempt to disrupt operations at sites like Fordo through targeted strikes on power sources or entrances, as seen in previous attacks on Natanz, a complete destruction remains improbable without direct US involvement.
As tensions persist and diplomatic channels remain strained, the role of the GBU-57 has come to symbolise the last-resort option—one that could decisively impact the nuclear equation in the region, but at a potentially heavy international cost.