How bunker buster bombs could pulverize Iran's Fordow nuclear site: The science behind these deep-Earth destroyers
According to Fox News, many military analysts have pointed out that a two-ton precision bunker buster, which is developed by and in sole possession of the United States, can be the only way to destroy the Fordow site, which some claim may be capable of producing a nuclear warhead in just two to three days.
What are Bunker Busters?
Director of Foreign Policy for JINSA, Jonathan Ruhe, explained that bunker busters are designed to use gravity to "penetrate through any mixture of earth, rock, and concrete before the bomb itself then explodes" underground, quoted Fox News. The explosion can either destroy the target or "collapse the structure" around the target, as per the report by Fox News.
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According to Fox News, the bunker busters are available in different weight classes, Israel has 2,000- and 5,000-pound varieties, but only the United States possesses the 30,000-pound GBU-57 A/B Massive Ordinance Penetrator (MOP).
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Why Is Fordow So Hard to Destroy?
According to Ruhe, the MOP, which was developed under former US president George W. Bush, was "designed specifically" for sites like Fordow, where nuclear facilities are hidden deep underground, as reported by Fox News.
The depth of Fordow is a key factor in deciding the number of munitions required to target the facility, as per the report. While the Foundation for Defense of Democracies estimates the facility is 60 to 90 meters (196 to 295 feet) underground, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi told The Financial Times that it reaches 800 meters, Fox News reported. Ruhe speculated Grossi "may have been trying to message, 'hey, military action is not the solution here,'" as quoted in the report.
How Would the US Use the MOP?
Given Fordow's depth and the rocky terrain, the United States would likely use a "burrowing" technique, according to the report. Ruhe explained that this involves a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber would "drop several MOPs in succession, one after the other," quoted Fox News. The MOP reportedly has a penetration depth of 200 feet, as per Fox News.
However, Fordow is not an easy target, as pilots have to take into account the facility's multiple narrow exit tunnels and achieve the right angle of impact to penetrate the ground, according to the report.
FAQs
Why hasn't Israel struck Fordow yet?
Because it's buried so deep inside that even Israel's strongest bombs can't reach it effectively.
What kind of bomb can hit Fordow?
Only the US possesses the GBU-57
Massive Ordnance Penetrator
, a 30,000-pound bunker buster, as per the report.
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