B-2 bombers flew 37 hours non-stop, covered over 7000 miles: US outsmarted Iran's Russian air defense missiles to strike its nuclear sites

Economic Times

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The arsenal: Massive Ordnance Penetrators and Tomahawk missiles
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The flight path: A 37-hour mission
Why these targets?
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In a meticulously planned and unprecedented military operation, the United States on June 21 executed a large-scale airstrike on Iran's nuclear infrastructure, targeting the highly fortified Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan facilities, bypassing Iran's dense air defense network, which includes older generation Russian-made surface-to-air missiles. The US strikes included the first-ever use of 30,000 pound (14,000 kilograms) GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator , also known as bunker busters, in combat.According to The New York Times and multiple defense sources, the US operation combined the stealth capabilities of six B-2A Spirit strategic bombers, each valued at roughly $2 billion, with the precision of submarine-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles . The bombers flew non-stop for 37 hours with multiple aerial refueling to cover the over 7000 miles (approx 11,400 kilometers) from the Missouri airbase to the target areas, marking a new chapter in the U.S. effort to halt Iran's nuclear ambitions.The centerpiece of the airstrike was the deployment of 12 GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bunker-buster bombs, dropped exclusively by the B-2A Spirit bombers on the Fordow nuclear enrichment facility. Each MOP weighs approximately 30,000 pounds (13,600 kilograms) and is engineered to penetrate up to 200 feet of earth or 60 feet of reinforced concrete before detonating, making it one of the most powerful conventional bombs in the U.S. arsenal.The MOP's warhead is encased in a high-performance steel alloy designed to maintain structural integrity upon impact, enabling it to destroy deeply buried and hardened targets that conventional munitions cannot reach.In addition to the MOPs, the Natanz and Isfahan sites were struck by a barrage of 30 submarine-launched BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles, known for their precision and reliability.The Tomahawks were complemented by two additional GBU-57A/B MOPs dropped on Natanz, underscoring the strategic importance of that site in Iran's nuclear program.The six B-2A Spirits, operated by the U.S. Air Force 's 509th Bomb Wing, launched from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri on a mission lasting approximately 37 hours. The bombers refueled multiple times mid-air to cover the vast distance to Iran and back, demonstrating the B-2's extraordinary range and endurance.The stealth design of the B-2, featuring radar-absorbing materials and a low radar cross-section comparable to a small bird, allowed the bombers to penetrate Iranian airspace undetected, evading sophisticated surface-to-air missile defenses protecting the Fordow site.Each B-2 bomber can carry up to two GBU-57 MOPs due to the bomb's massive size, and the aircraft's internal weapons bays are optimized for stealth and payload delivery. The B-2's bat-like aerodynamic shape and advanced automation systems reduce pilot workload during such complex missions, enabling precise targeting of hardened underground facilities.Fordow: Built 300 feet beneath a mountain and shielded by Russian-supplied air defenses, Fordow is considered the crown jewel of Iran's nuclear program. It houses approximately 1,000 centrifuges used for uranium enrichment and has long been a challenge for airstrike planners due to its depth and fortifications. The use of multiple MOPs aimed to obliterate this key site, which President Trump declared 'gone' after the strikes.Natanz: Iran's main uranium enrichment facility, Natanz, was targeted with a mix of Tomahawk missiles and two MOP bombs. The strikes focused on above-ground infrastructure and underground cascades of centrifuges, aiming to disrupt Iran's uranium production capabilities.Isfahan: This site, involved in uranium conversion and fuel production, was hit primarily by Tomahawk missiles, damaging critical buildings but reportedly without radiological leakage.