Latest news with #B-2ASpirit
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
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
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 arsenal: Massive Ordnance Penetrators and Tomahawk missiles 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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy the Dip: Top 5 Dividend Stocks with Growth Potential Seeking Alpha Read Now Undo 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. Live Events 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 flight path: A 37-hour mission 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. Why these targets? 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.
Scottish Sun
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
How Donald Trump hammered Iran's nuke bases with bunker buster bombs and missiles fired from submarines
DONALD Trump has blitzed Iran's nuclear bases to stop the Ayatollah's doomsday project in a complex operation from air and sea. The president has declared the strike a "spectacular success" that "obliterated" the mad mullahs' atomic program. 9 Donald Trump in the Situation Room during the strike Credit: Reuters 9 Tomahawk missiles fired from submarines were used to strike two bases (stock image) Credit: AFP 9 The B-2A Spirit was used to carry the bunker busting bombs Credit: Getty 9 To do that, Trump used some of the US military's most advanced weapons. Six 30,000lb bunker busting bombs - officially called the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) - were used to hit the most difficult target, Trump told Fox News. They were dropped from B-2 bombers flying high in the atmosphere for 37 hours all the way from Missouri, the New York Times reported. The lethal bombers even refuelled several times in the air so they didn't have to land. Read more on world news BOMB BLITZ Trump launches strikes on Iran as three nuke bases blitzed in historic attack B-2 bombers were the only weapon which could do the job - because the Ayatollah's prized Fordow nuclear enrichment plant is 300ft deep underground and encased in steel. Israel has been unable to destroy the site by itself - with Trump declaring on Saturday that only America could destroy it from above. Now, Trump claims he has done so - with six bunker busters able to bury deep through the rock and hit the base. The missiles - 20ft long and carrying a 5,000lb warhead - were dropped by the B-2s, hit the earth, and buried themselves deep into the rock before they exploded. Iran claims that it knew the attack was coming and evacuated anything of value from the base. But two other of Iran's nuclear facilities were also hit - Natanz and Isfahan. How Trump COULD destroy Iran's prize nuclear bunker They were blitzed by 30 Tomahawk missiles fired from submarines 400miles away. Tomahawk missiles are a long-range weapon which can be fired from land or sea and can travel at least 1,000miles. The US keeps a naval base across the Persian Gulf from Iran in Bahrain. The complex at Natanz holds Iran's largest uranium enrichment plant - crucial for getting the material to weapons grade. 9 A US submarine - capable of carrying up to 154 Tomahawk missiles Credit: AP 9 Isfahan nuclear power plant Credit: AFP 9 One B-2 also dropped two bunker busters on Natanz, according to the New York Times. Isfahan is thought to hold a repository of near bomb-grade nuclear material. Both Natanz and Isfahan had previously been hit by Israel. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, previously said Iran's biggest atomic plant at Natanz was knocked out by the first waves of the Israeli offensive. Mr Grossi said: "The above-ground part of the pilot fuel enrichment plant, where Iran was producing uranium enriched up to 60% U-235, has been destroyed". Uranium-235 is essential both for nuclear power stations and also for nuclear weapons. 9 Trump addressing the nation revealed America had 'obliterated' Fordow Credit: Alamy 9 Posting on Truth Social, President Donald Trump announced that US bombers targeted Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan enrichment sites. The bombings come just two days after Trump said he would decide "within two weeks" whether to join key ally Israel in attacking Iran. In a nationally televised speech at the White House, Trump said: "Tonight I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success. Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. 'Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier. "There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days."
The Irish Sun
6 hours ago
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
How Donald Trump hammered Iran's nuke bases with bunker buster bombs and missiles fired from submarines
DONALD Trump has blitzed Iran's nuclear bases to stop the Ayatollah's doomsday project in a complex operation from air and sea. The president has declared the strike a Advertisement 9 Donald Trump in the Situation Room during the strike Credit: Reuters 9 Tomahawk missiles fired from submarines were used to strike two bases (stock image) Credit: AFP 9 The B-2A Spirit was used to carry the bunker busting bombs Credit: Getty 9 To do that, Trump used some of the US military's most advanced weapons. Six 30,000lb bunker busting bombs - officially called the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) - were used to hit the most difficult target, Trump told Fox News. They were dropped from B-2 bombers flying high in the atmosphere for 37 hours all the way from Missouri, the The lethal bombers even refuelled several times in the air so they didn't have to land. Advertisement Read more on world news B-2 bombers were the only weapon which could do the job - because the Ayatollah's prized Israel has been unable to destroy the site by itself - with Trump declaring on Saturday that only America could destroy it from above. Now, Trump claims he has done so - with six bunker busters able to bury deep through the rock and hit the base. The missiles - 20ft long and carrying a 5,000lb warhead - were dropped by the B-2s, hit the earth, and buried themselves deep into the rock before they exploded. Advertisement Most read in The US Sun Exclusive Exclusive Iran claims that it knew the attack was coming and evacuated anything of value from the base. But two other of Iran's nuclear facilities were also hit - Natanz and Isfahan. How Trump COULD destroy Iran's prize nuclear bunker They were blitzed by 30 Tomahawk missiles fired from submarines 400miles away. Tomahawk missiles are a long-range weapon which can be fired from land or sea and can travel at least 1,000miles. Advertisement The US keeps a naval base across the Persian Gulf from Iran in Bahrain. The complex at Natanz holds Iran's largest uranium enrichment plant - crucial for getting the material to weapons grade. 9 A US submarine - capable of carrying up to 154 Tomahawk missiles Credit: AP 9 Isfahan nuclear power plant Credit: AFP Advertisement 9 One B-2 also dropped two bunker busters on Natanz, according to the New York Times. Isfahan is thought to hold a repository of near bomb-grade nuclear material. Both Natanz and Isfahan had previously been hit by Israel. Advertisement The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, previously said Iran's biggest atomic plant at Natanz was knocked out by the first waves of the Israeli offensive. Mr Grossi said: "The above-ground part of the pilot fuel enrichment plant, where Iran was producing uranium enriched up to 60% U-235, has been destroyed". Uranium-235 is essential both for nuclear power stations and also for nuclear weapons . 9 Trump addressing the nation revealed America had 'obliterated' Fordow Credit: Alamy Advertisement 9 Posting on Truth Social, President Donald Trump announced that US bombers targeted Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan enrichment sites. The bombings come just two days after Trump said he would decide "within two weeks" whether to join key ally Israel in attacking Iran. In a nationally televised speech at the White House, Trump said: "Tonight I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success. Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Advertisement 'Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier. "There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days." Iran's Nuclear Sites Arak plant - satellite pictures of this plant near the Iranian town of Arak surfaced over 20 years ago. It contains a heavy-water reactor with plutonium that can be used for nuclear bombs. Bushehr nuclear power station - this power plant is a combination of Russian and German engineering. It's nuclear reactor is operating at 100% power and the site is home to enriched uranium, used for nuclear bombs. Gachin uranium mine - home to uranium ore concentrate, or yellowcake, which can be transformed into enriched uranium ready for nuke bomb assembling. Isfahan conversion plant - yellowcake is converted here into three dangerous substances. Hexafluoride gase used in the enrichment process, uranium oxide used to fuel reactors and metal used in the cores of nuclear bombs. Natanz uranium enrichment plant - this is Iran's largest enrichment base. It's made up of three underground buildings and is closely watched by the international community. Parchin military site - south of Tehran, this site is focused on research and the production of ammo, rockets and explosives. Concerns have been raised that it is also used as part of Iran's nuclear weapon development. Qom uranium enrichment plant - a heavily fortified and initially secret facility where Iran carries out uranium enrichment.
