The possibility of a military strike on Iran’s Fordow nuclear enrichment facility has gained attention following recent United States military movements. B-2 bombers are most effective during long-range missions and have state of the art weapons. They would likely be key to any future operation aimed at striking this strategic hub. The impact of these movements have led many to question the U.S. policy direction towards Iran’s continued pursuit of a nuclear weapon.
Last October, B-2 bombers successfully executed an operation targeting five underground Houthi weapon facilities, demonstrating their ability to strike effectively from Whiteman Air Force Base, located 8,000 miles away. This was the operation that dropped the GBU 57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator. This huge 13,600-kilogram (30,000-pound) bomb can burrow through a staggering 60 meters (197 feet) of stone. The B-2 is the only aircraft currently certified to carry this significant and powerful weapon. That kind of detail is critical for planning successful strikes on complex, well-defended targets such as Fordow.
Fordow is one of Iran’s most fortified nuclear installations, carved into the mountains, it is a difficult target. The U.S. has just 20 B-2 bombers, each able to make the round trip of about 3,200 miles needed to reach Fordow. To attack such a well-fortified target, we’d need dozens of those B-2 bombers. This may seem like a minor change but it would dramatically improve the probability of mission success.
Deployment logistics continue to be a very important consideration for any strike. In practice, the B-2 bombers would need to be refueled in their return leg after conducting bombing runs. Diego Garcia, a U.S. military base in the Indian Ocean, is far closer to Iran than Whiteman AFB. It would serve an important strategic purpose as a refueling point for operations in or towards Fordow.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth oversaw the massive, rapid deployment of new capabilities to U.S. Central Command in the Middle East. Combined with the recent move to retaliate against military contractors, this paints a picture of a Pentagon gearing up for possible military confrontation with Iran’s nuclear sites. The unusual and unannounced movement of more than 31 U.S. Air Force refueling aircraft to the region has caused much speculation. Most think a large-scale long-range air raid is being planned.
Even with these preparations, there has not yet been any official announcement that B-2 bombers will actually be deployed to the region. The U.S. military has extraordinarily complicated strategic calculations. This will require them to consider the implications of a serious airstrike on Iran’s nascent nuclear program.
Understanding the historical context is key to coming to grips with today’s dynamics. Retired Defense Secretary Leon Panetta in 2012 first revealed that deeply classified video of an attack, letting Israeli politician Ehud Barak see it. What’s in the video is still under wraps. The ability of B-2 bombers to carry out such detailed and targeted strikes is still unmatched, increasing their importance to U.S. military doctrine.
Justin Bronk, a defense analyst, highlights the effectiveness of the GBU 57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator: “with the second bomb impacting inside the hole made by the first.” This degree of accuracy becomes critical when needing to destroy hard targets such as Fordow’s.
That’s a good thing, given that the U.S. should be targeting much more than just the Fordow facility. Signs are emerging that other nuclear sites, such as Natanz, might soon follow the same fate if tensions continue to worsen. As military preparations intensify and strategic assets are positioned closer to Iran, the focus remains on how the U.S. will approach its longstanding concerns regarding Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Former President Donald Trump recently commented on ongoing military strategies, stating, “I’m not looking for a ceasefire, we’re looking at better than a ceasefire.” His comments highlight the dangerous escalation and potential for conflict in U.S.-Iran relations.