Inside the tech and tensions of the Iran-US-Israel war – Firstpost

American President Donald Trump described US military strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites as a “spectacular military success” and added that the facilities were “completely and totally obliterated”. He was addressing the world from the White House on Saturday evening. Trump warned Iran that the US could go after additional targets if Iran does not make peace.

Northrop B-2 Spirit bombers dropped six 30,000-pound GBU-57 series MOP (Massive Ordnance Penetrator) “bunker buster” bombs. It’s the first known instance of the bomb being used operationally. The targets were Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan in Iran.

The Israel-Iran conflict has entered its second week. The B-2s, valued at roughly $2 billion a piece, are known not only for their stealth technology, but for their ability to fly long range. A group of elite B-2 Spirit stealth bombers took off from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri early on the morning of June 21.

“Congratulations, President Trump, your bold decision to target Iran’s nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history,” Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said early Sunday. “President Trump and I often talk of ‘Peace through Strength’. First comes strength, then comes peace. And tonight, President Trump and the United States acted with a lot of strength,” Netanyahu added. “In Operation Rising Lion, Israel has done truly amazing things. But in tonight’s action against Iran’s nuclear facilities, America has been truly unsurpassed,” he added. As per the Israeli PM, the US has done what no other country on earth could do, and history will record that President Trump acted to deny the world’s most dangerous regime the world’s most dangerous weapons.

B-2 ‘Spirit’ Bomber

The B-2 Spirit is a long-range stealth bomber, equipped to carry the heaviest U.S. bombs and nuclear weapons. The plane was designed by Northrop (later Northrop Grumman) as the prime contractor, with Boeing, Hughes, and Vought as principal subcontractors, and was produced from 1988 to 2000. Its flying wing design, composite materials and coating reduce its radar cross section and make it stealthy. B-2s are equipped to carry nuclear and conventional gravity bombs. It’s the only aircraft equipped to carry the Massive Ordnance Penetrator, or GBU-57, known as the “bunker buster” bomb.

The subsonic B-2 has a crew of two pilots. The four-engine aircraft has a wingspan of 172 feet and a length of 69 feet. It weighs 160,000 pounds. The bomber has two internal bays for ordnance and payload with an official limit of 40,000 lb (18,000 kg); the maximum estimated limit is 50,000 lb (23,000 kg). It can drop eighty 500-pound class (230 kg) Mk 82 JDAM GPS-guided bombs or sixteen 2,400-pound (1,100 kg) B83 nuclear bombs. Each aircraft can carry two GBU-57s. The bombers had been deployed at least once earlier when as many as six bombers had been deployed to a US-British military base, Diego Garcia, in the Indian Ocean.

Aircraft development began under the Advanced Technology Bomber (ATB) project during the Carter administration. Ultimately, the program produced 21 B-2s at an average cost of $2.13 billion each (~$4.17 billion in 2024), including development, engineering, testing, production, and procurement. Building each aircraft itself cost an average of $737 million.

The B-2 can perform attack missions at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet (15,000 m); it has an unrefuelled range of more than 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km) and can fly more than 10,000 nautical miles (19,000 km; 12,000 mi) with one mid-air refuelling. It entered service in 1997 as the second aircraft designed with advanced stealth technology, after the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk attack aircraft. Primarily designed as a nuclear bomber, the B-2 was first used in combat to drop conventional, non-nuclear ordnance in the Kosovo War in 1999.

It was later used in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen, and Iran. During Operation Allied Force, the B-2 was responsible for destroying 33 per cent of all Serbian targets in the first eight weeks, flying nonstop to Kosovo from Missouri and back. During Operation Enduring Freedom, the B-2 flew from Whiteman to Afghanistan and back. Its first-ever combat deployment took place during Operation Iraqi Freedom, when it flew 22 sorties from a forward operating location, as well as 27 sorties from Whiteman. In total, the bombers released more than 1.5 million pounds of munitions. During the last days of the Obama administration in 2017, two B-2 bombers were among a fleet that dropped more than 100 bombs southwest of Sirte, Libya, in strikes against the Islamic State and al-Qaeda terrorist targets. In October 2024, the US attacked Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen with B-2 bombers.

The United States Air Force has nineteen B-2s in service as of this date. One was destroyed in a 2008 crash, and another one was damaged in a crash in 2022 and was beyond economical repair. The US Air Force plans to operate the B-2s until 2032, when the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider is to replace them.

Whiteman Air Force Base

Whiteman Air Force Base, southeast of Kansas City, Missouri, is home to the entire fleet of 18 B-2 stealth bombers and proclaims it “can project US airpower anywhere around the world from its home station.” Its 509th Bomb Wing is part of the Air Force Global Strike Command. 412th Test Wing – Edwards Air Force Base, California, has one B-2 under Air Force Materiel Command.

GBU-57A/B MOP

The GBU-57 series MOP (Massive Ordnance Penetrator) is a 30,000-pound (13,600 kg) precision-guided “bunker buster” bomb developed for the United States Air Force (USAF). Composed of a BLU-127 bomb body and precision guidance kit, the GBU-57 comes in several variants and weights. It is much larger than earlier USAF weapons designed to destroy heavily fortified, deep underground bunkers. In September 2011, the USAF took delivery of 20 bombs, designed to be delivered by the B-2. In February 2012, Congress approved $81.6 million to further develop and improve the weapon.

The BLU-127 bomb body contains a total explosive payload of 5,342 pounds (2,423 kg). These high-performance polymer-bonded explosives are optimised for controlled detonation in confined spaces. The bomb’s casing is made from high-density Eglin steel alloy, engineered to survive the extreme stresses of deep penetration before detonation.

To ensure precision targeting, the MOP employs a combination of Global Positioning System and Inertial Navigation System (GPS/INS) guidance. In flight, the bomb is stabilised by grid fins, which help maintain trajectory and allow for mid-course adjustments. This integrated system enables the bomb to strike within metres of its intended target. Detonation timing is managed by the Large Penetrator Smart Fuze (LPSF), which adjusts the moment of explosion based on impact depth and the characteristics of the underground structure.

The US Air Force has said that the GBU-57 can penetrate up to 60 m (200 ft) of unspecified material before exploding. Some analysts say the weapon can penetrate about 60 m (200 ft) of earth or 18 m (59 ft) of concrete. The MOP can currently be dropped only by the B-2 Spirit, which can carry up to two of the bombs. The B-21 Raider is slated to carry it to.

Bombing Iranian Underground Nuclear Facilities

Iran’s nuclear sites at Fordow and the most recent halls at Natanz are known to lie more than 80 m (260 ft) underground. The original Natanz enrichment plant sits roughly 20 m (66 ft) below the surface. Iranian domestic research has produced concrete exceeding 30,000 psi (210 MPa), a level that could sharply reduce the bomb’s effective penetration depth. Complicating matters further are the weapon’s guidance accuracy in a GPS-jamming environment and the possibility of deflection or yaw caused by advanced bunker-shell construction techniques.

The GBU-57 MOP was reportedly used as part of a United States airstrike operation on Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, conducted overnight in the early hours of June 22, 2025, as part of American strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. A dozen GBU-57A were dropped on Fordow and two on Natanz by the USAF. US Navy submarines fired 30 TLAM cruise missiles at Natanz and Isfahan sites. President Trump declared the attacks a success.

Deception and Decoy

Trump called for Iran’s “unconditional surrender” on June 17, but Iran’s leadership scoffed in response. Just two days back, President Trump repeated the ‘two weeks’ warning to Iran to avoid US air strikes. European diplomats also urged Iran to resume talks, but Tehran refused until the aggression stops. Iran continued major ballistic missile strikes against Israel, and some of these could not be intercepted. The conflict has resulted in numerous casualties on both sides.

Meanwhile multiple US B-2 bombers began heading towards Guam as Trump was weighing joining Israel. There were reports that they could reposition at Diego Garcia. Meanwhile, mid last week, the US moved 30 military tanker aircraft from bases in America to countries in Europe, possibly on standby. This mobilisation comes amidst growing tensions between Iran and Israel, with missile attacks reported in Tel Aviv. The final attack came very quickly and was launched directly from the US mainland. This found Iran somewhat unprepared. According to open-source flight tracking and radio communications, the bombers launched on June 21 were refuelled off the US Pacific Coast by Air Force tankers using HIFI call signs, which are commonly associated with bomber missions. There are also reports based on satellite pictures that Iran had moved a significant part of fissile material from Fordow in convoys of trucks days before the actual attack.

Can the War Escalate?

A prominent adviser to Iran’s supreme leader has called for missile strikes on US Navy ships and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping route. “Following America’s attack on the Fordow nuclear installation, it is now our turn,” warned Hossein Shariatmadari, the editor-in-chief of the hard-line Kayhan newspaper. “Without hesitation or delay, as a first step, we must launch missile strikes on the American naval fleet based in Bahrain and simultaneously close the Strait of Hormuz to American, British, German, and French shipping.” His message ended with a quote from the Quran, which read: “Kill them wherever you shall overtake (find) them.” Meanwhile, there has been increased air activity over Tehran. The air defences jumped into action numerous times in the night hours. Meanwhile, Trump’s media post reflects the administration’s willingness to escalate further if provoked, reinforcing the president’s long-standing promise that a nuclear-armed Iran “will not be tolerated”.

US Existing Deployments in West Asia

The US has some 40,000 troops in West Asia, and US officials say that additional deployments to the region are purely defensive. So far, the US military mission has been limited to protecting Israel and US forces. US fighter aircraft have helped shoot down Iranian drones, and US Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) batteries and Aegis-equipped ships have also defended Israel.

The US has moved more ballistic missile defence destroyers to the eastern Mediterranean in recent days and has deployed more than two dozen tankers to Europe and additional Air Force fighters to West Asia. The Pentagon has also dispatched the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier to the region under US Central Command, which oversees US forces in West Asia. The Nimitz will join the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier, which is already operating in the region. Four B-52 Stratofortress bombers replaced the B-2s on Diego Garcia and remain on station there.

Additional air assets into the region include F-16 and F-35 multi-role fighters. The F-22 air superiority fighters are likely to arrive in the coming days. USAF squadrons of F-15E Strike Eagles, A-10 Thunderbolt II attack planes, and F-16s were already in place in the Middle East.

To Summarise

President Trump thanked the Israeli military “for the wonderful job they’ve done” and praised American service members for “an operation the likes of which the world has not seen in many, many decades.” “There is no military in the world that could have done what we did tonight,” he said, going on to praise his top US military leadership. The objective of Saturday’s strikes against three Iranian nuclear sites was to stop the “nuclear threat”. “Our objective was the destruction of Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world’s number one state sponsor of terror,” Trump added. “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,” Trump said. He said, “This cannot continue. There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran, far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days. Remember, there are many targets left.” Trump warned that the US could “go after those other targets with precision, speed, and skill”, which he said could be done “in a matter of minutes”.

“For 40 years, Iran has been saying, ‘Death to America,’ ‘Death to Israel.’ They have been killing our people, blowing off their arms, blowing off their legs, with roadside bombs. That was their specialty. We lost over 1,000 people, and hundreds of thousands throughout the Middle East and around the world have died as a direct result of their hate,” Trump said. He said that “so many were killed by their general, Qasem Soleimani.” Trump ordered a strike in Iraq in January 2020 to kill Soleimani, a decision he said at the time was aimed at deterrence. “I decided a long time ago that I would not let this happen. It will not continue,” Trump said Saturday.

Iran-backed Houthis say Trump “must bear the consequences” for strikes on Iran. Earlier, a statement from the Houthi-controlled Yemeni Armed Forces said the group was prepared to target US Navy warships in the Red Sea “in the event that the American enemy launches an aggression in support” of Israel. Will the Houthis and Hezbollah become more active? The US could once again retaliate with a series of air strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen that had early continued into the spring of this year. Will Iran arrange to randomly kill Americans in West Asia? Will the war escalate within West Asia between Shia and Sunni sects of Islam? Will the shipping lanes be choked? There is likely to be a serious dent in global oil supplies, and prices are likely to shoot up. India will certainly be affected.

Iran’s atomic agency has condemned the US attacks on three of the country’s nuclear facilities and vowed “never” to stop its nuclear program, according to Iranian media. The Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran described the strikes as a “blatant violation of international law, particularly the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT),” and accused the UN’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), of “complicity.”

UN chief Antonio Guterres said he is “gravely alarmed” by the US strike on Iran and called for peace. He urged all UN member states to de-escalate under their obligations to the UN Charter and international law. India has maintained the “Wait and Watch” stand and has advised caution to both sides. India had timely begun evacuating its citizens from Iran.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine has emerged as one of the key voices advising Trump over the course of the Israel-Iran conflict as the president weighed the possibility of US military intervention, along with CIA Director John Ratcliffe and US special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, whom Trump had tasked with pursuing a diplomatic solution. The US conveyed to Iran through back-channel discussions that further strikes would be contained and that no further strikes were planned going forward. It wasn’t immediately clear how the message was conveyed, but it signals Trump’s desire to continue searching for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis.

The MOP was believed to be the only ordnance able to reach the deeply buried facilities, though there were doubts that one single bomb would be able to penetrate deeply enough to reach them. Therefore, more were perhaps dropped. Future Israeli military action in Iran will depend on how Tehran reacts to the US strikes against its nuclear facilities. Israeli officials have said eliminating Iran’s nuclear program is the primary goal of their bombing campaign, but senior Israeli officials have also increasingly said they are aiming to remove the Iranian regime from power.

The writer is former Director General, Centre for Air Power Studies. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views.