US President Donald Trump announced that B-2 Spirit bombers of the US Air Force were utilized in the recent attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities. This stealth bomber, known for its distinctive design, has a history of controversial deployment, including its first combat use in the Kosovo War.
Key Characteristics of the B-2 Spirit
The B-2 Spirit is the most advanced bomber in the US Air Force inventory. It is equipped with four engines, can be armed with either nuclear or conventional weapons, and is operated by a two-person crew. It boasts a payload capacity of 18,000 kilograms (approximately 40,000 pounds) and an virtually unlimited range thanks to its aerial refueling capability.
The B-2 first flew in 1989. Its first combat deployment was ten years later during Operation Allied Force, NATO’s intervention in the humanitarian crisis in Kosovo. During that operation, B-2s flew non-stop from their base in Missouri to strike Serbian targets, showcasing their long-range capabilities.
Subsequently, the B-2 has conducted even longer missions, including targeting objectives in Afghanistan in October 2001, during the early phase of Operation Enduring Freedom. More recently, the B-2 has been deployed from the joint US-British base in Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean to strike Houthi targets in Yemen.
The US Air Force currently maintains an inventory of only 20 B-2 aircraft, all stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. Each of these bombers is estimated to cost around $2 billion at current valuations.
The “Bunker Buster” Bomb: GBU-57A/B MOP
During the Saturday night attacks (Eastern US time) on Iran’s nuclear facilities, the US reportedly used the GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), also known as the “bunker buster” bomb. This information comes from two sources familiar with the operation.
The MOP is a massive 13,600-kilogram (30,000-pound) bomb containing 2,700 kilograms (6,000 pounds) of explosives. It is specifically “designed to reach and destroy our adversaries’ weapons of mass destruction housed in heavily protected facilities,” according to a US Air Force briefing. The B-2 is the only aircraft in the American inventory capable of carrying the GBU-57A/B bomb.
