U.S. Could Use 13,600 kg Bomb in Potential Strike Against Iran

US prepares strategic strike against Iran

Fordow, a key nuclear target

GBU-57 bomb on standby

According to EFE, the United States already has a military plan in place to strike Iran, with its execution pending only the final order from President Donald Trump.

The Wall Street Journal revealed that Trump has discussed the matter with his closest advisers.

According to the report, the president has approved the plans drawn up by the Pentagon but has not yet given the green light to launch the attack.

On Thursday, Trump dismissed the article, saying the newspaper «has no idea» what he is thinking.

The Fordow Plant: Central Target

US Could Use 13,600 kg Bomb in Potential Strike Against Iran – PHOTO: ChatGPT

However, he did not deny the existence of military plans.

The White House stated that the president will make a final decision within approximately two weeks.

The primary target of the potential strike would be the Fordow underground uranium enrichment facility.

This site is located about 100 kilometers south of Tehran, beneath a mountain.

Fordow and Its Ongoing Nuclear Risk

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

Fordow has been identified by Israel as Iran’s greatest nuclear threat.

Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) detected particles of uranium enriched to weapons-grade levels at the site.

This finding makes it a strategic priority for Israel and its allies.

But the infrastructure at Fordow is designed to withstand conventional attacks.

A Strike Would Require the GBU-57 Bomb

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

Israel lacks the military capability to destroy a target protected by over 100 meters of solid rock.

While Israel possesses specialized bombs like the BLU-109 and the GBU-28, they have limited penetration capacity.

The GBU-28, a laser-guided bomb weighing 2,270 kilograms, can penetrate up to 20 meters of concrete or rock.

Israel used this bomb in 2024 to kill Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

The GBU-57: The Key to the Attack

To breach Fordow’s defenses, the US would need the GBU-57/MOP, which weighs 13,600 kilograms.

This bomb, known as the “Massive Ordnance Penetrator”, can destroy underground facilities up to 60 meters deep.

It is the most powerful weapon in the US arsenal for underground targets.

The GBU-57/MOP can only be dropped by the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber.

B-2 Bombers and the Aerial Offensive

This long-range aircraft is radar-invisible and has been operational since 1997.

The B-2 can take off from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri or Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

Although tests have also been conducted with the B-52 bomber, the B-2 remains the most effective platform for these missions.

Military analysts report that Iran has lost part of its air defense capabilities.

US Strike on Iran Could Be Imminent

Fordow was previously protected by Russian-made S-300 systems, considered among the world’s most advanced.

However, Israeli reports indicate that 70% of these defenses were recently destroyed by Israeli forces.

This weakening would make it easier for the US to carry out an aerial bombardment of the nuclear site.

The success of the operation would depend on the freedom of action for bombers and the ability to conduct multiple consecutive strikes.