Iran

#4,481
#4,481
volinbham said:
did they drop the bunker busters or just make the whole thing inaccessible with more traditional ordinance. it always seemed to me you don't have to get to the facilities if you can make them effectively inaccessible.
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Idk CNN reported they dropped 12. But I also don’t believe anything coming from Iran about that at the moment. There’s no way you can know the damage already, same with US officials saying it’s destroyed
 
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#4,483
#4,483
Trump says U.S. 'completely and totally obliterated' nuclear facilities in Iran.

How does he know this instantaneously?

Hmmm....

Can a United States gbu57 bunker buster reach and destroy the Iranian Fordo nuclear facility

The GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) is the U.S. military’s most powerful non-nuclear bomb, designed to destroy deeply buried and hardened targets like Iran’s Fordo nuclear facility. However, whether it can reliably reach and destroy Fordo is uncertain due to the facility’s extreme depth, advanced construction, and other complicating factors. Below is an analysis based on available information:

GBU-57 Capabilities

Weight and Design: The GBU-57 weighs approximately 30,000 pounds (13,600 kg) and carries a 5,300-pound (2,400 kg) explosive payload. Its high-strength steel casing allows it to penetrate deep underground before detonating.

Penetration Depth: Estimates suggest the GBU-57 can penetrate up to 200 feet (61 meters) of earth or 60 feet (18 meters) of reinforced concrete with a compressive strength of 5,000 psi (34 MPa). Some sources indicate it could reach 130 feet (40 meters) in moderately hard rock.

Delivery Platform: The bomb is exclusively deployed by the U.S. B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, which can carry two GBU-57s. Multiple bombs can be dropped sequentially to “drill” deeper by exploiting the crater made by the first impact.

Kinetic Energy: At an estimated impact velocity exceeding Mach 1 (~343 m/s), the GBU-57 delivers 800–900 megajoules of kinetic energy, concentrating immense force into a small area for penetration.

Fordo Nuclear Facility

Location and Depth: Fordo is buried 260–300 feet (80–90 meters) beneath a mountain near Qom, Iran, reinforced with concrete reportedly exceeding 30,000 psi (210 MPa) in strength. This depth and fortification make it one of the most protected nuclear sites in the world.

Purpose: Fordo is a key uranium enrichment facility, producing highly enriched uranium (up to 60%, close to the 90% needed for nuclear weapons). It is considered critical to Iran’s nuclear program.

Defenses: The facility is protected by layers of rock, high-strength concrete, and reportedly Iranian and Russian surface-to-air missile systems, though these may have been degraded by Israeli strikes.

Can the GBU-57 Destroy Fordo?

Penetration Challenges: The GBU-57’s maximum penetration depth (200 feet of earth or 60 feet of 5,000-psi concrete) is likely insufficient to reach Fordo’s estimated depth of 260–300 feet, especially given Iran’s use of ultra-high-strength concrete (30,000 psi). Some experts suggest that even multiple sequential drops may not guarantee reaching the facility’s core.

A Royal United Services Institute analysis notes that “multiple impacts at the same aiming point” would be required, with precise GPS guidance to ensure subsequent bombs hit the same crater. However, GPS jamming and advanced bunker construction could reduce accuracy or cause deflection.

A national security expert cited by ABC News stated that even with multiple bombs, only part of the facility might be damaged, not fully destroyed.

Damage Potential: If the GBU-57 reaches the facility, its 5,300-pound explosive payload could cause significant damage, potentially destroying centrifuges and infrastructure. However, experts warn that Iran’s nuclear knowledge and dispersed facilities mean that destroying Fordo would not eliminate its nuclear program entirely.

Radiation Risks: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) notes that Fordo contains highly enriched uranium. A strike could release radioactive material, though experts suggest the risk is limited as uranium hexafluoride gas is heavy and would likely remain contained within the facility.

Historical Context: A 2019 New York Times report mentioned a U.S. test where a GBU-57 destroyed a mock-up of Fordo, but the facility’s actual construction may be more robust than the test replica.

Additional Considerations

Multiple Strikes: To increase the chances of success, multiple GBU-57s would likely need to be dropped in precise succession, requiring multiple B-2 bombers or repeated sorties. This increases operational complexity and risk.

U.S. Involvement: Only the U.S. possesses the GBU-57 and B-2 bombers. Israel lacks the capability to deploy this weapon, meaning any attack on Fordo would require direct U.S. involvement or the unprecedented transfer of the bombs to Israel.

Alternative Options: Israeli officials have hinted at “other ways” to target Fordo, such as ground operations or sabotage, though these are high-risk and less feasible. Disrupting power supplies or entrances could also impair operations without fully destroying the facility.

Strategic Implications: Even if Fordo were damaged, Iran’s nuclear expertise and other facilities (e.g., Natanz) could allow it to recover. A strike might delay, but not eliminate, Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Conclusion

The GBU-57 has a theoretical chance of damaging Fordo, but success is not guaranteed due to the facility’s extreme depth (260–300 feet vs. the bomb’s 200-foot penetration capability) and high-strength concrete. Multiple precise strikes would be needed, and even then, only partial damage to the facility is likely. The bomb’s 800–900 MJ of kinetic energy aids penetration, but the explosive payload would need to reach the facility’s core to cause significant destruction. Broader strategic and environmental risks, including potential radioactive release, further complicate the operation. Without U.S. involvement, Israel cannot deploy the GBU-57, and alternative methods may be insufficient to fully destroy Fordo
 
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#4,493
#4,493
Smokey123 said:
From Iran's perspective, nothing too strange has happened. Iran has been waiting for an attack on Fordow for several nights. The site has long been evacuated and has not suffered any irreversible damage in the attack. Two things are certain: First, knowledge cannot be bombed, and second, the gambler will lose this time.
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LOL
 
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#4,496
#4,496
now we know why all those tankers were sent other day..A 6 ship packed to the rim used a **** ton of fuel.
 
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