The next two weeks are critical in the Israel-Iran conflict, as the U.S. The President is likely to decide their course of action soon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has openly declared that he will strike Iran’s Fordow nuclear site with or without American support. However, many analysts believe he relies on the U.S. military’s so-called ‘Brahmastra’- the GBU-57/B, a powerful American bunker-buster bomb believed to be the only weapon capable of destroying Tehran’s deeply buried nuclear facilities. Is the US the only country having this bomb? How deep is Fordow, Iran’s most advanced nuclear enrichment facility is?
What Exactly Is GBU-57/B?
The bomb weighs 30,000 pounds, or around 13,600 kilograms, and is built to go as deep as 200 feet (61 meters) underground before exploding. However, this powerful weapon is not part of Israel’s military arsenal, even though Israel has clearly stated that its goal is to stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. Which is compressed into a cylinder roughly 20 feet long and 2.5 feet thick. It is the new powerful non-nuclear bomb capable of destroying targets deep below the earth. GBU-57/B stands for “Guided Bomb Unit,” which means it is a precision bomb designed to accurately hit its target.
The number 57 shows that it is the 57th design in this series of bombs. The second “B” in the name refers to the specific version of the bomb. According to Western media reports, military engineers use labels like A/B, B/B, C/B, and so on to mark each time they update or improve the design.
The front of the bomb is shaped like a Gothic arch, which helps it move through the air with less resistance. This rounded shape also spreads the force of impact evenly across the bomb’s body, so it doesn’t break when it hits the ground. The bomb is designed with high sectional density, meaning a lot of its weight is focused on a small point at the front, similar to how a hammer hits harder than a pillow. This combination of shape and concentrated weight allows the bomb to go deep into the earth or rock without breaking apart.
Iran’s Fordow
Fordow, where Iran has the most advanced nuclear enrichment facility, lies 18 miles northeast of the central city of Qom. According to reports, the site can produce enough highly enriched uranium to make a nuclear bomb in just a few days. It is hidden deep beneath a mountain, covered by 260 to 300 feet of rock reinforced with concrete, and is protected by air-defence systems.
Fordow facility requires an enormous level of penetration to be damaged or destroyed. Multiple sequential strikes can deepen the impact, potentially collapsing tunnels or critical infrastructure. Apart from GBU-57/B, no other conventional bomb matches this capability.
After Israel bombed nuclear sites in Iraq in 1981 and Syria in 2007, Iran decided to spread its nuclear program across several locations. The most important parts were placed so deep underground that even Israel’s powerful bunker-buster bombs can’t reach them. Intelligence reports say Iran began building the site in 2002, though Iran claims it started in 2007. The country admitted the site existed only in September 2009.
Why Israel Doesn’t Have Capability To Destroy Fordow Nuclear Facility
No other conventional bomb matches the capability of GBU-57/B. For comparison, Israel’s GBU-28 (5,000 pounds) is far smaller and less powerful, incapable of penetrating Fordo’s estimated 260–300-foot depth. It can penetrate only about 100 feet of earth or 20 feet of concrete, insufficient for Fordow’s depth. The GBU-57 bomb can only be used by the U.S. Air Force and is carried by the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber. This special aircraft is designed to avoid radar detection and can carry two of these powerful bombs at once. Together, the bombs weigh a total of 60,000 pounds. Other nations like Russia, China lack publicly known equivalents to the GBU-57 optimised for such deep, hardened targets.
Evade Air Defence System
The GBU-57 bomb can only be used by the U.S. Air Force and is carried by the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber. This special aircraft is designed to avoid radar detection and can carry two of these powerful bombs at once. Together, the bombs weigh a total of 60,000 pounds. The B-2’s stealth technology allows it to evade Iran’s air defences, including Russian-supplied systems like the S-300, critical for reaching heavily guarded sites like Fordow.
Precision And Power:
- The GBU-57 is GPS-guided, ensuring pinpoint accuracy even after deep penetration, maximising damage to underground structures.
- Its 5,300-pound warhead can disrupt or destroy sensitive equipment like centrifuges, even if the facility itself isn’t fully demolished.
No other country operates the B-2, and alternative aircraft (e.g., Israel’s F-15s or F-35s) lack the payload capacity or stealth to carry and deliver the GBU-57.
