B-2 bombers, ‘Bunker Busters', Tomahawks: US joins Israel-Iran war; what weapons hit Iran's nuclear sites
The United States entered the war between its ally Israel and Iran by conducting air strikes on Iran's nuclear sites early Sunday morning in the Islamic Republic.
The US deployed some of its most sophisticated weaponry for the strikes - the B-2 Spirit bombers, the GBU-57 A/B MOPs (Massive Ordinance Penetrator) and the Tomahawk cruise missiles.
B-2 Spirit bombers:
More famous as the Stealth, six of these were used to drop the "bunker busters" on the underground Fordow plant, Iran's primary nuclear facility, near the Qom city. The B-2 Spirit was used as it is the only aircraft capable of carrying the Massive Ordinance Penetrator (MOP), which experts have highlighted as the only bomb potentially capable of destroying underground targets, such as Fordow.
Also Read: What are B-2 bombers used by US to strike Iran? Here's why they're key
GBU 57 A/B MOPs:
It is a 30,000-pound bomb with 6,000 pounds of explosives and is also known as "bunker buster."
This is because it is designed to destroy heavily protected facilities such as bunkers deep underground, beyond the reach of normal bombs.
The GBU-57 is the most powerful bunker buster in the US arsenal. Besides Fordow, it was used against the Natanz facility in the Isfahan province.
Tomahwaks:
During the operation, as many as 30 Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles were fired by the United States Navy at the Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites. A long-range cruise missile, it is fired from ships and submarines. Its targets can be changed in-flight through satellite communications.
According to the US Navy, Tomahawks can loiter over a target area to respond to emerging targets and also provide battle damage information. Their first operational use was in Operation Desert Storm in 1991.
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