The US ‘Brahmastra’: Netanyahu’s Reliance on the GBU-57/B to Target Iran’s Nuclear Facility

As tensions escalate in the Israel-Iran conflict, the next two weeks are crucial, with the U.S. poised to make decisions. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s declared intent to strike Iran’s Fordow nuclear site raises critical questions. Many analysts believe Netanyahu is banking on the U.S. military’s GBU-57/B, a massive bunker-buster bomb. This weapon is considered by many to be the only tool capable of destroying Iran’s deeply buried nuclear facilities. The GBU-57/B, weighing 30,000 pounds, is designed to penetrate up to 200 feet underground. However, this capability isn’t within Israel’s arsenal, despite its stated goal of preventing Iran’s nuclear weapon development. The bomb’s design, with a high sectional density and a Gothic arch-shaped front, allows it to withstand the immense forces of impact. Fordow, Iran’s most advanced nuclear enrichment facility, is located 18 miles northeast of Qom, buried under 260 to 300 feet of rock and reinforced with concrete. Only the U.S. Air Force, using the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, can deploy the GBU-57/B, which can evade Iranian air defenses. The GBU-57 is GPS-guided, ensuring pinpoint accuracy, and its warhead is capable of disrupting sensitive equipment, even if the facility remains intact.