What do you know about the Bunker-Buster bomb and Iran’s Fordo nuclear facility

BANGKOK (AP) – If the U.S. decides to support Israeli attacks on Iran more directly, one option in Washington is to provide a “bundle-spoiler” bomb, which is considered necessary to cause necessary damage to the Folk Multi-nuclear fuel-enriched plants deep in the mountains.

Such bombs would have to be removed from a U.S. aircraft, which could have broad implications, including jeopardizing any opportunity for Iran to negotiate expected by Trump on his nuclear program. Israeli officials also suggested that there are other options to attack Fordo as it tries to destroy Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

But besides a commando attack or nuclear strike on the ground, the Bunker Buster bomb appears to be the most likely option.

What is a bunker bomb?

“Bunker Buster” is a broad term used to describe a bomb that is designed to penetrate deep into the surface before it explodes. In this case, it refers to the latest GBU-57 A/B large-scale ordnance penetrator bomb in the U.S. arsenal. According to the U.S. Air Force, approximately 30,000 pounds (13,600 kilograms) of precision bombs are designed to attack buried and hardened bunkers and tunnels.

It is believed to be able to penetrate about 200 feet (61 meters) below the surface before the explosion, and the bomb can fall one by one, and each continuous explosion can effectively drill deeper and deeper.

The bombs carry conventional warheads, but the IAEA has confirmed that Iran is producing highly enriched uranium fordo, which increases the possibility of nuclear material being released into the area if the facility is attacked using GBU-57 A/B. However, the IAEA said Israel’s strike at another Iranian nuclear site at the centrifugal airport site caused pollution only at the site itself, not at the surrounding area.

How difficult is the goal?

Fordo is Iran’s second nuclear-rich facility, second only to its main facility, Natanz. So far, the Israeli strike has not damaged the underground enrichment hall in Natanz, and the Israelis are targeting tunnels excavated by Iranians nearby.

Fordo is smaller than Natanz and is built on the mountain side near the city of QOM, about 60 miles (95 kilometers) southwest of Tehran. Construction is believed to have started around 2006 and was first operated in 2009 – that year, Tehran publicly acknowledged its existence.

In addition to estimated 80 meters (260 feet) under rock and soil, the site is also protected by Iranian and Russian ground-oriented air missile systems. However, these air defense measures may have been attacked in the Israeli movement.

Nevertheless, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the target of the attack on Iran was to eliminate its missile and nuclear program, which he described as a threat to Israel, and officials said Fordo was part of the program.

“The whole operation … really has to be done with the elimination of Fordo,” Israeli ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter told Fox News on Friday.

Why does the United States need to participate?

In theory, any bomber capable of bearing weight can put down the GBU-57 A/B, but for the moment, the United States has only configured and programmed its B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber to deliver the bomb.

The B-2 is only flew by the Air Force and is produced by Northrop Grumman.

According to the manufacturer, the B-2 can carry 40,000 pounds (18,000 kg) of payload, but the Air Force said it has successfully tested the B-2 with two GBU-57 A/B Bunker Busters, with a total weight of about 60,000 pounds (27,200 kg).

Northrop Grumman said the strategic long-range heavy bomber had a range of about 7,000 miles (11,000 kilometers) without refueling and 11,500 miles (18,500 kilometers), one of which could reach any point in the world in a matter of hours.

Whether the United States is involved is another matter.

At the G7 conference in Canada, Trump was asked what military involvement needed, and he said: “I don’t want to talk about that.”

In an interview with ABC News over the weekend, Israeli ambassador Leiter was asked about the possibility that the United States might help attack Faudo, stressing that Israel only seeks defensive help from the United States.

“We have many chances … which will allow us to deal with Fordo,” he said.

“Not everything is a matter of bombing the sky in the distance.”