The B-2 bomber, America’s $2 billion stealth aircraft, was deployed in a high-profile strike on Iran’s nuclear sites. Here’s everything you need to know about this powerful and rare weapon of war.
A Stealth Giant Takes Flight in Iran Bombing Campaign
The United States' most advanced stealth bomber, the B-2 Spirit, played a central role in the recent U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, President Donald Trump confirmed. The deployment of the B-2, a jet that costs approximately $2 billion each, underscores the gravity and precision of Saturday night’s military operation.
The mission, aimed at crippling Iran’s fortified nuclear infrastructure, also marked the use of one of the U.S. military’s most formidable weapons — the GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), commonly referred to as the “bunker buster.” Sources familiar with the operation reported that the B-2 bomber was the sole aircraft capable of carrying the MOP, emphasizing its unparalleled status in the U.S. Air Force arsenal.
B-2 Bomber Capabilities: Precision Meets Power
First introduced in 1989, the B-2 bomber combines stealth technology with long-range capabilities. Operated by a two-person crew, the aircraft is powered by four engines, can hold up to 18,000 kilograms of munitions, and benefits from unlimited operational range thanks to airborne refueling.
Although it debuted in combat a decade after its first flight — during Operation Allied Force in Kosovo in 1999 — the aircraft has since taken on numerous missions, including long-range attacks in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001.
More recently, the B-2 has been active from Diego Garcia, a joint U.S.-British base in the Indian Ocean, conducting precision strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. Despite its extensive capabilities, the U.S. Air Force maintains only 20 B-2 bombers, all stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri.
The Bunker Buster: A Weapon for Deep Targets
Saturday's strike on Iranian nuclear facilities featured the GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator, a 13,600-kilogram bomb carrying 2,700 kilograms of explosives. Designed specifically to destroy deeply buried and reinforced enemy infrastructure, the MOP is one of the most destructive non-nuclear weapons in the U.S. arsenal.
According to a U.S. Air Force briefing, the bomb is engineered to “reach and destroy the weapons of mass destruction of our adversaries located in well-protected facilities.” Its delivery platform — the B-2 — remains the only aircraft in service capable of carrying the MOP.
Limited Arsenal, Strategic Power
With just 20 B-2s worldwide, each representing an investment of $2 billion, their use is reserved for the most strategic and high-stakes missions. The B-2 bomber’s blend of stealth, range, payload, and precision make it a cornerstone of America’s global strike capabilities — and its role in the Iran operation reaffirms its tactical importance.
As tensions continue to simmer in the region, the sight of the B-2 bomber in action sends a resounding message of both technological superiority and strategic intent from the United States.
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