“Bunker buster” is a broad term used to describe bombs that are designed to penetrate deep below the surface before exploding. (Image: AP)
US President Donald Trump has confirmed that the United States launched targeted airstrikes on three key nuclear facilities in Iran — Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan — as part of the escalating conflict in the Middle East. In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump said American warplanes had successfully carried out the mission. As tensions between Israel and Iran continue to rise, global attention has zeroed in on one of Iran’s most heavily fortified nuclear sites: the Fordow facility. Buried deep within a mountain near the city of Qom, Fordow was specifically designed to survive conventional airstrikes, making it a cornerstone of Iran’s nuclear program—and a top target in any serious attempt to dismantle Tehran’s nuclear capabilities.
What sets Fordow apart is its near-impenetrable location. The facility’s underground bunkers are shielded by layers of rock and reinforced concrete, so well-protected that only the United States possesses the type of advanced bunker-busting weaponry capable of breaching it.
According to a report by Fox News, six bunker buster bombs were used on Iran’s Fordow research site.
What Is ‘Bunker – Buster’ Bomb?
Officially named the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), this 30,000-pound bomb is a marvel of military engineering, designed with a single mission: to obliterate heavily fortified, deeply buried targets. Dubbed the ultimate “bunker-buster,” it was developed in response to intelligence that rivals like Iran and North Korea were shifting vital infrastructure – including nuclear operations – underground to evade aerial attacks.
It’s believed to be able to penetrate about 200 feet (61 meters) below the surface before exploding, and the bombs can be dropped one after another, effectively drilling deeper and deeper with each successive blast.
The Fordow site, located near the holy city of Qom, is considered one of the most secure parts of Iran’s nuclear program. Designed to survive conventional airstrikes, the facility is housed under hundreds of feet of rock and reinforced concrete, making it virtually impervious to standard precision-guided munitions.
Fordow is Iran’s second nuclear enrichment facility after Natanz, its main facility, which already has been targeted by US’ and Israeli airstrikes.
Bunker-Buster- Size
Measuring 20 feet in length and weighing 30,000 pounds, the MOP trades a massive explosive payload for a hardened steel casing – a design that allows it to survive the impact as it bores through layers of concrete, earth or rock before delivering its devastating blast.
Why It Matters To Israel
Israel has long voiced alarm over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, especially after a 2023 report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) revealed that uranium at the Fordow facility had been enriched to 83.7% purity – close to the 90% level required for a nuclear weapon.
