B-2 Stealth Bombers: The Crown Jewel of US Air Defence that Hit Iran’s Nuclear Sites

B-2 Stealth Bombers: Trump described the attack as a “historic moment” not only for the US but also for Israel and the world.

The United States on June 22, launched targeted airstrikes on three major Iranian nuclear sites. US President Donald Trump confirmed the military action, announcing that B-2 stealth bombers carried out the mission, hitting Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan—all crucial locations of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Trump described the attack as a “historic moment” not only for the US but also for Israel and the world.

What Is the B-2 Stealth Bomber?

The B-2 Spirit stealth bomber is among the most elite and formidable aircrafts in the world. Designed by Northrop Grumman, it first took flight in 1989 and remains the cornerstone of US stealth strike capability even three decades later. Unlike conventional bombers, the B-2 is engineered to be nearly invisible to radar, its flying-wing design, radar-absorbent coating, and infrared-suppressing features.

It has a radar cross-section comparable to a small bird—roughly 0.001 square meters—making it virtually undetectable even by advanced enemy air defense systems. The bomber can reach altitudes of 15,000 meters (50,000 feet) and travel up to 12,000 kilometers (7,500 miles) without refueling, allowing it to conduct intercontinental missions directly from the US and return without being detected.

Key Features of the B-2 Bomber

1. Unit cost: $2.4 billion — most expensive warplane ever built
2. Production: Only 21 units made, this enhances its strategic rarity
3. Design: Flying wing with no tail or vertical surfaces — reduces radar signature
4. Radar invisibility: Appears like a bird or doesn’t show up at all on radar
5. Stealth skin: Coated in a highly classified radar-absorbent material
6. Heat reduction: Four jet engines buried within the body to lower the infrared signature
7. Altitude & range: Flies at 50,000 feet, with a nonstop range of 12,000 km
8. Payload: Carries precision-guided conventional bombs or nuclear weapons
9. Mission profile: Every flight is highly classified, used for pre-emptive, high-stakes operations
10. Sound & infrared: Almost no sound or trail detectable by satellite or heat sensors
11. Strategic use: Built for deep penetration into enemy airspace — not for air-to-air combat
12. Role: A tool of strategic dominance, meant to reshape conflict through unseen force projection .

Why Did the US Use the B-2 Against Iran?

For days, military analysts speculated about the movement of B-2 bombers to Guam, suspecting an imminent high-impact operation. The speculation came true when President Trump revealed that the US had used B-2s to strike three fortified Iranian nuclear facilities, including the heavily protected Fordow uranium enrichment site. Reports suggest that the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP)—a 30,000-pound bunker-busting bomb—was deployed on Fordow.

The B-2 is the only aircraft in the US fleet capable of carrying and delivering this massive weapon, which is designed to reach and destroy deeply buried targets. According to the New York Times, the B-2s flew non-stop for 37 hours from their base in Missouri, refueling multiple times mid-air before reaching Iranian airspace—executing one of the longest and most complex bombing runs in modern military history.

What Is the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP)?

The Massive Ordnance Penetrator is the US Air Force’s most powerful non-nuclear bomb designed specifically for destroying hardened underground bunkers. The GPS-guided bomb is more advanced than earlier models like the BLU-109 and GBU-28, capable of burrowing deep before detonating its explosive payload. The MOP has been successfully tested on “threat-representative targets”, making it the ideal weapon to neutralize Iran’s deeply buried nuclear sites.

In the recent attack, six MOPs were reportedly dropped on Fordow to ensure the destruction of Iran’s most critical underground facility. The use of the B-2 stealth bomber was a deliberate and calculated move by the US—not just for operational effectiveness, but also for global signaling. By unleashing its most advanced and secretive aircraft, Washington has demonstrated its willingness to escalate and dominate the battlefield using next-gen military technology.

As tensions continue to spiral in the Middle East, the B-2’s deployment sends a clear message: when the US wants to strike, it can do so swiftly, silently, and with devastating precision—even in the most hostile and fortified environments.

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