How B-2 bombers took flight to attack Iran's nuclear sites - THESE 5 pictures reveal
The US has shared a video of its B-2 Spirit stealth bombers taking off from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri to carry out Operation Midnight Hammer, a mission to strike Iran’s nuclear infrastructure last week.
B-2 bombers flew 37 hours non-stop
The mission began at 12:01 am on June 21, with seven B-2 bombers departing Whiteman for a non-stop, 37-hour round-trip to Iran and back. The bombers were part of a carefully coordinated strike package that hit Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan, key Iranian nuclear facilities.
Each aircraft carried a crew of two and was armed with the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), a 30,000-pound bunk
Each aircraft was armed with the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), a 30,000-pound bunker-busting bomb designed to penetrate hardened underground structures. The bombers returned safely to base the next day, making this the second-longest B-2 mission ever, after a 44-hour mission during the early days of the war in Afghanistan in 2001.
What was targeted and why?
The B-2s dropped a total of 14 GBU-57s, with strikes timed between 6:40 pm and 7:05 pm EST, corresponding to the early hours of June 22 in Iran. The targets were carefully selected to include Iran’s fortified nuclear development sites.
The GBU-57 MOP is capable of penetrating 200 feet underground, making it ideal for reaching buried nuclear labs or react
The GBU-57 MOP is capable of penetrating 200 feet underground, making it ideal for reaching buried nuclear labs or reactors. The delayed detonation fuse maximises the damage inside fortified bunkers. The operation relied heavily on stealth and precision synchronisation. The B-2s met with mid-air refuelling aircraft after takeoff and then linked up with other strike support elements under US Central Command (CENTCOM).
Ahead of the bombers, US Navy submarines launched more than two dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles, targeting Iranian surfac
Ahead of the bombers, US Navy submarines launched more than two dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles, targeting Iranian surface infrastructure. The B-2 Spirits’ return was captured in the released video, showing the aircraft landing at Whiteman Air Force Base after their long mission.
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