Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit Dropping a GBU-57A/B Massive Ordinance Penetrator (MOP)

On June 21, 2025, seven B-2 Spirit stealth bombers attacked two Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow and Nantanz as a part of Operation Midnight Hammer. The B-2's dropped a total of fourteen GBU-57A/B Massive Ordanance Penetrator (MOP) bombs on both facilities. Twelve MOP's were dropped on Fordow and two MOP's were dropped on Nantanz. The MOP is a 30,000lb. bunker buster bomb that was developed over the last 15 years specifically to attack the Fordow uranium enrichment facility. This Operation Midnight Hammer marked the first use of the GBU-57 in combat operations. In addition to the seven B-2's, the strike package included 4th generation and 5th generation fighters providing protection against Iranian fighters and provide  Supression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) cover to supress Iraninan air defenses. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Dan Caine, reported that the strike package took Iran by complete surprise and that they had no indication that the strike package was shot at going into or out of Iran. Both facilities were oblitated in the attack. In addition, a U.S. Navy Guided-Missile Submarine (SSGN) launched 30 Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise Missiles (T-LAM) at a third nuclear facility at Isfahan. This facility was obliterated as well. The most likely submarine used in the Isfahan attack was the USS Georgia (SSGN-729), which was ordered by former U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in August 2024 to move from the Mediterranean Sea into the waters of the Middle East as a deterrent against an anticipated Iranian attack on Israel.

B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber Dropping GBU-57A/B Massive Ordinance Penetrator (MOP) Bunker Buster Bombs During Weapons Testing

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