How U.S. could destroy Fordow plant

Striking Fordow is central to crippling Iran’s nuclear weapons capability, but only the U.S. has both the bomb powerful enough to penetrate its most fortified site and the bomber that can deliver it

B-2 Spirit
Stealth bomber

GBU-57
Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP)
Weight: 13,000kg
Length: 6.2m

Fold-out fins for control

GPS system guides bomb towards target

Casing: Made of hardened ferro-cobalt alloy to survive impact. Body comprises over 80% of bomb’s total weight

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2
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Bomb released at 12km above target

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With no engine, bomb uses kinetic energy to penetrate up to 60 metres underground

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Delayed fuse detonates 2,400kg of explosives

Additional bombs dropped on same hole, allows deeper penetration

FORDOW NUCLEAR FACILITY

Two enrichment halls carved 80-110m deep into mountain. Believed to house up to 3,000 centrifuges

Tunnel entrances
Tunnel entrances
Tunnel entrances
Security perimeter
Diagram not to scale
Support building
Access
Fordow
IRAN

Sources: Nuclear Threat Initiative, U.S. Department of Defense, Boeing
Picture: Google Earth
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