Paper: GS – II, Subject: International Relations, Topic: Global Issues, Issue: US airstrikes on Iranian Nuclear Facilities.
Context:
The recent U.S.-Israel bombing of Iran, including US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—hailed by President Trump as a ‘spectacular’ success highlights the changing power dynamics, the role of external powers, and the possibility of de-escalation in a historically volatile region, marking a potential reset in West Asia.
- The strikes, led by B-2 Spirit stealth bombers using GBU-57 bunker busters, targeted deeply buried sites like Fordow. The operation, named Operation Midnight Hammer, was executed by U.S.
Key Takeaways:
| About B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber: It is a United States long-range stealth bomber. It first flew in 1989 and was delivered to the U.S. Air Force starting in 1993. There are currently 19 in service. It is built and maintained by Northrop Grumman Corporation.The U.S. B-2 costs about $2.1 billion each, making it the world’s most expensive military aircraft ever built. B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber Features: It is known for its low observability, all-altitude capability, and ability to penetrate the most sophisticated air defenses. Due to its low-observability engineering, the fighter is difficult to detect by conventional radar. The bomber is flown by a crew of two, the pilot and the mission commander. Power is provided by four turbofan engines. It has a top speed of 628 miles (1,010 km) per hour.The advanced jet also has several other features, including its capability to travel up to 6,000 nautical miles (11,112 km) without refueling and massive arsenal capacity and ability to perform operations freely even at high altitudes.With aerial refueling, the B-2 can reach virtually any target worldwide.Its payload capacity of more than 40,000 pounds (18,144 kg) allows the aircraft to carry a diverse array of conventional and nuclear weapons.The bomber’s internal weapons bays are specifically designed to maintain stealth characteristics while accommodating large ordnance loads, which could include two GBU-57A/B MOP (Massive Ordnance Penetrator), a 30,000-pound precision-guided “bunker buster” bomb. MOP represents the largest conventional bomb in the U.S. arsenal, specifically engineered to defeat hardened underground bunkers.B-2 bombers are the only plane capable of carrying the MOP. |
US-Israel Alliance Reaches New Heights:
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