Israel Can Destroy Iran's Fordo Nuclear Site Without U.S. Aid: What to Know

Israel requires a 15-ton GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator, a U.S.-exclusive "bunker buster" bomb, to destroy Iran's heavily fortified Fordow fuel enrichment plant, a key component of its nuclear program. Buried 300 feet beneath a mountain near Qom, two hours south of Tehran, Fordow is shielded by layers of granite and steel, making it nearly impervious to conventional airstrikes. The GBU-57, designed by Boeing for the U.S. Air Force, is the only non-nuclear weapon capable of penetrating such depths to destroy the facility’s nuclear centrifuges. However, it can only be delivered by a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, a platform exclusive to the U.S. military and absent from Israel’s arsenal, as reported by the New York Post.

John Spencer, chair of urban warfare studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point, emphasized to The Post, “The United States controls the bomber and the bomb.” Developed at a cost exceeding $500 million, the GBU-57 is engineered to burrow deep underground before detonating, ensuring the destruction of fortified targets like Fordow. According to a 2013 Wall Street Journal report, the U.S. produced 20 of these bombs, none of which have been shared with allies, including Israel, to maintain strategic superiority. While the U.S. has supplied Israel with less powerful bunker busters, such as the 5,000-pound GBU-37, these lack the capacity to neutralize Fordow’s deep fortifications.

Although many are of the opinion that Israel neutralizing Fordo alone is actually not possible, there are some who differ. According to them, wven without U.S. support, Israel could resort to a high-risk “drilling” tactic, sequentially dropping multiple bombs at varying angles to reach the facility’s depth. Spencer noted, “Israel has cornered the market on drilling,” but this approach requires multiple aircraft and personnel, increasing vulnerability and complexity compared to the GBU-57’s “one and done” efficiency. He described the bomb’s impact as akin to an earthquake, far surpassing the “teeth-rattling” effect of smaller 500-pound bunker busters he has witnessed. The GBU-57’s design ensures a contained explosion, minimizing risks of nuclear leakage by collapsing rubble inward rather than breaching the surface.

U.S. intelligence, as cited by Brett McGurk, former Middle East coordinator for multiple U.S. administrations, shows Fordow’s destruction as critical to halting Iran’s ability to produce weapons-grade material. Recent escalations, including Iran’s Supreme Leader warning of “battle” and threats of retaliatory strikes on U.S. bases heighten the stakes. Iran’s claims of preparing for potential conflict further complicate the geopolitical landscape.

Israel’s air force, while advanced, lacks the heavy-payload bombers needed for the GBU-57, relying instead on F-15s, F-16s, and F-35s suited for smaller munitions. Israel’s history of innovative tactics, such as the 1981 Osirak reactor strike, indicates it may explore alternative strategies, but none match the GBU-57’s precision and power.

Without U.S. cooperation, Israel’s options remain limited, risking either a less effective strike or escalation of regional tensions. Spencer concluded, “There are many ways to destroy the nuclear program in Iran, but [the GBU-57] is the effective and efficient one.”