On 21 June 2025 U.S. military executed a dramatic escalation in Iran-Israel conflict deploying B-2 Spirit stealth bombers to strike three key Iranian nuclear facilities—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
Departing from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri six B-2 bombers flew nonstop for approximately 37 hours refueling mid-air to penetrate Iranian airspace undetected.
Operation, dubbed “Operation Midnight Hammer,” involved dropping a dozen 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) “bunker-buster” bombs on Fordow alone while 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from U.S. submarines targeted Natanz and Isfahan. This marked the first direct U.S. military involvement in the conflict raising fears of a broader Middle East war.
Why Did U.S. Deploy B-2 Spirit?
B-2 Spirit world’s most expensive military aircraft at $2.1 billion per unit chosen for its unmatched ability to strike deeply buried, heavily fortified targets like Fordow which lies 300 feet under a mountain near Qom.
Only B-2 can carry GBU-57 MOP, a 30,000-pound bomb designed to penetrate up to 200 feet of rock or concrete before detonating, making it only weapon capable of destroying Iran’s most critical nuclear enrichment site. Israel despite its advanced air force lacks the capability to deliver such munitions prompting its reliance on US intervention to neutralize Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
President Donald Trump, who announced the strikes on June 21, described them as a “spectacular military success,” claiming Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities were “completely obliterated.” The operation followed Israel’s initial attacks on June 13 which damaged Iran’s nuclear infrastructure but couldn’t destroy Fordow.
Trump’s decision, made days before his self-imposed two-week deadline for Iran to negotiate aligned with Israel’s goal to eliminate Iran’s nuclear threat, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called an “existential” danger.
Iran insists its nuclear program is for civilian purposes, a claim supported by U.S. intelligence assessments as recent as March 2025, though Trump publicly disputed these findings.
How Powerful Is B-2 Spirit?
B-2 Spirit, operational since 1993, is a cornerstone of U.S. Air Force’s strategic arsenal designed during Cold War to evade Soviet air defenses and deliver nuclear or conventional strikes. Its key features include:
- Stealth Technology: B-2’s flying-wing design with no tail or protruding wings minimizes radar reflection. Its radar-absorbing coating and uniquely positioned engines reduce heat signatures and contrails, making it nearly invisible to radar. Onboard systems alert pilots to visible contrails prompting altitude changes to maintain stealth.
- Long-Range Capability: With a range of over 6,000 nautical miles, B-2 can fly up to 44 hours nonstop with mid-air refueling as demonstrated in 37-hour mission to Iran.
- Payload: Each B-2 can carry two GBU-57 MOPs or up to 40,000 pounds of other munitions, including precision-guided bombs or nuclear weapons.
- Crew Efficiency: Operated by just two pilots—a pilot and a mission commander—the B-2 includes a rest area, hot meal storage, and a toilet for long missions.
- Command Systems: Equipped with advanced communication and navigation systems, B-2 serves as a mobile command center, integral to U.S. nuclear triad.
Despite lacking defensive weapons B-2’s stealth ensures safety, as no aircraft has been lost to enemy fire in over three decades of service. Its ability to strike undetected as proven in Iran, makes it “floating terror” to adversaries, per military analysts.
Why Is B-2 Undetectable by Radar?
B-2’s stealth is a product of meticulous engineering:
- Flying-Wing Design: Its smooth, curved structure scatters radar waves, preventing reflection back to enemy systems.
- Radar-Absorbing Materials: Aircraft’s surface coated with materials that absorb radar signals, reducing its radar cross-section to that of a small bird.
- Engine Placement: Engines embedded within the airframe with exhausts designed to minimize infrared signatures, keeping heat trails beyond radar detection.
- Contrail Management: Sensors detect visible vapor trails, allowing pilots to adjust altitude instantly to avoid detection.
These features enabled B-2s to bypass Iran’s air defenses weakened by prior Israeli strikes, and execute precise attacks on fortified nuclear sites.
Impact and Implications
U.S. strikes described by analysts as one of the most significant military operations in recent history, have reshaped Iran-Israel conflict. Initial assessments indicate “severe damage” to all three sites with Fordow’s underground centrifuges likely a physical disability by multiple MOP strikes. Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization called the attacks “barbaric violation” of international law. But claimed no radiation leaks asserting that enriched uranium had been evacuated prior to the strikes.
However, the operation has sparked controversy. Critics, including U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, argue Trump acted without Congressional approval, violating constitutional war powers, especially since Israel’s earlier strikes had already delayed Iran’s nuclear program by two to three years. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned of “all options” for retaliation, raising fears of attacks on U.S. bases in the region. The Houthis, Iran’s proxies, threatened to target U.S. ships in the Red Sea if Washington deepened its involvement.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, a key Iranian ally, had warned U.S. against intervention, citing risk of a nuclear catastrophe and Russia’s 200 specialists at Iran’s Bushehr plant. While Putin’s warnings delayed U.S. action earlier strikes proceeded, prompting questions about Russia’s potential response, given Iran’s strategic importance to Moscow.
B-2 Spirit’s deployment underscores its unparalleled role as a strategic weapon, capable of executing missions no other aircraft can. Its stealth, range, and payload delivered a devastating blow to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, aligning with Trump’s and Israel’s goal to curb Tehran’s capabilities.
However, strikes have opened a “door to extreme conflict” in Middle East, with Iran vowing retaliation and allies like Russia and China condemning U.S. action. As the conflict enters its second week world watches whether this historic operation will lead to peace or plunge the region into chaos.
