The Strengthened Depth and Danger of Fordow
Fordow is buried 80–100 metres below the surface in concrete and reinforced rock, cut into a mountain close to Qom.
It contains sophisticated centrifuges that enrich uranium to about 83.7%, which is getting close to weapons-grade levels. Conventional planes and explosives cannot reach it due to its depth and strong defences.
Why the B‑2 + GBU‑57 MOP Combo Was the Only One That Worked
The only non-nuclear weapon in the United States arsenal that can penetrate 60 metres of rock or concrete before detonating is the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator. This enormous 30,000-pound weapon can only be carried and detonated by the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber.
Two or more B-twos would be part of the bomber flights, which would probably be staged from distant locations like Diego Garcia. It might take several drops to destroy the facility sufficiently.
Significant Operational Difficulties
Stealth penetration: B-2s need to use electronic warfare and stealth to get past Iran’s air defences.
Payload delivery: It may not be sufficient for one MOP to strike perfectly in order to destroy important infrastructure (nationalinterest.org +5).
Intelligence precision: Even with sophisticated data, there is no guarantee of a subterranean hit; precise knowledge of the subsurface layout is necessary for targeting.
Failure risk: According to live testing, even B-twos with bunker busters in Yemen have not been able to “seal the deal” completely; Iran might use such fortifications.
Risks of Political and Strategic Escalation
Any attack on Fordow would constitute a significant escalation, raising the possibility of Iranian missile and drone retaliation and an unrestrained Middle East conflict. President Trump has expressed hesitation, citing doubts about MOP effectiveness, suggesting only a tactical nuke would guarantee a knockout—an option off the table
theguardian.com
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Bottom Line
A strike on Fordow using B‑2 bombers and GBU‑57 MOPs is theoretically possible, but riddled with challenges:
Underground depth makes success uncertain
Requires flawless stealth penetration, logistics, and targeting
Would likely trigger a serious regional escalation
