Israel-Iran war: Donald Trump mobilises B-2 stealth bombers to Guam as Iran strikes edge closer
US President Donald Trump’s administration has ordered the deployment of B-2 bombers to their air force base in Guam in a clear sign that they are preparing to launch bombing raids on suspected Iranian nuclear weapon development sites.
The B-2 bombers are used to deliver a range of bunker-busting bombs, including the 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator which has been designed to go after secret installations deep beneath the surface.
US officials continue to claim Iran is close to completing its goal of an armed nuclear weapon, with President Trump issuing several warnings in the last week, ordering them to cease all development efforts and come back to the negotiation table.
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The B-2 bombers have been tracked heading to the US facility in Guam in the Pacific Ocean. They could easily be deployed for a strike on the Iranian valley in Fordo where the nuclear weapon sites are situated.
Two US officials have confirmed the move to Reuters, who said they were speaking on the condition of anonymity and said no forward orders had been given to move the bombers beyond Guam.
The military base of the Indian Ocean base in Diego Garcia could be the next stop for the B-2 bombers if the US were to order a strike on Iran and had previously been based there before being replaced by a fleet of B-52 bombers last month..
The MOP bombs are the heaviest conventional weapons the US armed services have in their arsenal and is designed for specific targets deep below the surface.
If the B-2 bombers were to drop the MOP bomb it can penetrate up to 60m underground but need to massive B-2 bomber to guide it to its destination.
There are 19 operational B-2s, that can travel at subsonic speeds and are capable of midair refuelling and recent upgrades to the MOP included resolving an undescribed “integration issue” with the B-2, the US Air Force said last year.
The service also said it is testing technology that can help destroy targets where intelligence about substructures may be limited. A smart fuse on the MOP can detect voids on its path downward, such as rooms and floors, and explode at an optimal point, Ball said.
That would be an important capability if commanders decided they needed to strike the same deep target multiple times. It is unclear whether that technology has been put into operational use.
