As tensions escalate in the Middle East, a closer look has emerged at the advanced weaponry used by the United States in a series of coordinated strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Among the most powerful weapons deployed was the GBU-57, commonly known as the "bunker buster", designed to penetrate fortified underground structures.
President Donald Trump confirmed the use of the GBU-57 during a national address, describing the mission as a "success" following overnight strikes on three nuclear sites in Iran: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
The operation, conducted in coordination with Israel, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing confrontation between the U.S., Israel, and Iran.
The Israeli military had launched its own strike against Iranian nuclear infrastructure earlier in the week, prompting retaliatory missile launches, AP reports. Iran has confirmed the U.S. targets were hit but has not disclosed the extent of damage or potential casualties.
Now, a new animated video from YouTube channel LifeAda provides a detailed breakdown of how the GBU-57 operates.
Weighing approximately 13.6 tonnes (30,000 pounds), the bomb is engineered to target deeply buried facilities. In the recent operation, six of these warheads were reportedly dropped on Iran’s Fordow nuclear site.
Deployed from high-altitude aircraft - such as the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber - the GBU-57 relies on GPS and inertial navigation systems to guide it precisely to its target.
Each bunker buster is equipped with batteries to store operational data, a network antenna for connectivity, and an adapting ring. But what makes the guidance system particularly striking is what it lacks.
“Most importantly, thrusters are not used inside this bomb,” explains the AI narrator. “GPS and INS feed data to the motor-controlled fins at the back and these fins can be adjusted in such a way that they perfectly direct the bomb towards its target.”
As it plummets from high altitude, the bomb harnesses the force of gravity, building enough kinetic energy to hit speeds approaching the speed of sound.
Precision Impact and Delayed Explosion
When the nose hits the surface of a bunker, an onboard impact sensor instantly sends a signal to the bomb’s internal systems.
“From here, the signal goes to the micro-controller and digital delay fuse, which starts the timer as soon as the impact occurs,” the narrator continues.
This system analyzes both the force of the impact and how deep the bomb has penetrated. Within just 100 milliseconds, the internal detonator unit is activated.
“As soon as the timer has completed, this signal reaches the detonator unit and activates it, and this unit generates shock-pulse with high voltage and current.”
This two-stage process, penetration followed by internal explosion, is specifically designed to destroy facilities buried up to 60 meters underground, including those used for uranium enrichment.
In a statement shared via Truth Social, President Trump praised U.S. forces for their role in the operation: "We have completed our very successful attack on the three nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran airspace... There is not another military in the world that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!"
Iranian officials have responded with sharp criticism. Foreign Minister Araghchi accused the U.S. of committing "extremely dangerous, lawless, and criminal behavior."
“The United States, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law, and the NPT by attacking Iran's peaceful nuclear installations,” he wrote on X.
As the situation unfolds, the deployment of high-precision bunker-busting ordnance highlights both the technological sophistication of the U.S. military and the growing risks of direct conflict involving nuclear infrastructure in the region.