B-2 stealth bomber: How many bunker busters can it carry? Can it be detected? Payload capacity? All FAQs answered

President Donald Trump announced that the US struck three Iranian nuclear sites on Saturday. Soon after the 78-year-old's post on Truth Social, The New York Times and Reuters cited sources to report that a number of B-2 stealth bombers were used in the operation. Trump, however, did not confirm if the bombers were used. The B-2 bombers were reportedly used in US strikes on Iran(AFP)
'We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter,' he said on Truth Social.
Earlier in the day, reports noted that the US had deployed its B-2 bombers to Guam. Neither the White House nor Trump officials confirmed the details. Here is all on US Air Force's B-2 Spirit stealth bomber How Many Bunker Busters Can the B-2 Carry?
The B-2 can carry two GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs, each weighing 30,000 pounds (15 tons), designed to destroy deeply buried targets like Iran's Fordow nuclear facility. The MOP's size limits the B-2 to two per mission, though it can carry other munitions simultaneously if payload allows, National Interest notes. The GBU-57 penetrates up to 200 feet of earth or 60 feet of concrete, ideal for fortified sites. Can the B-2 Be Detected on Radar?
The B-2 is engineered for low observability, making it difficult to detect on conventional radar. Its flying-wing design, radar-absorbent materials, and reduced infrared signature yield a radar cross-section of about 0.001 square meters, comparable to a small bird. What Is the B-2's Payload Capacity?
The B-2's total payload capacity is 40,000 pounds (20 tons), per afgsc.af.mil. This allows configurations like two GBU-57 MOPs (60,000 pounds total, with mission-specific adjustments), 80 500-pound Mk 82 bombs, 16 2,000-pound JDAMs, or 16 nuclear B61/B83 bombs, per nationalinterest.org.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Business Standard

14 minutes ago

• Business Standard

US strikes on Iran spark global concern, calls for restraint, diplomacy

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he was gravely alarmed by the use of force by the United States AP Washington The US strike on Iran fuelled fears that Israel's war with Tehran could escalate to a wider regional conflict, and other countries began reacting Sunday with calls for diplomacy and words of caution. President Donald Trump had said Thursday that he would decide within two weeks whether to get involved. In the end, it took just days to decide, and Washington inserted itself into Israel's campaign with its early Sunday attack. It remained unclear early how much damage had been inflicted, but Iran had pledged to retaliate if the US joined the Israeli assault. Some have questioned whether a weakened Iran would capitulate or remain defiant and begin striking with allies at US targets scattered across the Gulf region. Here is a look at reaction from governments and officials around the world. United Nations UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he was gravely alarmed by the use of force by the United States. There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world, he said in a statement on the social media platform X. I call on Member States to de-escalate. There is no military solution. The only path forward is diplomacy. New Zealand New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters urged all parties to return to talks. He wouldn't tell reporters Sunday whether New Zealand supported President Trump's actions, saying they had only just happened. The three-time foreign minister said the crisis is the most serious I've ever dealt with" and that critical further escalation is avoided. Diplomacy will deliver a more enduring resolution than further military action, he said. China A flash commentary from China's government-run media asked whether the US is repeating its Iraq mistake in Iran. The online piece by CGTN, the foreign-language arm of the state broadcaster, said the US strikes mark a dangerous turning point. History has repeatedly shown that military interventions in the Middle East often produce unintended consequences, including prolonged conflicts and regional destabilization, it said, citing the American invasion of Iraq in 2003. It said a measured, diplomatic approach that prioritizes dialogue over military confrontation offers the best hope for stability in the Middle East. Japan Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is expected to hold a meeting with key ministers Sunday afternoon to discuss the impact from the US attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, according to Japan's NHK television. Japan's largest-circulation newspaper Yomiuri is distributing an extra edition on the attack in Tokyo. South Korea South Korea's presidential office said it would hold an emergency meeting Sunday to discuss the security and economic ramifications of the US strikes and potential South Korean responses. Australia Australia, which shuttered its embassy in Tehran and evacuated staff Friday, continued to push for a diplomatic end to the conflict. We have been clear that Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programme has been a threat to international peace and security, a government official said in a written statement. We note the US President's statement that now is the time for peace. The security situation in the region is highly volatile. We continue to call for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Time of India

19 minutes ago

• Time of India

6 ‘Bunker Buster' bombs, 30 Tomahawk missiles: How US struck Iran's key nuclear sites; key details

On Thursday, President had warned Iran that it had a fortnight to consider its next steps. By early Sunday morning, he had authorised a series of precision airstrikes on three of Iran's most fortified nuclear facilities, Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, pushing the United States into direct military conflict with Tehran for the first time in over four decades. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The strikes were kept so tightly under wraps that even as B-2 stealth bombers dropped 30,000-pound bunker busters on Iranian soil, cable news broadcasts were still reporting that Trump was 'weighing his options.' Hours earlier, he had quietly returned to the White House from New Jersey for what was described as a high-level national security briefing. Then, without warning, he posted the news himself: 'We have completed our very successful attack… All planes are safely on their way home.' With that, Trump not only made history but also sent shockwaves through a region already teetering on the edge. The attack was carried out by American B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, the only aircraft capable of deploying the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator—a 30,000-pound 'bunker buster' bomb. One US official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that multiple GBU-57s were dropped on Fordow, the most heavily fortified site, and said damage assessments suggested it had been 'taken off the table.' From Missouri to Fordow On Friday night between 10:09 and 10:30 pm Central Time, eight KC-135 Stratotankers took off from Altus Air Force Base in Oklahoma, heading towards Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri—the home of the B-2 fleet, the Washington Post reported. Flight trackers picked up the tankers, using the call sign 'Nitro,' refuelling bombers flying under the call sign 'Mytee'—a known identifier for B-2 aircraft. Fox News host Sean Hannity, citing a personal conversation with President Trump, revealed that six Massive Ordnance Penetrators, commonly known as 'bunker buster' bombs, were dropped on Iran's Fordow nuclear facility by multiple B-2 bombers. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In addition, he said the United States launched 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles from submarines positioned roughly 400 miles offshore. 'Everyone is out of harm's way for now,' Hannity said during his broadcast. After completing the mission, the tankers returned home, indicating the bombers were now fully fuelled and en route. Open-source analysts confirmed the pattern matched standard procedures for heavy payload missions. As per CBS News, US officials had informed Iran via diplomatic channels that the strikes were limited in scope, with no plans for regime change. Trump had earlier rejected proposals to assassinate Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to the same report. Though Trump signalled the operation's end with a call for peace, US forces remain on high alert. The Pentagon has moved additional naval assets into position. The USS Carl Vinson remains in the Arabian Sea, while the USS Nimitz heads toward the region. Ballistic missile-defence-equipped destroyers have also been deployed across the Mediterranean.

Mint

20 minutes ago

• Mint

US attack on Iranian nuclear sites roils oil market, India braces for possible price surge

New Delhi: Global crude oil prices may face sharp upward pressure when markets open for trade Monday, after the US launched air strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities — Natanz, Fordo and Isfahan — escalating tensions in the Middle East. The strikes have raised concerns of supply disruptions that could hit major importers like India, which depends on overseas oil for more than 85% of its energy needs. In a televised address on Sunday (India time), US President Donald Trump confirmed the direct American assault on Iran's nuclear programme, ending days of speculation about Washington's entry into the Israel-Iran conflict. He warned that further strikes could follow. Read this | Mint Primer: What if the US joins Israel's war with Iran? 'Remember, there are many targets left. Tonight was the most difficult of them all by far, and perhaps the most lethal. But if peace doesn't come quickly we will go to those other targets with precision, speed and skill," Trump said. Hormuz threat puts India's energy security at risk The strikes have amplified fears of a possible Iranian response, particularly threats to block the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow chokepoint through which nearly 20% of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas flows. Energy markets have long feared that any disruption here could trigger a severe supply crunch. 'Concerns remain over whether supplies through the Strait of Hormuz would be blocked. Refiners are keeping a close watch and looking for alternate sources in case supplies through the strait are halted," said an official with a state-run oil marketing company. Read this | Mint Explainer | Strait of Hormuz: Will Iran shut the vital oil artery of the world? Iran currently produces about 3.3 million barrels per day (mbd) of crude oil, exporting 1.8-2.0 mbd. While Iranian oil facilities have reportedly been hit, the extent of damage remains unclear. But the larger risk lies in a broader regional conflict that could pull in other major oil producers in the Gulf, said ratings agency Icra Ltd in a recent report. India could face significant cost pressures even though it no longer buys oil directly from Iran due to US sanctions. Crude supplies from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, all routed via the Strait of Hormuz, account for nearly half of India's total imports. About 60% of its natural gas imports also pass through this critical passage. Since 13 June 2025, when the Israel-Iran conflict began, crude prices have risen from $64-65 per barrel to $74-75 per barrel. Oil is likely to average around $70-80 a barrel in FY26, and a sustained rise from current levels risks a reduction in India's growth forecasts, Icra Ratings Ltd had said on Friday. Read this | India concerned about crude oil supply disruptions in Strait of Hormuz as prices surge after Israel's attacks on Iran 'A sustained flare-up in the conflict poses upside risks for estimates of crude oil prices, and India's net oil imports and the current account deficit. A $10/bbl increase in the average price of crude oil for the fiscal will typically push up net oil imports by ~$13-14 billion during the year, enlarging the CAD (current account deficit) by 0.3% of GDP," Icra noted. India's import bill in FY25 stood at $137 billion, according to the Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell. "Impact on the import bill will depend on how long the elevated prices sustain. However, a 10% increase in crude prices may lead to a 3% increase in the import bill given that crude oil comprises about 30% of India's total imports. With this, the trade deficit may increase to 0.1-0.2% of GDP. There would be some pressure on the currency but an impact on GDP is not seen as of now," said Madan Sabnavis, chief economist at Bank of Baroda. Icra had also said that changes in crude oil prices are likely to translate faster into higher wholesale and consumer inflation. For every 10% increase in crude oil prices, wholesale inflation could rise by 80-100 basis points, while consumer inflation may increase by 20-30 basis points, depending on the extent of pass-through into retail fuel prices. 'Only about 8% of the energy supplies moving through the strait can be rerouted via alternative corridors," said Prashant Vashisht, vice president at Icra. "If the strait is blocked, India would have to source more from regions like Russia and Nigeria." On Friday, Brent crude futures on the Intercontinental Exchange closed at $77 a barrel, down 2.33% amid earlier uncertainty over US military involvement. Oil market volatility is expected to spike when trading resumes, said Rahul Kalantri, vice president for commodities at Mehta Equities. 'We expect a knee-jerk rally potentially pushing Brent to the $80–$85 range or beyond if further conflict escalates," he said, adding that a full blockade of the Strait could drive prices 10–20% higher. Also read | Oil is warming up, but India's inflation may escape the heat Earlier this month, JP Morgan had warned that a major escalation could push crude oil prices as high as $120 a barrel. However, the bank noted that so far, despite multiple historical threats, the Strait of Hormuz has never been fully closed. 'Crucially, for all of recorded history, crude oil continued to flow," JP Morgan wrote. The Indian government is closely monitoring the evolving situation. The petroleum ministry has held consultations with oil marketing companies to assess the state of domestic supplies and build contingency plans.