Daily Current Affairs : : 23 JUNE 2025,B-2 Spirit stealth bombers

Why in News?  On June 21, 2025, the U.S. launched Operation Midnight Hammer, targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan using B-2 Spirit stealth bombers armed with GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs. Former President Donald Trump hailed it as a “spectacular military success,” claiming Iran’s nuclear capabilities were “obliterated.” The 40-hour B-2 mission, noted by former Indian Air Force officer Ajay Ahlawat, has sparked global concerns over potential escalation.

Relevance : UPSC Pre &  Mains

Prelims : B 2 bomberes/ GBU-57

Mains :   GS 3 Technology

Key Points:

• Operation Midnight Hammer:

• • Began June 21, 2025, at 00:01 ET, led by U.S. Central and European Commands.
  • Involved 125+ aircraft, including seven B-2s, fighters, and refueling tankers.
  • Used deception tactics to bypass Iranian defenses.

• B-2 Spirit Stealth Bombers:

• • Flew from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, for a 37–40-hour round-trip.
  • Each B-2, costing $2.1–2.2 billion, carried two 30,000-pound GBU-57s.
  • Stealth design minimizes radar detection, akin to a small bird.

• GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator:

• • 14 MOPs dropped, with 6–12 on Fordow.
  • Each $20 million bomb penetrates 60 feet of concrete or 200 feet of earth.

• Targeted Sites:

• • Fordow: Fortified uranium enrichment site, hit by multiple MOPs, showing craters.
  • Natanz: Underground enrichment facility, struck by two MOPs.
  • Isfahan: Nuclear research site, targeted with 30 Tomahawk missiles.