The B-2 stealth bombers that targeted Iran’s Fordow nuclear enrichment facility recently completed a 36-hour round trip from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. The aircraft, originally designed to carry nuclear payloads during the Cold War, were deployed in “Operation Midnight Hammer.” This is the longest B-2 mission since the 2001 assault on Afghanistan, with the fleet flying in radio silence for most of the journey.
President Donald Trump confirmed the mission via a post on Truth Social, stating, “There is not another military in the world that could have done this.”
To support the long-duration flight, the B-2 bombers are equipped with onboard amenities such as a microwave, mini-refrigerator, and a built-in restroom. The cockpit also has enough space for one pilot to lie down while the other controls the aircraft. These adjustments allow the two-member crew to remain operational during extensive missions. Previous crews reportedly brought sleeping pads or cots for similar endurance flights.First introduced in 1997, each B-2 bomber costs over $2 billion.
The U.S. Air Force currently has 19 in active service, down from 20 after a crash in 2008. The B-2 relies heavily on automated systems and has a wingspan of 172 feet.
According to Gen. Daniel Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the bombers were joined by fighter jets and support aircraft before entering Iranian airspace. These aircraft coordinated their timing and positioning in a narrow air corridor, using minimal communication.
The strike inside Iran began at 6:40 PM ET on Saturday and lasted about 25 minutes. The lead B-2 dropped two 15-ton GBU-57 “bunker buster” bombs on designated targets within the Fordow complex. This operation marked the first known use of the GBU-57 in combat, according to a report in The New York Post.
The Fordow mission shows the continued global reach and coordination ability of the U.S. military, with B-2 bombers executing one of their most demanding operations to date.
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