The U.S. Central Command announced that B-2 strategic bombers used GBU-57A/B bombs to strike targets in the coastal areas of the Strait of Hormuz in Iran.
The U.S. Central Command stated that the targeted facility was a reinforced structure equipped with anti-ship missiles.
GBU-57A/B: Nicknamed "Bunker Buster," it is the largest conventional penetrating bomb currently in service with the U.S. military, specifically designed to strike underground reinforced targets. It can penetrate approximately 60 meters into ordinary reinforced concrete with a strength of 5000 psi; about 8 meters into ultra-strong reinforced concrete with a strength of 10000 psi; approximately 40 meters into hard rock; and up to 90 meters into soft soil layers.
It weighs 13.6 tons, with a body made of high-strength nickel-cobalt steel alloy, capable of withstanding high-speed impact deformation. It is filled with approximately 2700 kilograms of high-performance explosives, paired with a smart fuze that detonates after drilling to a predetermined depth. Currently, it is only carried and deployed internally by the B-2 stealth bomber.
Iran's coastal anti-ship missile positions are mostly reinforced bunkers or underground facilities, which are difficult for ordinary bombs to reach. The GBU-57 can deeply destroy command and launch facilities without exposing the target or flying over it, directly cutting off its core capability to block the Strait of Hormuz.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1859970132289548/
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