Interesting article with information on what might be required to destroy the Fordow Enrichment Plant. Of course, they probably don’t disclose all of their weapons and their capabilities. It was rumored a tactical nuke was used in the Yemen war, and the video I saw indicated such by how it affected the digital video of the large mushroom cloud. So it would appear one could be used and kept quiet. And it was even rumored it might have been Israel in support of Saudi Arabia. And some tactical nukes are equivalent to large convention bombs.
https://southfront.press/u-s-could-need-tactical-nukes-to-destroy-irans-fordow-enrichment-plant/
President Donald Trump told his defense officials the United States should only strike Iran if its massive “bunker buster” bomb could definitely destroy the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, The Telegraph reported on June 19.
Fordow, located 30 kilometers to the north of the central Iranian city of Qom, is an essential part of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program. The plant lies some 80-90 meters underground, making it completely immune to strikes with regular bunker buster bombs.
Israel, which launched an operation to cripple Iran’s nuclear program earlier in the week, has not yet attempted to target Fordow.
The special bunker buster bomb the U.S. is expected to use to breach Fordow if it joins the attack on Iran is the GBU-57 series Massive Ordnance Penetrator. It is made up of a 13,600 kg BLU-127 bomb body and respective guidance kit. B-2 Spirit stealth strategic bombers are expected to deliver the massive bomb.
According to The Telegraph, the effectiveness of the GBU-57 has been a source of ongoing debate at the Pentagon since the start of Trump’s presidency.
Only a tactical nuclear weapon might be capable of destroying Fordow enrichment facility, the outlet quoted U.S. officials as saying, noting that Trump is not considering the use of a tactical nuclear weapon on the underground plant, and the option was not presented during Situation Room meetings.
The U.S. Air Force has stated in the past that the GBU-57 is capable of penetrating up to 60 meters of unspecified material before exploding.
Defense officials were also told, according to The Telegraph, that completely destroying Fordow would likely require first softening the ground with conventional bombs, followed by a tactical nuclear strike delivered by a B-2 bomber.
During an interview with the Kan public broadcaster on June 19, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel was capable of hitting all nuclear facilities in Iran, including Fordow.
Asked whether Israel has the ability to destroy Iran’s underground Fordow nuclear facility without assistance from the United States, Netanyahu said, “We will achieve all our objectives and hit all of their nuclear facilities. We have the capability to do that.”
Whether Trump “wants to join or not — that’s entirely his decision,” Netanyahu added
“He’ll do what’s good for the United States, and I’ll do what’s good for the State of Israel,” said the premier, before adding that “as the saying goes — every contribution is welcome.”
Meanwhile, an Israeli official told The Times of Israel that they were still expecting the U.S. to join the attack on Iran’s nuclear program.
“The expectation is that they join, but no one is pushing them,” said the official. “They have to make their own decision.”
“We’ll know in the next 24-48 hours,” the official estimated.
Israel could indeed have the ability to attack Fordow without help from the U.S. Israeli journalist Barak Ravid said on June 19 that U.S. officials were informed that Israel would breach the plant “with humans,” implying that Israeli special forces could conduct a raid there.
Other scenarios includes Israel dropping a GBU-57-like bunker buster at the plant from a C-130 cargo plane, using a modified Jericho III ballistic missile with a shorter range and an ultra-heavy bunker buster warhead, or even blowing up the plant with a tunnel that the Mossad spy agency may have dug close enough and backed with tons of explosives.
Of course, it is also possible that Israel would simply blow up Fordow with a tactical nuclear weapon. Still, this will likely be its last option as it would expose its own nuclear program.