The United States carried out a high-risk, high-tech operation in which it used five previously undisclosed secret weapons in addition to well-known weapons like Tomahawk cruise missiles and GBU-57 bunker busters to launch a covert strike on Iran’s major nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. When paired with flawless aerial coordination, these contemporary warfare tools stunned Iran’s defence systems before they could respond.
B-2 Bombers and the GBU-57 MOP: Silent, Deadly, Precise
B-2 Spirit stealth bombers equipped with GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs) led the mission. To maintain stealth integrity, these aircraft took off from Whiteman Air Force Base, coordinated with escort and support planes in midair, and communicated as little as possible.
AGM-88E: Destroying Iran’s Radar Eyes
The United States employed AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles (AARGM) to blind Iran’s air defence grid. Tracking enemy radar emissions, these air-to-surface missiles launch strikes faster than Mach 2. They were launched from EA-18 Growlers, F-35As, F-16s, and F/A-18 Super Hornets.
AGM-88E Key Features
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Type | Anti-Radiation Missile |
| Speed | Over Mach 2 |
| Compatible Aircraft | F-35A, F-16, EA-18, F/A-18 |
| Purpose | Disable enemy radar |
ADM-160 MALD: America’s Radar Decoys
Next came the ADM-160 Miniature Air-Launched Decoy (MALD)—a low-cost, high-impact electronic decoy. It mimics the radar signature of U.S. fighter jets, confusing enemy defenses into targeting fake aircraft instead of real ones.
AGM-158 JASSM: The Stealthy Back-Up Plan
As a backup, the mission included AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM), built by Lockheed Martin. With a range of over 926 km (500 nautical miles) and a 1,000-pound warhead, these stealthy cruise missiles were on standby in case the main assault encountered resistance.
JSOW Glide Bombs: Ready, But Not Fired
The Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW) is a family of glide bombs jointly developed by the U.S. Navy and Air Force. These were deployed to take out enemy infrastructure if Iranian fighter jets retaliated—but since B-2 bombers avoided detection, JSOWs weren’t launched.
EA-18 Growlers: The Ghost in the Sky
One of the mission’s biggest game-changers was the EA-18 Growler, a carrier-based aircraft derived from the F/A-18 Super Hornet. It led electronic warfare operations, continuously jamming Iranian radar and neutralizing command and control centers. Armed with AIM-120 air-to-air and AGM-88 anti-radiation missiles, Growlers ensured the bombers had a clear, interference-free path.
Weapons Used in the Iran Strike
| Weapon System | Role | Status |
|---|---|---|
| GBU-57 MOP | Bunker buster | Deployed |
| AGM-88E | Radar destruction | Fired |
| ADM-160 MALD | Radar decoy | Deployed |
| AGM-158 JASSM | Long-range stealth missile | On standby |
| JSOW | Medium-range glide bomb | Not fired |
| EA-18 Growler | Electronic warfare + jamming | Active mission |
A Glimpse into Next-Gen Warfare
This operation was more than a tactical strike—it was a technological showcase of silent coordination, electronic dominance, and strategic deception. The U.S. successfully executed a high-stakes mission deep inside Iran, proving that future wars may be won not just by brute force, but by stealth, software, and silence.
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