In a breathtaking demonstration of stealth and might, the US employed its B-2 Bombers Spirit stealth to execute Operation Midnight Hammer, the biggest operational strike in the life of the aircraft. The operation was aimed against Iran’s nuclear facilities and saw the first combat deployment of the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs.
B-2 bombers took off from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, flying undetected over several time zones for 37 uninterrupted hours. They executed several mid-air refueling procedures on KC-135 and KC-46 tankers, remaining aloft from launch through strike and recovery.
“They took off from the Whiteman Air Force base in Missouri, USA, refueled several times mid-air, flying non-stop and attacked targets unseen.”
Mission Execution and Deception Tactics
The primary strike package consisted of seven B-2 Spirits, each carrying two pilots. They flew with limited communications and met up with support elements from US Central Command (CENTCOM). The teams executed an extremely coordinated manoeuvre in restricted airspace.
Ahead of the bomber fleet, US submarines launched over two dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles to disable key surface infrastructure. As the B-2s approached Iranian airspace, decoys and fifth-generation aircraft flew ahead at high speeds to distract Iranian defenses and locate surface-to-air missile threats.
At 6:40 pm EST (2:10 am Iran time), the first B-2 released two GBU-57 MOP bombs on the Fordow nuclear complex. The other planes followed with accurate attacks on their designated targets. A total of 14 MOPs struck three nuclear facility locations, all within 25 minutes.
“This was the first operational use of the GBU-57 MOP,” confirmed a defense official. The B-2 bombers carried these deep-penetration bombs exclusively, making the mission both historic and strategic.
B-2 Bomber: The Flying Hotel That Packs a Punch
With its deadly payload, the B-2 is designed to be long-enduring. Bunks, microwave ovens, toilets, and storage for snacks are onboard, enabling the crew to stay mission-ready. The menu varies from cereal and sandwiches to drinks and candy bars.
Typically flown by two pilots, the bomber will sometimes have a third pilot as a rotation during long missions. Operation Midnight Hammer’s crew stayed fed, rested, and in top condition during the 37-hour ordeal.
Legacy and Future of the B-2
Initial flight in 1989 and combat deployment in the 1999 Kosovo War, the B-2 Spirit remains the pillar of America’s long-range strike capability. It takes after a series of strategic bombers such as the B-1 Lancer, B-52 Stratofortress, and F-117 Nighthawk.
Northrop Grumman will replace the B-2 bomber with the B-21 Raider, the world’s first sixth-generation bomber.
The B-2’s longest mission had been a 44-hour flight to Afghanistan in 2001 following the 9/11 attacks. Operation Midnight Hammer is now its most consequential operation ever.