U.S. B-2 Bombers Strike Iran’s Underground Missile Launchers with 2,000-lb Bunker-Buster Bombs.

U.S. B-2 Spirit stealth bombers dropped dozens of 2,000-pound penetrator bombs on deeply buried Iranian ballistic missile launchers during Operation Epic Fury. The strikes aim to destroy hardened underground infrastructure that supports Iran’s missile forces and long-range strike capability.

Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit stealth bombers dropped dozens of 2,000-pound penetrator bombs against deeply buried Iranian ballistic missile launchers as part of Operation Epic Fury, according to U.S. Central Command. The strikes targeted hardened underground facilities designed to protect Iran’s missile forces from conventional air attack. Such weapons are typically hardened “bunker-buster” munitions like the BLU-109 penetrator, engineered to pierce reinforced concrete before detonating inside protected structures. These bombs enable stealth aircraft like the B-2 to neutralize underground launch infrastructure that would otherwise survive standard airstrikes.
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The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit is a low-observable strategic bomber designed to penetrate heavily defended airspace.(Picture source: US DoD)

The initial strikes involved at least four B-2 Spirit aircraft departing from the continental United States with multiple aerial refuelings, indicating a long-range strategic penetration mission. CENTCOM has not publicly released the exact number of aircraft used in the latest raids. The operational fleet consists of nineteen bombers, though only a portion is normally available at any given time due to maintenance and modernization cycles. During operation in June 2025, seven aircraft were employed, providing an indication of the scale the US Air Force can deploy for this type of mission.

The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit is a low-observable strategic bomber designed to penetrate heavily defended airspace. Its flying-wing configuration and radar-absorbent materials reduce radar, thermal, and acoustic signatures, complicating detection and engagement by advanced air defense systems. The aircraft has an unrefueled range of approximately 6,000 nautical miles and can reach intercontinental targets through successive aerial refueling operations. Its internal weapons bays can carry more than 18 tons of conventional or nuclear ordnance, allowing multiple hardened targets to be engaged during a single sortie.

Regarding the munitions used, CENTCOM only mentioned “2,000-pound penetrating bombs” without identifying the exact designation. Public US Air Force information points to the GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) family. This munition combines a 2,000-pound bomb body, commonly the BLU-109 penetrator or the Mk 84, with a GPS and inertial guidance kit. JDAM converts unguided bombs into precision-guided munitions capable of striking fixed targets with accuracy measured in a few meters, including in adverse weather conditions. The BLU-109 warhead is designed to penetrate several meters of reinforced concrete before detonation, making it suitable for attacking hardened shelters or bunker entrances.

The targets described by CENTCOM most likely correspond to elements of Iran’s underground missile network often referred to as “missile cities.” These complexes are excavated in mountainous terrain or organized as tunnel systems connected to launch positions. They are operated by the aerospace force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to store ballistic missiles and protect Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL) vehicles. These mobile vehicles carry the missile, raise it to a vertical launch position, and then conduct the firing sequence. In some locations, tunnel networks open toward external launch pads, enabling rapid deployment from protected caverns to firing positions.

Satellite imagery analyses and research from the Center for Strategic and International Studies indicate that areas such as Khorramabad, Tabriz, and Kermanshah host storage and launch infrastructure associated with this network. Iran possesses the largest and most diverse ballistic missile arsenal in the Middle East, numbering in the thousands across several range categories. Underground facilities form a central element of this architecture because they conceal missiles, protect launch crews, and shield command infrastructure from preemptive strikes.

Neutralizing these installations presents specific challenges. The missiles are not simply placed on exposed launch pads but are protected by terrain, dispersion, and hardened structures. A strike mission must therefore reach the target area with high survivability while carrying sufficient payload to affect multiple vulnerable points. Tunnel entrances, ventilation shafts, access roads, logistical areas, and communication nodes represent critical targets. Even when the main underground structure remains intact, destroying these components can slow operations, disrupt launch cycles, and reduce the ability to generate additional missile salvos.

US military officials report that Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks have declined since the start of Operation Epic Fury. Since late February, Iran has nevertheless attempted retaliatory strikes against US forces and several regional partner states, including Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain. Washington and its partners have simultaneously reinforced air defense and missile defense systems around military bases and critical energy infrastructure.

Strikes against deeply buried launch systems illustrate a broader shift in the US campaign. Operations no longer focus solely on intercepting incoming missiles or suppressing isolated launch units. They now target the infrastructure that allows Iran to sustain a ballistic missile capability over time, from storage facilities to command sites and production networks. In the regional strategic balance, the gradual degradation of these installations could limit Tehran’s ability to maintain sustained missile operations while indicating that Washington is prepared to strike some of the most protected elements of Iran’s military structure.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay is a graduate of a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience in the study of conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces;