The US has attacked protected Iranian missile sites near the Strait of Hormuz. For their strike in the strategically important strait, the US armed forces used heavy bunker-busting weapon systems of the GBU-72 type. The US Middle East Regional Command (Centcom) said: several of these bombs were “used successfully.”.

GBU-72 penetrates meter-thick concrete

Weighing around 2,300 kilograms, much of it pure explosive, the GBU-72 can penetrate concrete several meters thick. The precision-guided bomb hits targets at a depth of around 60 meters and sometimes even lower, depending on the nature of the ground. Due to the strict safety regulations, one can only speculate about specific penetration depths.

The system, which is equipped with target detection, is only dropped by strategic bombers such as the B-2 “Spirit”. The B-1B and F-15E offer further options. These fly at high altitudes, and the B-2 has stealth technology that makes it more difficult for enemy sensors and radars to locate. The weapon is controlled via GPS, which guarantees high accuracy.

GBU program further developed with a view to Iran

The American GBU program is being developed further with a view to states such as North Korea and Iran. Their nuclear infrastructure is largely hidden in deep, heavily protected bunkers. Already with the Trump administration’s anti-nuclear strike against the mullahs in the summer of 2025 The GBU-57 A/B was used.

The weapon system was developed back in 2004 and is considered one of the most powerful prevention weapons in the world due to its weight of around 13 tons and its destructive power. While conventional attacks are unlikely to reach these facilities, the GBU weapon is the only non-nuclear option to destroy such targets.

There is currently no comparable German weapon system – however, the Taurus cruise missile has similar bunker-busting capabilities.