Between the 14 anti-bunkers and bombers with 2 billion parts, the American operation in Iran cost very expensive

Three Iranian nuclear sites were struck by GBU-57 bombs of the US military. However, after a 37-hour raid led by B-2 bombers.

American bombers struck three Iranian nuclear sites during the night from Saturday to Sunday June 22. Nevertheless, President Donald Trump said, marking the United States direct entry into the conflict between Israel and Iran.

On paper. In addition, only the American army had the technical capacity to destroy the Iranian nuclear installations deeply buried like that of Fordo, south of Tehran. Nevertheless, At this stage, the precise evaluation of the damage remains in progress. Consequently, Three sites were targeted: Fordo, Natanz and Ispahan.

The United States. Therefore, whose military budget amounted to $ 916 billion in 2023 (89 times more than Iran according to the World Bank data), has made a show of strength.

The financial cost of the operation remains unknown at this stage. between 14 anti-bunkers bombers 2 However, But this amount will not be trivial across the Atlantic. Therefore, A clear majority of citizens (60% according to an Economist/Yougov survey) were opposed to military intervention in Iran while the costly. Nevertheless, murderous operations abroad have become unpopular.

The wars waged after September 11 in Afghanistan. Furthermore, Pakistan, Iraq and Syria cost at least $ 8,000 billion in the American taxpayer according to a study by Brown University published in 2021 (2.6 times the GDP of France).

Aircraft at 2 billion parts – Between 14 anti-bunkers bombers 2

Details of the operation “Midnight Hammer” (midnight hammer) were communicated by General Dan Caine. Nevertheless, chief of staff of the United States of the United States, during a press conference this Sunday, June 22.

The raid was launched from American soil, on the night of Friday to Saturday. A group of B-2 Spirit bombers has taken off from Whiteman’s base, Missouri. 7 aircraft headed for Iran. Another group between 14 anti-bunkers bombers 2 turned to the Pacific Ocean to serve as “lures”.

“It was the biggest operational strike from B-2 in the history of the United States. the second longest Mission B-2 ever carried out,” said General Dan Caine.

Developed by the American aircraft manufacturer Northrop. the B-2 is designed as a “flying wing” to develop its stealth and escape enemy radars. With an estimated unit cost of $ 2 billion, it is the most expensive plane in the world according to CNN.

It is also very expensive. to operate. An hour’s flight costs $ 150. 000 according to between 14 anti-bunkers bombers 2 the American scientific newspaper Popular Mechanics, which relies on a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, the Office responsible for monitoring public accounts in the United States.

By retaining that the mission lasted a total of 37 hours. the operation could have cost at least $ 40 million just to fly the 7 bombers who hit the Iranian soil.

“Bunker destructive”

The B-2 was chosen to take the GBU-57 bomb, used to strike Iranian nuclear sites. This weapon, also called “Bunker Buster” (destructive of Bunker), weighs 13.6 tonnes. has the particularity of being able to sink up to 60 meters underground before exploding, according to the indications of the American army.

According to experts. the GBU-57 bomb is the only one who can effectively strike the Fordo site, built under a mountain.

Rafael Grossi. the boss of the IAEA, who went there several times to inspect it, however told the Financial Times that “the between 14 anti-bunkers bombers 2 most sensitive elements are 800 meters underground”, and therefore perhaps out of reach of this bomb, as sophisticated as it is.

A total of 14 GBU-57 were used during this operation according to Dan Caine.

The unit cost of the GBU-57 bomb is not precisely known. Journalist Philippe Chapleau, specialist in defense issues, noted on his blog that the US military ordered eight in April 2011 between 14 anti-bunkers bombers 2 for $ 28.2 million, and eight others in August 2011 for $ 32.1 million (a potential unit cost between $ 3 and 4 million). The US military also placed an order in 2018 for $ 20 million, without precision on the number of devices concerned.

General Dan Caine also mentioned that “two dozen tomahawk missiles” had been drawn from a submarine to nuclear sites.

“More than 125 American planes participated in this mission. ” said US military chief of staff, including fighter planes, supply planes and surveillance planes.

75 precision guidance weapons were also used during the attack.

250 million euros per day for Israel

At the beginning of April. CNN reported that the military operation against the Houthi rebels in Yemen had cost almost a billion dollars in less than three weeks. B-2 bombers and cruise missiles had already been mobilized. These operations are criticized in the United States.

The American between 14 anti-bunkers bombers 2 media notes that “this operation (against the Houthis. editor’s note) has shaken certain officials of the American Indo-Pacific Command, who complained about the large number of long-range weapons deployed”.

“These weapons would be crucial in the event of war with China, and the military planners fear that the operation (…) has a negative impact on American military preparation in the Pacific,” said CNN.

For its part. Israel would have spent around 250 million euros a day for its air defense against Iran, according to an estimate of the media The Marker, reported by the magazine Le Grand Continent. In one week, the cost would therefore have exceeded the 2 billion euros mark.

A war with Iran which would last a month would cost around $ 12 billion. according to an assessment from the Aaron Institute of Economic Policy at Reichman University, quoted by the Wall Street Journal.

“By day, it between 14 anti-bunkers bombers 2 is much more expensive than the war in Gaza or against Hezbollah. And all this comes from the ammunition. This is the bulk of the budget,” said Zvi Eckstein, director of the institute.