Nestled near Qom, Iran, the Fordow nuclear facility stands as one of the most critical and heavily fortified sites within Tehran's nuclear program. Buried 80-90 meters (260-295 feet) underground, the complex is shielded by thick concrete and air defense systems.
This depth renders it largely impervious to conventional airstrikes, with only the U.S. military's Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb (MOAB) potentially capable of significant damage.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Fordow has enriched uranium to high levels – up to 60% or more – nearing the 90% threshold required for nuclear weapons. This capability significantly shortens Iran's potential path to a bomb, making Fordow a prime target during the Israeli Air Force's recent strikes in Iran.
The facility houses an estimated 2,000 centrifuges, predominantly advanced IR-6 models enabling faster enrichment. Alongside the heavily damaged Natanz site, Fordow serves as one of Iran's two primary uranium enrichment plants. Its robust defenses position it as Tehran's "breakout option," allowing enrichment to continue even if other facilities are disabled.
Exposed in 2009, Fordow sparked international concern and became a focal point in the 2015 nuclear negotiations. Following the U.S. withdrawal from the deal, Iran resumed and expanded enrichment activities there. The facility's location deep within a mountain massif provides inherent protection against conventional bombs.
Prof. Yizhaq Makovsky of the University of Haifa's Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences explained that the geology resembles the Tibetan plateau, formed by the collision of tectonic plates, lifting ancient, exceptionally hard rock from deep within the Earth.
This volcanic rock, including basalt and rhyolite (similar to Iceland), offers ideal bunker-building material, though Prof. Joel Roskin of Bar-Ilan University notes the site's proximity to active fault lines is surprising and potentially destabilizing.
"Underground tunnel complexes like Fordow constitute highly protected targets extremely difficult to penetrate with missiles," said Dr. Amichai Mittelman of Ariel University's Department of Civil Engineering. Advanced bunker-buster missiles like the U.S. GBU series, designed with hardened steel tips and delayed fuses, maximize penetration through concrete or rock.
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The most powerful, the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), reportedly penetrates up to 60 meters (200 feet). However, Dr. Mittelman cautioned that Fordow's geology – featuring hard sedimentary rock like limestone and dolomite potentially stronger than reinforced concrete – combined with internal concrete linings and natural rock fracturing that could deflect a warhead, likely prevents a single GBU-57 from reaching the vital chambers.
Overcoming these challenges might require multiple precision strikes hitting the exact same spot to gradually breach the layered defenses. The complex interplay of geological strength, structural reinforcements and unpredictable rock fractures creates a formidable barrier even for the most advanced bunker-busting munitions.
As an alternative to destroying the main facility, Dr. Mittelman suggested targeting its vulnerabilities: "An underground complex must have entrances for access and ventilation. These openings are its soft underbelly."
While less massive weapons could potentially damage these exposed entry points, the resulting harm would likely be less severe and easier for Iran to repair.