US Deploys New 5,000-lb GBU-72 Bunker-Buster in Combat for First Time in Iran

The United States has confirmed the first combat use of its new GBU-72 Advanced 5K Penetrator, a 5,000-pound class bunker-busting bomb designed to destroy deeply buried and fortified targets, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on March 18.

According to the statement, multiple GBU-72 bombs were deployed against hardened positions housing Iranian anti-ship missile systems along the coast of the Strait of Hormuz.

The munition, whose development testing was completed in 2021, was specifically engineered to defeat reinforced underground infrastructure. It features a strengthened casing and relies on GPS guidance to strike targets with high precision.

Within the US arsenal, the GBU-72 fills a capability gap between the older GBU-28 and the much larger GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator.

The GBU-28 is capable of penetrating up to 100 feet of soil or around 20 feet of reinforced concrete, while the GBU-57 can reach depths of up to 260 feet of rock or 200 feet of reinforced concrete.

The primary delivery platform for the new bomb is the F-15E Strike Eagle, which underwent a series of tests at Eglin Air Force Base to validate its ability to safely carry and deploy the weapon.

US military planners are also considering integrating the GBU-72 onto strategic bombers, including the B-1B Lancer and the next-generation B-21 Raider stealth bomber developed by Northrop Grumman.

The combat debut of the GBU-72 signals a continued US focus on expanding its capabilities to strike hardened and underground military infrastructure in contested environments.

Earlier, reports emerged that the World Health Organization (WHO) was preparing for the possibility of a nuclear-related incident as tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East, including scenarios involving strikes on nuclear facilities or the potential use of nuclear weapons.

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