US pursues next-gen deep-penetration bomb as Iran ramps up Pickaxe Mountain construction
US officials say they are developing a new deep-penetration bomb to strike Iran’s expanding Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site.
Satellite imagery reveals Iran has markedly increased building activity at the subterranean nuclear complex known as Pickaxe Mountain near Natanz, with 2026 construction surpassing any prior level. US intelligence, referencing CSIS analysis, observes extensive road paving and tunnel reinforcement yet notes the absence of internal security measures that would signal readiness for enrichment. President Donald Trump asserted that US forces could strike the site in the near future, despite the difficulty of reaching galleries estimated at about 100 metres deep, beyond the reach of the existing GBU-57 bomb.
In response, the US Air Force has solicited defense contractors to design a new deep-penetration weapon to replace the GBU-57. A Pentagon manager recently justified a contract for a unique underground test at White Sands Missile Range, reportedly tied to the Iran conflict and the development of this capability.
