Fordow Nuclear facility
Context46: Amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran, the heavily fortified Fordow nuclear facility has come under renewed scrutiny, with reports suggesting that the US-made GBU-57 bunker-buster bomb is among the few weapons capable of striking the site effectively.
About Fordow Nuclear Facility (Prelims)
- Fordow is Iran’s most secure underground uranium enrichment facility and is considered a crucial component of the country’s nuclear programme.
- Situated near the city of Qom, about 30 km northeast of Tehran, and constructed deep within a mountainous region.
Structural Features
- Built approximately 80 metres beneath a mountain, providing exceptional protection against aerial attacks.
- Shielded by layers of rock, soil, and reinforced concrete.
- Protected by sophisticated air defence networks, including Iranian and Russian-origin missile systems.
- Engineered to withstand most conventional military strikes.
- The facility’s existence was publicly revealed in 2009 and has since been monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Significance
- Used for enriching uranium up to 60% purity, which is close to weapons-grade levels.
- Considered a key site in Iran’s potential capacity to rapidly produce material for a nuclear weapon.
