DefenseUSAF reveals F-35A fighters escorted B-2 bombers over Iran in June
The US Air Force (USAF) disclosed details of a June 22 mission in which F-35A fighters from the 34th Fighter Squadron escorted B-2 bombers through Iranian airspace as part of Operation Midnight Hammer. The operation involved strikes on underground nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
The F-35A aircraft, drawn from the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings, were tasked with suppressing Iranian air defenses ahead of the bombers’ approach. Fourteen GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators were released by the B-2s during the coordinated strike.
No Iranian air defense system fired on the US formation during the operation. All pilots returned safely and without incident after completing their assignments.
The operation targeted sites that have been at the center of international non-proliferation efforts. Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan are known for their hardened and deeply buried nuclear infrastructure.
The 34th Fighter Squadron, based at Hill Air Force Base, has participated in numerous deployments and joint operations since its reactivation with the F-35A.
The use of GBU-57s underscores the USAF’s reliance on precision-guided munitions for deeply buried targets.
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