Animation shows how huge bunker buster bombs that US dropped on Iran hit targets deep underground

The techno-science behind America's 'bunker buster' weapons which were used on Iran has been deconstructed in an animated YouTube video amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Over the past 24 hours, president Donald Trump gave the go-ahead for his troops to deploy the US' ground-penetrating warheads on three of Iran's nuclear sites.

The US president declared the mission a 'success' as he addressed the nation, while Israel - which launched its own large-scale attack on Iranian nuclear sites, sparking retaliatory strike exchanges - said it was in 'full co-ordination' with the States ahead of the attack overnight.

Iranian officials have confirmed the three sites were struck but stopped short of confirming any major damage. Meanwhile, Iran's foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said the US' actions 'will have everlasting consequences', accusing the country of 'extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal behavior'.

Trump called the mission a success (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

The GBU-57 - AKA the bunker buster bomb

One of the weapons used during the US' strikes against Iran was the GBU-57, which is nicknamed the 'bunker buster bomb'. Six of these 'buster bombs' were reportedly used to attack Iran's Fordow site.

Weighing a colossal 13.6 tonnes, it was carried out twofold by a B-2 Spirit Bomber before causing its explosive carnage in Iran.

But how can the weapon hit targets so deep underground - 60 metres in this case?

Bunker busters were used during the US' attack on Iran last night (Anadolu/Contributor/Getty)

How do the US' bunker buster bombs work?

First of all, LifeAda's animated clip revealed that this particular missile's airborne carrier flies at a crazy height to remain undetected.

Bunker busters are installed with GPS and an inertial navigation system, guiding it towards its target once released from the plane.

Batteries store data and it's also fixed with a network antenna and adapting ring to establish connection.

"Most importantly, thrusters are not used inside this bomb," shares the AI narrator. "GPS and INS feed data to the motor-controlled fins at the back and these fins can be adjusted in such a way that they perfectly direct the bomb towards its target."

Due to gravity, the bomb 'absorbs tremendous kinetic energy' on its fall to the ground, allowing it to reach the speed of sound.

When the nose of the bomb strikes the bunker front side, an impact sensor generates a signal to the onboard equipment.

"From here, the signal goes to the micro-controller and digital delay fuse, which starts the timer as soon as the impact occurs."

This concurrently analyses the impact force and depth, leading to an explosion within 100 milliseconds.

"As soon as the timer has completed, this signal reaches the detonator unit and activates it, and this unit generates shock-pulse with high voltage and current."

The whole thing catches fire, creating immense pressure and temperature. The body breaks, yet the bomb is intact, allowing a shockwave to injure the target's structure first before detonating.

Trump announced his country's involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict this weekend as he addressed the nation in a statement on Truth Social.

"We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan," he wrote.

"All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordo. All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors.

"There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter."

In a subsequent phone interview, the 79-year-old warned Iran 'should make peace immediately - otherwise they'll get hit again.'

How the weapsons work has been described in a YouTube animation (HIROON/Contributor/Getty)

In response to this attack, Iran's foreign minister Araghchi said: "The United States, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law and the NPT by attacking Iran's peaceful nuclear installations.

"The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences.

"Each and every member of the UN must be alarmed over this extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal behavior. In accordance with the UN Charter and its provisions allowing a legitimate response in self-defense, Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people."