GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb

GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb. The GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) is a precision-guided glide weapon developed by Boeing for the United States Air Force. Designed to provide aircraft with a high-capacity, low-collateral-damage strike option, it integrates GPS/Inertial Navigation System (INS) guidance for all-weather accuracy. Its compact size allows a single aircraft like the F-15E Strike Eagle to carry multiple weapons, significantly increasing mission flexibility and lethality against a wide array of targets.

Development and design

The development program was initiated by the United States Air Force in the late 1990s to address the need for a smaller, more accurate weapon that could reduce collateral damage and increase aircraft sortie effectiveness. Boeing won the competitive development contract, with key design goals focusing on a weapon that could fit four units on a single BRU-61/A carriage system. The design incorporates a GPS-aided Inertial Navigation System (INS) for guidance, coupled with a compact warhead and deployable wings for extended standoff range. The weapon's airfoil and guidance kit allow it to glide over distances exceeding 60 nautical miles when released from high altitude, enabling strikes from outside many air defense zones. The program underwent rigorous testing at locations like Eglin Air Force Base and the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake before achieving initial operational capability.

Operational history

The GBU-39/B achieved initial operational capability with the United States Air Force in 2006, first deployed on the F-15E Strike Eagle. It saw extensive combat use during the War in Afghanistan and the Iraq War, where its precision was valued for urban engagements. The Israeli Air Force has employed the weapon extensively in conflicts including the 2008–2009 Gaza War, the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict, and the 2023 Israel–Hamas war. The Royal Australian Air Force has also used the bomb in operations against ISIL targets in Syria. More recently, the United States has provided them to the Ukrainian Air Force for use against Russian forces following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, where they have been integrated onto modified Su-27 and MiG-29 aircraft.

Variants

* GBU-39/B: The baseline variant with GPS/INS guidance and a blast-fragmentation or AFX-757 Dense Inert Metal Explosive (DIME) warhead. * GBU-39B/B: A specialized variant with a penetrator warhead designed by Boeing for use against hardened targets like command bunkers and aircraft shelters. * GBU-53/B StormBreaker (formerly SDB II): A significantly advanced variant developed by Raytheon featuring a tri-mode seeker (millimeter-wave radar, imaging infrared, and semi-active laser) for engaging moving targets in all weather conditions. It is integrated on the F-15E Strike Eagle, F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, and the F-35 Lightning II. * Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB): A joint development by Boeing and Saab that integrates the GBU-39/B guidance section and warhead with the M26 rocket motor from the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System. This provides ground artillery units with a long-range, precision strike capability.

Specifications

* **Weight:** 285 lb (129 kg) * **Length:** 70.8 in (1.80 m) * **Diameter:** 7.5 in (190 mm) * **Warhead:** 36 lb (16 kg) of AFX-757 DIME or PBXN-9 explosive * **Guidance:** GPS/INS * **Accuracy:** 5–8 meter Circular Error Probable (CEP) * **Range:** >60 nmi (110 km) from high altitude * **Compatibility:** Carried on the BRU-61/A rack; integrated on aircraft including the F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-22 Raptor, F-35 Lightning II, B-1 Lancer, B-2 Spirit, and B-52 Stratofortress.

Operators

* : United States Air Force, United States Navy * : Royal Australian Air Force * : Finnish Air Force * : German Air Force * : Israeli Air Force * : Royal Netherlands Air Force * : Royal Norwegian Air Force * : Polish Air Force * : Ukrainian Air Force

Category:Precision-guided munitions of the United States Category:Bombs of the United States Category:Glide bombs