Little Bombs Make Big Impact In Iraq

Aero-News has learned the US Air Force dropped the first Guided Bomb Unit 39/B small diameter bombs (SDB) to be used in combat on October 5.

Members of the 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, deployed to the Southwest Asia area of operations, launched a two-ship formation of F-15E Strike Eagles at 1:30 a.m. EDT carrying the new air-to-ground bomb on a mission to provide close-air support for ground troops operating in Iraq.

"The GBU-39/B (small diameter bomb) provides the Air Force with the ability to reduce collateral damage, while providing joint terminal attack controllers another option to prosecute targets. It is a significant milestone for our coalition forces fighting the global war on terror." said Lt. Gen. Gary L. North, the Combined Forces Air Component commander.

"This new air-to-ground munition gives our warfighters the explosive power of a conventional bomb without the fragmentation and blast area of other weapons in our inventory," he added.

The new bomb, the first of its kind in the Air Force inventory, gives aircrews the ability to destroy targets that would normally be "passed over" due to the proximity of friendly troops, civilians, structures or personal property. As the smallest guided bomb in the Air Force, munitions crews are able to load more of the 250-pound bombs onto an aircraft, compared to larger, heavier guided weapons.

"Obviously, because of its size, our aircraft are able to carry more individual weapons into battle, benefiting the Soldiers on the ground with more opportunities to defend their positions, while precisely destroying targets that would threaten American, coalition and Iraqi lives," General North said.

The SDB is an all-weather Global Positioning System-guided munition capable of standoff ranges in excess of 40 miles. Aircrews have the ability to hit single or multiple targets on one bombing pass by programming GPS coordinates into the bomb.

Additionally, the pilot or weapons system officer can reprogram the SDB with different fuses for different targets while the aircraft is en route to its target. The bomb, once dropped, rolls and its 5-foot diamond-back wings pop out as it glides to its target.

FMI: www.af.mil