All SDB I variants 206 lb (93 kg) total[8][9] SDB I (GBU-39/B) Explosive fill: 36 lb (16 kg) AFX 757
Insensitive munition certifiedPBX[10][6] Penetration: greater than 3 ft (0.91 m) of steel reinforced concrete[6] SDB FLM (GBU-39A/B) 137 lb (62 kg) AFX 1209 MBX ("multiphase blast explosive"), composite case Laser SDB (GBU-39B/B) 36 lb (16 kg) AFX 757 enhanced blast insensitive explosive, penetrating steel case
Operational range
All SDB I variants over 60 nmi (69 mi; 111 km) when air-dropped,[11] 150 km (93 mi; 81 nmi) when launched as a part of the
GLSDB,[7][12]
The GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) is a 250-pound (110 kg)
precision-guidedglide bomb that is intended to provide aircraft with the ability to carry a higher number of more accurate bombs. Most
US Air Force aircraft will be able to carry (using the BRU-61/A rack) a pack of four SDBs in place of a single
2,000-pound (910 kg) bomb.[16] It first entered service in 2006. The
Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB) was later developed to enable the SDB to be launched from a variety of ground launchers and configurations.[17][18]
The small size of the bomb allows a single strike aircraft to carry more of the munitions than is possible using currently available bomb units. The SDB carries approximately 36 lb (16 kg) of AFX-757
high explosive.[20] It has integrated "DiamondBack" type wings which deploy after release, increasing the glide time and therefore the maximum range. Its size and accuracy allow for an effective munition with less
collateral damage.[21] Warhead penetration is 3 ft (1 m) of
steel reinforced concrete under 3 ft (1 m) of earth and the
fuze has electronic safe and fire (ESAF) cockpit selectable functions, including
air burst and delayed options.[6]
The SDB I has a
circular error probable (CEP) precision of 3 ft (1 m).[13][14][15] CEP is reduced by updating
differential GPS offsets prior to weapon release. These offsets are calculated using an SDB Accuracy Support Infrastructure, consisting of three or more GPS receivers at fixed locations transmitting calculated location to a correlation station at the theatre
Air Operations Center. The corrections are then transmitted by
Link 16 to SDB-equipped aircraft.
Alternative guidance and warheads
In November 2014, the U.S. Air Force began development of a version of the SDB I intended to track and attack sources of
electronic warfare jamming directed to disrupt the munitions' guidance. The
home-on-GPS jam (HOG-J) seeker works similar to the
AGM-88 HARM to follow the source of a radio-frequency jammer to destroy it.[22][23]
In January 2016, the Air Force awarded a contract to Scientific Systems Co. Inc. to demonstrate the company's ImageNav technology, a vision-based navigation and precision targeting system that compares a
terrain database with the host platform's sensor to make course corrections. ImageNav technology has demonstrated target
geo-location and navigation precision within three meters.[24]
In January 2016,
Orbital ATK revealed that the Alternative Warhead (AW), designed for the
M270's GMLRS to achieve area effects without leaving behind
unexploded ordnance, had been successfully tested on the SDB.[25]
Development
In 2002, while
Boeing and Lockheed Martin were competing to develop the Small Diameter Bomb,
Darleen A. Druyun – at that time Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition and Management – deleted the requirement for moving target engagement, which favored Boeing. She was later convicted of violating a
conflict of interest statute.[26][27]
In May 2009, Raytheon announced that it had completed its first test flight of the GBU-53/B Small Diameter Bomb II, which has a data link and a tri-mode seeker built with technology developed for the
Precision Attack Missile.[28] In August 2010 the U.S. Air Force awarded a $450 million contract for engineering and development.[29]
Although unit costs were somewhat uncertain as of 2006, the estimated cost for the INS/GPS version was around US$70,000. Boeing and the Italian firm
Oto Melara signed a contract covering the license production of 500 GBU-39/B (INS/GPS) and 50 BRU-61/A racks for the
Aeronautica Militare, at a cost of nearly US$34 million.
Timeline
October 2001 – Boeing is awarded SDB development contract in addition to Lockheed Martin to compete to become the prime contractor.[30]
April 2005 – Boeing awarded contract as Prime Contractor, beating Lockheed Martin.[31]
September 2005 – Small Diameter Bomb certified for operational test, evaluation.[32]
September 2006 – SDB team deliver the first SDBs to the USAF.[33]
October 2006 – Initial Operational Capability declared for SDB on the
F-15E Strike Eagle.[34]
October 2006 – First use in combat.
February 2008 – 1,000th SDB I and first 50 FLM delivered.[35]
September 2008 – Israel received approval from the
US Congress to purchase 1,000 bombs.[36]
December 2008 – Reportedly used against
Hamas facilities in the
Gaza Strip, including underground rocket launchers.[36]
January 2009 – Unnamed Boeing official stated that they have yet to deliver any SDBs to Israel.[37]
June 2010 – FMS request by the Netherlands for 603 units and support equipment valued at US$44 million.[38]
August 2010 – U.S. Air Force selects Raytheon over Boeing for the GBU-53/B for Small Diameter Bomb II Program.[39]
2011 – Boeing begins development of Laser SDB I, utilising the same laser from the Laser JDAM to keep costs down.[40]
2014 – U.S. Special Operations Command began fielding the Laser SDB.[40]
April 2016 – FMS request by Australia for 2,950 units and support equipment valued at US$386 million.[41]
Aircraft
The GBU-39/B began separation tests on the
F-22 Raptor in early September 2007 after more than a year of sometimes difficult work to integrate the weapon in the weapons bay and carry out airborne captive carry tests.
Under a contract awarded in September 2006, Boeing developed a version of the SDB I which replaces the steel casing with a lightweight
composite casing and the warhead with a focused-blast explosive such as
dense inert metal explosive (DIME). This should further reduce collateral damage when using the weapon for pin-point strikes in urban areas.[15]
On 28 February 2008, Boeing celebrated the delivery of the first 50 FLM weapons.[35]
The USAF intends to use the same FLM casing on a weapon of 500 pounds (227 kg).[43]
In December 2013, Boeing delivered the last of the 500 FLMs under contract.[44]
GBU-39B/B – Laser SDB
In 2011 Boeing began testing on an laser guided version of the baseline SDB, integrating the same
Semi Active Laser (SAL) from the GBU-54 Laser JDAM. Boeing claimed to have successfully hit targets moving at 30 mph (48.3 km/h) and 50 mph (80.5 km/h).
In mid-2012, the U.S. Senate recommended zeroing out funding for the GBU-53/B SDB II due to fielding delays with the F-35 Lightning II. Commenting on the delay of the SDB II, Debbie Rub,
Boeing's VP & GM of Missiles and Unmanned Airborne Systems said, “Until that [SDB II] comes online … this is a nice gap filler to take care of an important warfighting need," stating that Boeing could fill the gap in capability at a fraction of the cost; "As we think about the fiscal constraints that we’re under and DoD is under, it’s the right kind of answer where you get an 80 percent solution at a fraction of the cost.”[40]
In June 2013, Boeing secured a contract for the development and testing of the LSDB. Under the contract Boeing was to provide engineering, integration and test, and production support, plus the development of an LSDB Weapon Simulator. According to Boeing, the LSDB can be constructed at a more economical cost compared to the planned Raytheon GBU-53/B SDB II, leveraging the same semi-active laser sensor as the JDAM to effectively target moving and maritime targets. However, Boeing admitted to a capability gap in the ability to engage targets in zero-visibility weather, lacking the
millimeter wave radar of the GBU-53/B SDB II.[45] In 2014, U.S. Special Operations Command began fielding the Laser SDB.[23][46][47]
Australia: Foreign Military Sale of up to 2,950 GBU-39 (SDB 1), and 50 Guided Test Vehicles with GBU-39 (T-1)/B (Inert Fuze) for an est. cost of $386 million was approved in April 2016,[41] with bombs delivered to RAAF in 2019.[48]
Israel: In 2012 Israel purchased munitions from the United States at a total value of $1.879 billion, which included 3,450 GBU-39/B (SDB 1),[49][50] plus 4,100 GBU-39/B purchased in 2015 as part of another munitions purchase.[51][52]
Netherlands: In 2010 the Netherlands purchased 603 GBU-39 (SDB 1) for an estimated cost of $44 million.[38]
Saudi Arabia: In October 2013, Saudi Arabia purchased various munitions from the US, including 1,000 GBU-39 (SDB 1).[54] In Dec 2020 a request to purchase 3,000 GBU-39 (SDB 1) was approved by the US Government.[55][56]
South Korea: In 2013 South Korea made two purchases of the GBU-39, as part of a purchase of weapons for F-15 SE including 542 GBU-39/B[57][58] and weapons for the F-35 aircraft, of another 542 GBU-39/B.[59][60]
Sweden: In 2019, Sweden ordered the GBU-39, to be deployed from the JAS 39 Gripen.[61]
United States: the United States is the major operator of the GBU-39 (SDB 1).
Future operators
Bahrain: In 2019 The Bahraini Government purchased as part of sale of a number of weapons for the
Royal Bahraini Air Force's F16 aircraft fleet 100 GBU-39/B (SDB 1).[64]
Bulgaria: In 2019 Bulgaria agreed to purchase 8 F-16C/D Block 70/72 aircraft with 28 GBU-39 (SDB 1) and other munitions. By 2020 Bulgaria had paid 100% of the $1.673 billion cost, however delivery is not expected until 2026.[65][66] In 2022 Bulgaria was approved to purchase another 8 F-16 C/D Block 70 aircraft, with another 28 GBU-39 (SDB 1), for the same cost.[67]
Morocco: in 2019 Morocco requested to purchase 25 F-16C/D Block 72 aircraft, including 60 GBU-39/B (SDB 1).[68]
NATO: In 2022, a request by NATO to purchase precision Guided Munitions, including 279 GBU-39/B (SDB 1) was approved by the US Government.[69]
Turkey: In 2024, the US approved to sell GBU-39/B to Turkey[71]
United Arab Emirates: In 2013 a requested to purchase 5,000 GBU-39/B (SDB 1) as part of a sale of various munitions was approved.[72] In 2020 request to purchase another 2,500 GBU-39/B (SDB 1) was accepted.[73]
See also
GBU-53/B StormBreaker – Precision guided laser bomb, formerly called Small Diameter Bomb II. US Air Force selected Raytheon over Boeing to develop the SDB II.