As the saying goes ‘Good things come in small packages’ ,the development of Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) is not only going to increase the weapon carrying capabilities of a Aircraft but will also increase the kill ratio per sortie. SDB where developed by Boeing after it won the contract from the US military.
At just 5.9 feet long and 285 pounds these bombs have a range of 60 Nautical miles. Designed to destroy a mixture of targets, it can penetrate over 1.20 meters of steel reinforced concrete while inflicting minimum collateral damage.
All bombs can be targeted separately or directed to attack a single target, as required. The bombs’ accuracy is achieved with the use of a Differential Global Positioning System (GPS) guidance unit.
There are at present two types of SDB under development the GBU-39 variant is equipped with an INS/GPS guidance system suitable for fixed and stationary targets, whereas the GBU-40 second variant adds a terminal seeker with automatic target recognition capabilities more suitable for moving targets.
It’s a pneumatically operated carriage versus the traditional, explosively operated carriage. After a number of firings, these carriages can cleaned.
The weapon is scheduled to be in the hands of the warfighter for the first time in September 2006. Initial integration of the SDB is with the F-15E. The US Air Force plans to use these weapons with its fleet of F-15E, F/A-22, F-35 and unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAV), F-16 (Block 30/40/50), F-117, A-10, MQ-9, B-1, B-2, and the B-52 bombers. The US Air Force is investing US$1.2 billion for production, with deliveries planned beyond 2015. and Boeing will manufacture more than 24,000 such weapons and 2,000 carriages for the Air Force.
Via: Gizmag , Globalsecurity, Defense-update, Spacewar, Boeing
