IOC: 2006
Total Production: 24,070
Total Program's Cost: USD$1.5 billion
GBU-39B
Unitary Cost: USD$100,000
Also Known As:
GBU-39, GBU-39/B, SDB, SDB I FLM, SDB Increment I, Small Diameter Bomb
Origin:United States of America
Contractor/s:
Boeing
Description:
The Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) is a precision-guided munition that will enable current and future aircraft to attack more targets in a single mission. The weapon is suitable for fighter aircraft, bombers and unmanned combat aircraft (UCAV).
The SDB will be a 250-pound class bomb with two different guidance system. The fire and forget SDB will be provided with a GPS/INS guidance system, while the direct attack mode SDB will be provided with a different guidance system to attack undetermined and moving targets.
MBDA's Diamond Back range extension wing kit will be responsible for extending SDB range up to 40 nm (70km). The SDB kinetic energy will help SDB to penetrate more than 3 ft (+90 cm) of steel-reinforced concrete. Boeing and MBDA are also teaming to integrate Diamond Back assembly on JDAM bombs.
Beginning in 2006 through 2018 the US Air Force will procure 24,000 SDBs as well as 2,000 carriage systems at an estimated cost of $2.5 billion. The US Air Force is expected to take a decision on SDB production in April 2005.
Boeing was awarded by the US Air Force SDB low rate initial production contract worth $18.5 million on April 22, 2005. This contract called for Boeing to produce 201 SDBs and 35 BRU-61 carriages. The first SDBs were expected to be deployed on the F-15E Strike Eagle later in 2006.
Boeing was awarded a $27 million contract by the US Air Force for the Joint Capability Technology Demonstration (JCTD) of the SDB I Focused Lethality Munition (FLM). This new variant would provide lowered collateral damage through a larger blast effect with very few metal fragments. The warhead of this variant feature multi-phase blast explosive and a composite carbon fiber warhead case developed in conjunction by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the Air Force Research Laboratory. SDB I FLM flight testing will start in August 2007 with the first 50 units to be delivered in January 2008 in support of the Air Force operational assessment. The Air Force plans call for the procurement of 450 FLMs through 2012.
Air Combat Command (ACC) commander declared initial operational capability for the Guided Bomb Unit-39/B Small Diameter Bomb October 2, 2006. The bomb made its combat debut three days later during military operations in Iraq.
Specifications Dimensions: Diameter 190 mm, Length 71 in
United States of America / 24,070 