Small Diameter Bombs Are The Future Of Air Munitions

With their compact size and explosive force, small diameter bombs provide the U.S. Air Force with more bangs for the buck.

Replacing the 2,000 Pound Bomb
Although several versions of small diameter bombs are in development, the most widely used version of the weapon is the "GBU-39" manufactured by the Boeing Company. The GBU-39 is a compact guided bomb that weighs 250 pounds. The GBU-39’s small size allows U.S. military aircraft to carry up to four of the bombs at a time rather than one 2,000 pound bomb.

The GBU-39 small diameter bomb is currently being tested and used on a range of U.S. military aircraft, including the F-16 Flacon, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber, and the A-10 Thunderbolt II.  Small diameter bombs are used to strike fixed targets such as bunkers and buildings, as well as moving vehicles such as tanks and armored personnel carriers.

Penetrating Concrete
The GBU-39 packs an explosive punch despite its compact size. During initial tests, the GBU-39 was found to have the same penetration as a much larger 2,000 pound bomb.
The GBU-39 has successfully penetrated eight foot thick reinforced concrete. The small diameter bomb has been in active duty with the U.S. Air Force since 2006 and been used during military operations in Iraq.

Each GBU-39 small diameter bomb costs $70,000 to purchase. The size of the bombs allows a single aircraft to carry more of the munitions than is possible with larger bombs – giving the U.S. Air Force more bangs for their buck.

Small diameter bombs are widely viewed as the future of air munitions. Several defense companies are developing small diameter bombs, including Lockheed Martin Corp. and the Raytheon Company. Many countries are also beginning to use the smaller-sized bombs, including Israel and Italy.