GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb

For the surface-to-surface variant, see Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb.
GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb
Four SDBs (training/ground handling variant) loaded on an F-15E Strike Eagle
TypeGlide bomb
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service2006–present
Used byUnited States
Israel
Italy
Netherlands
Ukraine
Saudi Arabia[1]
Australia
WarsWar in Afghanistan, Iraq War, Gaza War, Military intervention against ISIL, Syrian Civil War,[2] Russian invasion of Ukraine
Production history
ManufacturerBoeing Integrated Defense Systems
Unit costUS$40,000 (SDB I, FY 2021)[3][4]
Produced2005–present
No. built17,000+[5]
VariantsGBU-39/B
GBU-39A/B
GBU-39B/B
Specifications
Mass285 lb (129 kg)
Length70.8 in (1.80 m)[6]
Width5 ft 3.3 in (1.61 m) (wings extended)
7.5 in (190 mm) packed[7]
WarheadSDB I (GBU-39/B)
penetrating blast fragmentation, penetrating steel nosecone[8]
SDB FLM (GBU-39A/B)
blast ultra low fragmentation[9]
Laser SDB (GBU-39B/B)
penetrating blast fragmentation, w/o steel nosecone[8]
Warhead weightAll 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 certified PBX[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]
Guidance
system
SDB I (GBU-39/B)
SDB FLM (GBU-39A/B)
GPS / INS
Laser SDB (GBU-39B/B)
GPS / INS with terminal semi-active laser guidance
AccuracySDB I (GBU-39)
3 ft (1 m) CEP[13][14][15]

The GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) is a 250-pound (110 kg) precision-guided glide bomb that is intended to allow aircraft to carry a greater number of smaller, more accurate bombs. Most US Air Force aircraft will be able to carry (using the BRU-61/A rack[16]) a pack of four SDBs in place of a single 2,000-pound (910 kg) Mark 84 bomb. 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]

  1. ^ "Saudi Arabia - Various Munitions and Support". Defense Security Cooperation Agency. 15 October 2013. Archived from the original on 2 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Twitter status by @BabakTaghvaee". @BabakTaghvaee. 30 April 2018.
  3. ^ Stone, Mike (28 November 2022). "Exclusive: U.S. weighs sending 100-mile strike weapon to Ukraine". Reuters. Archived from the original on 13 December 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  4. ^ Trevithick, Joseph (18 February 2020). "Here Is What Each Of The Pentagon's Air-Launched Missiles And Bombs Actually Cost". The Drive. Archived from the original on 24 November 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  5. ^ Hoyle, Craig (16 June 2015). "Paris: Boeing, Saab test ground-launched small diameter bomb". FlightGlobal. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021.
  6. ^ a b c "Small Diameter Bomb". Boeing. Archived from the original on 4 December 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB)". Army Technology. 10 June 2021. Archived from the original on 25 October 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  8. ^ a b c "Small Diameter Bomb Increment I (SDB I)" (PDF). Boeing. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 May 2013.
  9. ^ a b "Boeing SDB Focused Lethality Munition" (PDF). Boeing. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 May 2013.
  10. ^ "Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb" (PDF). Boeing. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  11. ^ "Small Diameter Bomb" (PDF). Boeing.
  12. ^ Mehta, Aaron (10 March 2015). "Boeing, Saab Unveil Ground Launched SDB". Defense News. Archived from the original on 19 May 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  13. ^ "Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb". Saab. Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  14. ^ Webber, Peter (2 February 2023). "U.S. is reportedly sending Ukraine HIMARS-fired GLSDB smart bombs capable of grazing Crimea". The Week. Archived from the original on 17 June 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  15. ^ "Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) – GBU – 39". Defense Update. 8 September 2006. Archived from the original on 22 September 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  16. ^ Parsch, Andreas (21 August 2008). "Boeing / Lockheed Martin SDB". Designation-Systems.Net. Archived from the original on 9 June 2023.
  17. ^ "Boeing, Saab Adapt Air Launched Small Bomb for Ground Launch". Boeing. 10 March 2015. Archived from the original on 11 March 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  18. ^ Selinger, Marc (1 November 2022). "Saab expects first contract soon for new GLSDB artillery weapon". Janes. Archived from the original on 24 September 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.