Small Diameter Bomb does well in tests

[Midav]

ST. LOUIS --- A Boeing Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) was successfully launched Tuesday over the Gulf of Mexico Test Range by a U.S. Air Force F-15E aircrew assigned to the 46th Test Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

The 250-pound class, near precision-guided weapon was dropped from 30,000 ft. and accomplished a demanding series of flight maneuvers. The weapon, also identified as the GBU-39, traveled more than 25 miles before hitting the target. This was the third guided launch in just four months and exercised the entire SDB system to include the weapon, a four-bomb carriage, accuracy support, integrated logistics, and the mission planning.

“This flight was another indicator of the outstanding partnership between the Air Force and Boeing on this high-priority program. This is a warm-up for an unprecedented flight test schedule leading to an initial production decision in April 2005,” said Col. Jim McClendon, director of Miniature Munitions, Eglin AFB.

The SDB is currently in a 36-month System Development and Demonstration phase that began in October 2003. Extensive ground and flight-testing is currently underway for the stationary target increment of SDB. In a previous development period, the SDB completed six guided launches and extensive flight and ground testing.

“I am extremely proud of the accomplishments of the SDB Team and the performance of this system,” said Dan Jaspering, Boeing’s Small Diameter Bomb program manager. “We are focused on doing what it takes to provide this critical capability to war fighters as promised in 2006.”

At a compact 71 inches long and 7.5 inches wide, the SDB is the next generation low-cost precision strike weapon. It can be launched from a fighter, bomber or unmanned aircraft and will provide a standoff range of 60 nautical miles. The weapon will be capable of penetrating more than three feet of steel-reinforced concrete. Its small size allows four weapons to be carried on the smart weapon stations used on F-15E, F/A-22, F-35 (Joint Strike Fighter), Joint Unmanned Combat Air System, and almost all other weapons platforms.

Boeing will build an estimated 24,000 weapons and 2,000 carriages over the next 10 years at its production facility in St. Charles, Mo., at an estimated cost of $2.5 billion. Development of the Increment II SDB (GBU-40) is planned to start in 2005.

http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/missiles/sdb/images/dvd-433-07.jpg

[thatguy96]

So this is the practical extension of the 'earthquake bomb'? Its interesting to see them revive the idea of a solid, extremely dense projectile dropped from a high altitude (the original 'eb' was designed to be dropped by a modified SR-71 from the stratosphere). Its amazingly crude, really; the idea is really simplistic. A heavy dart at high speed.

[HumanShield]

Thanks for the info. I drive by the Boeing plant here in St. Louis from time to time, and always wonder what intrument of war they are cooking up in there.

thanks again

[AFACadet]

So this is the practical extension of the 'earthquake bomb'? Its interesting to see them revive the idea of a solid, extremely dense projectile dropped from a high altitude (the original 'eb' was designed to be dropped by a modified SR-71 from the stratosphere). Its amazingly crude, really; the idea is really simplistic. A heavy dart at high speed.

No, it has a normal HE warhead. Any hardening is only for penatration purposes. The combination of more powerful explosives and accuracy allows the SDB to act more like a 500 lbs bomb.

[Midav]

Thanks for the info. I

Welcome! Glad to post this stuff when I find it.

tg96-- As AFAC said, it's HE. The reason why they are going with a 250lbs bomb is because the advent of better and more accurate guidance systems ie GPS. And with the advent of said systems, sometimes a 2000lbs, 1000lbs or even a 500lbs bomb would be "overkill". Also, a 250lbs bomb would be ideal for urban environments, such as Baghdad and Fallujah.

[thatguy96]

It would still appear it has some terminal velocity aspects as the test was conducted by dropping the bomb from an extreme hieght (30,000 ft). I don't know what else it would do to give the thing a 25 mile distance between the release point and target.

[Midav]

If you look at the above pic, you will notice fins on it (in the stored position). As soon as it's released, they pop open and the bomb basically glides to its target. Reason being is to keep the aircraft out of harms way :)

[Luchtmobiel]

The air force has, since 2001, been rapidly upgrading all three of its heavy bombers (B-1, B-2 and B-52) with the latest electronics and bomb racks so that all the current smart bombs can be carried and used. This includes not just JDAM, but also JASSM (AGM-158, the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile). This is a 2,300 pound missile with a 1,000 pound warhead and a range of 350 kilometers. And then there is SDB (Small Diameter Bomb), a 250 pound JDAM which is 70 inches long and 7.5 inches in diameter. With special bomb racks, heavy bombers can carry over 200 SDBs at a time. That means 200 targets can be attacked in one sortie.
Source (http://www.strategypage.com/search.asp?target=d:\inetpub\strategypageroot\dls\docs\2004522a.htm&search=b-52%20jdam)

Imagine that, 200 targets in just one sortie. Imagine just 10 B-52's flying over a city and being able to strike 2.000 (!!) targets, with great precision.