http://www.f-16.net/f-16_forum_viewtopic-t-6491.html
ACC declares IOC for Small Diameter Bomb by Tech. Sgt. Russell Wicke Air Combat Command Public Affairs http://www.acc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123028489 10/5/2006 - LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (ACCNS) -- ACC Commander Gen. Ronald Keys declared initial operational capability for the GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb Oct. 2. The IOC announcement comes six months ahead of schedule, only weeks after it was initially delivered to the warfighter in early September for Air and Space Expeditionary Force 3/4. Boeing, the GBU-39B manufacturer, describes the bomb as "the next generation of low-cost and low-collateral damage precision strike weapons for ... employment from fighters, bombers and unmanned aerial vehicles," on their Web site at <http://www.boeing.com./> http://www.boeing.com. The F-15E Strike Eagle is the only aircraft currently equipped to carry the SDB. However, future potential platforms include the F-16 Fighting Falcon, B-1 Lancer, B-2 Spirit, F-22A Raptor and F-35 Lightening II. The advantages of the SDB are precision capabilities, light weight, small size and increased aircraft payload. The bomb, a mere 250 pounds, has a smaller lethality radius - but its advanced technology makes the small blast a benefit, not a liability. "SDB is a very precise coordinate seeking weapon," said Lt. Col. Mark Pierce, ACC Advanced Weapons Requirements Branch deputy chief. "Because of its precision, it doesn't have to carry a lot of explosive material to achieve weapons effects against the specified target. Therefore ... targets can be serviced without the excessive blast and fragmentation of a larger weapon. The result should be less collateral damage." Furthermore, its small size enables aircraft to carry more weapons, allowing commanders "to service more targets on a single pass." Its mounting carriage, the BRU-61/A, fits four bombs on one weapon pylon. It's also a versatile weapon. The SDB range is more than 50 nautical miles when launched at 40,000 feet at Mach .95. This enables an aircraft to launch SDBs to multiple targets, while beyond the range of many anti-aircraft systems. Additionally, it's an all-weather weapon, effective day or night and can be fired at targets in front of, to the sides, and behind the employing aircraft. It's effective on stationary targets within 1.2 meters. Typical targets include hardened aircraft bunkers, early-warning radar, stationary SCUD missile launcher, stationary artillery and more, said Colonel Pierce. Because of the nature of the Global War on Terror, warfighters need a weapon like this now, according to Colonel Pierce. That demand accelerated efforts to get the SDB to the field as soon as possible. Meeting this need approximately six months ahead of schedule is a feat lauded by the ACC commander. "This milestone is the culmination of outstanding teamwork from the acquisition, industry, and test communities and delivers increased combat capability to the warfighter," said General Keys. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: [email protected] Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
