Poland and the United States have signed an agreement for the supply of precision strike guided bombs, the GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb-I (SDB-I).

The $120 million deal includes the provision of GBU-39/B SDB-I to arm the F-35A fighter bombers currently being acquired by the Siły Powietrzne, the Polish Air Force, and the F-16C/D, which will be upgraded to the Viper standard during their mid-life update (MLU).

The agreement stipulates that the ordered SDB-Is will be delivered by the United States by 2028.

Features of the GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb – I

The GBU-39/B is produced by Boeing; it is a glide type bomb in the 250-pound (113 kg) class capable of accurately striking medium-range targets in all weather conditions, day and night.

Thanks to the relatively small size of the bomb, a fighter is able to carry a larger number of SDB I bombs at a time compared to other types of guided or non-guided ammunition.

The GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb (SDB I) weighs 140 kg, with 90 comprised by the high explosive warhead, and is designed to be carried inside the bays of the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightninig II fighters.

This ammunition can also be used by UCAVs and UASs due to its reduced weight, as well as by main fighter bombers F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16, Tornado, and others, replacing the normal drop load.

The SDB I is equipped with an Inertial Navigation System (INS) with Global Positioning System (GPS) for target navigation and for the laser version, also a semi-active laser sensor (SALH-Semi Active Laser Homing) for the final attack phase.

The target coordinates are loaded into the SDB before release, either on the ground or in the air, by the crew. Once released, the weapon relies on GPS/INS to self-navigate to the desired impact point.

The action radius is about 60 miles, which in the SDB II version become 45 miles and is able to strike moving targets. The SDB I has a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of 1 meter.

Source: Polish Ministry of National Defense

Image credit @Boeing