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Science & Technology
New GPS Bomb Can HIt Targets 50 Miles From Aircraft - B1 Load 216 Bombs
2006-10-31
SDB Finally Goes to War
by James Dunnigan
October 30, 2006

The U.S. Air Force has finally got the 250 pound Suddenly Dead Bomb Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) into service. On October 5th, two F-15E fighter bombers used the SDB in Iraq. For security reasons, no information was released on how well the SDB performed. But reports from the troops on the ground will show up shortly.

The SDB was supposed to enter service in 2005, in the wake of the 2004 introduction of the 500 pound JDAM. But there were many technical problems with the SDB. That's because this was not just another "dumb bomb" with a GPS guidance kit attached. The SDB had a more effective warhead design and guidance system. It's shape is more like that of a missile than a bomb (70 inches long, 190 millimeters in diameter), with the guidance system built in. The smaller blast from the SDB will result in fewer civilian casualties when used in an urban area. Friendly troops can be closer to the target when an SDB explodes. While the 500, 1,000 and 2,000 pound bombs have a spectacular effect when they go off, they are often overkill. The troops on the ground would rather have more, smaller, GPS bombs available. This caused the 500 pound JDAM to get developed quickly and put into service.

But what the air force really wants is to equip the B-1 with SDBs, as this bomber could carry as many as 216 of them. The new F-22 and F-35 warplanes are stealthy and normally carry their bombs internally. This limits how many they can carry, but with the SDB, an F-22 can carry eight of them. The Navy F-18 could easily carry 24 SDBs. The SDBs are carried on a special carriage, which holds four of them. The carriage is mounted on a bomber just like a single larger (500, 1,000 or 2,000) pound bomb would be.

The SDB is basically an unpowered missile, which can glide long distances. This makes the SDB even more compact, capable and expensive (about $70,000 each.) JDAM (a guidance kit attached to a dumb bomb) only cost about $26,000. The small wings allow the SDB to glide up to 70-80 kilometers (from high altitude.) SDB also has a hard front end that can punch through several feet of rock or concrete, and a warhead that does more damage than the usual dumb bomb (explosives in a metal casing.) The SDB is thus the next generation of smart bombs. Put eyes on the ground in Wazoo and bomb the crap out of the Hard Boyz from Afghanistan -works for me!

There was never any no point in building a 250 pound dumb bomb, as they would be too inaccurate to be useful. So it made sense to merge the guidance kit and the bomb itself. But the superiority of guided bombs is such that the next generation of heavier (500-2000 pound) smart bombs will probably be like the SDB.


Posted by:GolfBravoUSMC

#13  The more ways we have of killing jihadis, the happier I am. Like others here, I am more concerned about the actual will to use these marvelous little thunderfucks.
Posted by: Zenster   2006-10-31 22:42  

#12  Supposedly the SDB has a 60 nm or more range if dropped from Mach 1.7 and 50-60000 ft.

It's not the JDAMs that is running up the bill, it is supplying, paying, and equipping the 150,000+ troops in Iraq and Kuwait. And precision bombs are a great return when a $25K bombs are used to destroy $200 million power plants, multibillion $ industrial complexes, $100 buildings, $50 million airplanes, etc. But they are misused when chasing down Jihad Jabil with a Hellfire. That's a sure road to bankruptcy.
Posted by: ed   2006-10-31 13:24  

#11  BUUT. there is still a place for cheap, dumb bombs.

Apparently we've got plenty. Don't worry about running out.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2006-10-31 13:16  

#10  I wonder if these are the ones that can be deployed at Mach 1.2? Never hear'em coming.
Posted by: TomAnon   2006-10-31 12:24  

#9  SO: Pentagon now admits to monthly cost of $3 billion.

Seems a little high. Even if you price each JDAM at 100K, that's 30,000 bombs a month. Are we killing 30,000 terrorists a month?
Posted by: Zhang Fei   2006-10-31 12:20  

#8  I still support an atomic carpet bombing of Iran.
Posted by: DarthVader   2006-10-31 11:41  

#7  Strategic weapons are wonderful when a target must be taken out. And, for troops, one of these could be put in a couple hundred yards away if they knew it was coming and had time to cover. BUUT. there is still a place for cheap, dumb bombs. And , once again, it comes back to the will to use them. Terrorizing the enemy stops him. That's why they use terror on our troops. Indiscriminate use of precision weapons when not required is rapidly running up the tab. Pentagon now admits to monthly cost of $3 billion. So, it's probably $5-6 billion/ month. That's real money in anyones mind.
Posted by: SpecOp35   2006-10-31 11:38  

#6  You know, a wing of B-1's with these could really delive a strike. ARCLIGHT with brains.
Posted by: Chuck Simmins   2006-10-31 11:02  

#5  Darth, I'd like to send a lot of these as "gifts" for Christmas!
Posted by: Ptah   2006-10-31 10:40  

#4  I want one for Christmas!
Posted by: DarthVader   2006-10-31 09:55  

#3  But there were many technical problems with the SDB.

Sorry 'bout that, Chief. I was working on it, but have had other things (literally) on My mind this year.
Posted by: Jackal   2006-10-31 08:44  

#2  So what? Wonder weapons are worthless without the will to wield them.
Posted by: Rob Crawford   2006-10-31 08:41  

#1  50 miles, huh? So one could, say. fly 10 miles inside of a border while attacking targets, say, 40 miles on the other. 'just sayin'

Every year, the toys get better.
Posted by: Shaviper Omeque6089   2006-10-31 08:32  

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