RAMALLAH, Nov 7 (KUNA) -- The Israeli Airforce has significantly boosted its precisionstrike capabilities with the recent arrival of the first batch of GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs (SDB) from the United States, Israeli daily reported on Sunday.
The Jerusalem Post said the 250-lb. (113.6-kg.) bomb was developed by Boeing Company as a low-cost weapon capable of high-precision and low-collateral damage strikes. Israel received approval from Congress in late 2008 to buy 1,000 units.
Israel is the first country outside of the United States to receive the weapon.
The IAF has named the new bomb "Sharp Hail". The total cost of the deal was USD 77 million.
The GPS-guided SDB is said to be one of the most accurate bombs in the world. It has the same penetration capabilities as a normal 900-kg. bomb, although it has only 22.7 kg. of explosives.
At just 1.75 meters long, its small size increases the number of bombs an aircraft can carry and the number of targets it can attack in a sortie.
Tests conducted in the US have proven that the bomb can penetrate at least 90 cm. of steel-reinforced concrete.
The GBU-39 can be used in adverse weather and has a standoff range of more than 110 km. due to its pop-out wings. (end) nq.asa KUNA 071157 Nov 10NNNN