Analyst Note:
This image shows the fuzewell in the base of the warhead of a GBU-39 bomb. The innermost cylinder is the electronic fuze, that is kept in place by the closure ring. (ARES)
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GBU-39 series
The GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) is a precision-guided aerial bomb in the 250-pound weight class, developed and predominantly produced in the United States. The GBU-39 has been produced in several variants with differing warhead configurations, most containing 16–17 kg of explosive composition - a relatively small 'payload' for an air-delivered bomb.
The weapon is fitted with a wing assembly that permits longer, flatter ‘gliding’ attack vectors - giving it a range of more than 110 km from the release point. It has four tail-fin control surfaces to adjust the munition’s trajectory in flight in response to GPS and inertial guidance, thus improving precision.
Analyst Note:
This image shows various munitions remnants, including a fuzewell and two nosecone fragments from GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs. The presence of two different nosecones indicates that that these remnants are from at least two distinct munitions. (ARES)
Interactive
GBU-39 Interactive Model
An interactive 3D model explaining key components of the GBU-39 – a common US-made air-delivered bomb
Analyst Note:
As with several other images in the OSMP database, the text on this image was added by a social media user prior to its inclusion herein. Rather than a “rocket” as described in the annotation, this image actually shows an air-delivered bomb. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
In this image, two GBU-39 guided air-delivered bombs can be seen in their shipping containers, with only the nose and the tail actuation section of the munitions clearly visible. Distinctive packaging such as this can sometimes be used as contextual evidence for the presence of specific munitions. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
Labels on munition remnants can provide a host of useful data, including the model designation (in this case, “GBU-39/B”), part number (PN; (“70P998100-1003”), National Stock Number (NSN; “1325-01-526-8728”), serial number (SN; illegible), and Department of Defense Identification Code (DODIC; “EC53”). These codes, and others like them, can often be searched for in databases or provided to technical specialists for further interpretation. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
In this image, two GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs are attached to a BRU-61/A bomb rack. The Ukrainian Air Force adapted this American-designed bomb rack to fit their Soviet-designed Mikoyan MiG-29 fighter aircraft. The BRU-61/A can carry up to four GBU-39 air-delivered bombs. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
This image shows a distinctively shaped component of MBDA’s ‘Diamond Back’ joined tandem wing assembly as fitted to the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb (SDB). (ARES)
Analyst Note:
The remnant pictured here is part of a Small Diameter Bomb actuator assembly (‘Tail Actuation Section’), which moves the four tail-fin control surfaces which alter the course of the munition in flight. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
The circled remnant is the hardened steel nosecone of the GBU-39, which renders the munition capable of penetrating more than 3 feet (approx. 1 metre) of steel-reinforced concrete. It is one of several components that often survives the detonation of the munition. (ARES)
2 Analyst Notes:
This munition is assessed to be one of the Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) I variants (GBU-39 series), rather than one of the SDB II 'StormBreaker' (GBU-53 series) munitions, on the basis of contextual information. 'Small Diameter Bomb' is the manufacturer's terminology, whilst 'GBU-39' is the U.S. Air Force designation (also used by many other operators). (ARES)