The Defence Security Cooperation Agency has notified the US Congress of a possible military sale of the GBU-39 "Bunker Busting" Small Diameter bombs to Israel.
A notification to Congress was made over the weekend by the
Defence Security Agency that Israel wishes to purchase 1,000 "Smart Bombs". The deal, valued at $77 million would be supplied by Boeing Integrated Defense Systems and includes 150 bomb carriage racks, 30 guided test vehicles, assorted spare parts and training support by US instructors to train the Israeli Air Force.
Known as the "Bunker Busting" bomb, the GPS guided
GBU - 39 is said to be one of the most accurate bombs in the world and can be launched from an attacking aircraft in any weather 110 Kms from it's target. This launch range, known as a standoff point, is achieved in part from small wing-lets that pop-out when the bomb is released from an aircraft.
Although extremely accurate, the 113 kilogram bomb has the penetrating capability of a 900 kilogram bomb. Designed for accuracy and to limit damage to anything but it's target, the bomb contains a relatively
small payload of 27.7 kilograms of explosives. Nevertheless, the design of the bomb enables it to penetrate 90 cm of steel re-enforced concrete.
The light weight of the bomb enables more of them to be carried by one individual aircraft.
The Jerusalem Post speculates that this deep penetrating bomb would be an ideal weapon to be used heavily fortified facilities, such as Iran's Nuclear Reactors.
"It is vital to the US national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability. This proposed sale is consistent with those objectives,"
the statement read.
Congress has 30 days from submission to approve or deny the sale.
Israel to purchase more than 1,000 smart bombs from USA
Email
Print
Share
del.icio.us
facebook
newsvine
reddit
stumbleupon
technorati