Credit
SSgt. Lee Schading, USAF · Public domain · Resized · Public domain · Source ↗ · Modified
FORCETALLY
Loading the evidence…
Preparing your view.
Preparing your view.
At a glance
GBU-15larger figure on 2 of 2
GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomblarger figure on 0 of 2
Counts only measures both sources give with the same scope. A larger figure is not a better system.
Measured figures
Length
Single source154 in (3.90 m)[source]
Length
Single sourceConfiguration
| Specification | GBU-15 | GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Precision guided munition (PGM)[source] | Glide bomb[source] |
| Place of origin | United States[source] | United States[source] |
| In service | 1975–present[source] | 2006–present[source] |
| Used by | USAF[source] | United States Israel Italy Netherlands Ukraine Saudi Arabia Australia |
70.8 in (1.80 m)[source]
packed
Single sourcewings extended
Single source5 ft 3.3 in (1.61 m) (wings extended) 7.5 in (190 mm) packed[source]
Operational; Operational range
Single source5 to 15 nmi (9.3 to 27.8 km; 5.8 to 17.3 mi)[source]
Operational; All SDB I variants over when air-dropped
Single sourceOperational; when launched as a part of the GLSDB
Single sourceAll SDB I variants over 60 nmi (69 mi; 111 km) when air-dropped, 150 km (93 mi; 81 nmi) when launched as a part of the GLSDB ,[source]
Warhead weight
Single source2,000 lb (910 kg)[source]
AFX 1209 MBX ("multiphase blast explosive"), composite case Laser SDB (GBU-39B/B)
Single sourceAFX 757 enhanced blast insensitive explosive, penetrating steel case
Single sourceAll SDB I variants total SDB I (GBU-39/B)
Single sourceExplosive fill AFX 757 Insensitive munition certified PBX Penetration: greater than 3 ft (0.91 m) of steel reinforced concrete SDB FLM (GBU-39A/B)
Single sourceAll SDB I variants 206 lb (93 kg) total SDB I (GBU-39/B) Explosive fill: 36 lb (16 kg) AFX 757 Insensitive munition certified PBX Penetration: greater than 3 ft (0.91 m) of steel reinforced concrete SDB FLM (GBU-39A/B) 137 lb (62 kg) AFX 1209 MBX ("multiphase blast explosive"), composite case Laser SDB (GBU-39B/B) 36 lb (16 kg) AFX 757 enhanced blast insensitive explosive, penetrating steel case[source]
Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
| Wars | Operation Wooden Leg Persian Gulf War[source] | War in Afghanistan , Iraq War , Military intervention against ISIL , Syrian Civil War , Russian invasion of Ukraine , Gaza war[source] |
|---|
| Designer | Rockwell International[source] | — |
|---|
| Designed | 1970s[source] | — |
|---|
| Variants | GBU-15(V)1/B GBU-15(V)21/B GBU-15(V)22/B[source] | GBU-39/B GBU-39A/B GBU-39B/B[source] |
|---|
| Guidance system | Manual guidance by radio datalink with TV guidance or Infrared homing with Imaging Infra-red[source] | SDB I (GBU-39/B) SDB FLM (GBU-39A/B) GPS / INS Laser SDB (GBU-39B/B) GPS / INS with terminal semi-active laser guidance[source] |
|---|
| Steering system | Aerodynamic[source] | — |
|---|
| Launch platform | F-4 Phantom II B-52 Stratofortress F-111 Aardvark F-15E Strike Eagle F-16 Fighting Falcon[source] | — |
|---|
| Manufacturer | — | Boeing Integrated Defense Systems[source] |
|---|
| Unit cost | — | US$40,000 (SDB I, FY 2021)[source] |
|---|
| Produced | — | 2005–present[source] |
|---|
| No. built | — | 17,000+[source] |
|---|
| Warhead | — | SDB I (GBU-39/B) penetrating blast fragmentation, penetrating steel nosecone SDB FLM (GBU-39A/B) blast ultra-low fragmentation Laser SDB (GBU-39B/B) penetrating blast fragmentation, w/o steel nosecone[source] |
|---|
| Accuracy | — | SDB I (GBU-39) 3 ft (1 m) CEP[source] |
|---|
| Reported operators | — |
|
|---|