Israeli air force has armed its Boeing F-15Is with the US manufacturer's small diameter bomb (SDB).

By Arie Egozi

The Israeli air force has armed its Boeing F-15Is with the US manufacturer's small diameter bomb (SDB).
The precision-guided weapon comes in two variants: the 113kg (250lb) GBU-39, which uses inertial navigation and GPS guidance to strike fixed and stationary targets, and the GBU-40. The latter is equipped with a terminal seeker with automatic target recognition capabilities for use against moving targets.

The F-15I is the first Israeli type to field the SDB, with the air force expecting the combination to achieve initial operational capability by mid-2011. The service is currently evaluating whether to also equip its Lockheed Martin F-16s with the weapons.

The SDB's dimensions and accuracy mean combat aircraft can carry more bombs and strike more targets on and individual sortie. Lessons from the war in Lebanon and fighting in the Gaza Strip have prompted the Israeli air force to seek smaller bombs to reduce collateral damage