F-35A fra RNeAF slipper 8 GBU-39 SDB - Tyler Rogoway video

Sjekk video her: https://tinyurl.com/y3q7a7vs

The GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb is a remarkable weapon. It has greatly extended the magazine depth of fighter aircraft, while also providing them with a voluminous standoff 'fire and forget' precision attack capability. The $39,000 glide bombs can reach as far as 60 miles to their targets, depending on their launch height and speed. This combination of precision, compactness, and range is useful in myriad ways, including taking out multiple targets in a single pass that are situated under an enemy's air defense umbrella.

For stealthy aircraft, in particular, this can allow for the targeting of even advanced threat emitters and other air defense nodes outside the distance in which they can successfully engage the launching aircraft. The F-35 and the F-22 both leverage the GBU-39's unique abilities, as do 4th generation fighters, but for the F-35, which has a larger air-to-ground role than its Raptor stablemate, the SBD really expands the type's tactical flexibility in critical ways. With all of this in mind, testing to make sure the tactics and procedures that support successful SDB delivery actually work is essential, and this is what is depicted in the photo above. 

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The images come from Ian Knight's twitter account. Knight is a pilot flying with the Royal Netherlands Air Force. He posted some images and video from the mass SDB drop test mission, which saw a full load of eight SDBs being dropped out of an RNLAF F-35A's weapons bays and impact a set of targets with great accuracy. Knight mentions that 16 SDBs were launched in the test and a video he posted shows eight being dropped from a USAF Operational Test (OT) tailed F-35A, which was obviously involved, as well. The RNLAF, a partner in the F-35 program, has been deeply involved with the F-35's flight testing and development with aircraft and personnel operating out of Edwards AFB for years.