The Israeli Air Force has debuted a highly accurate -- and U.S.-supplied -- smart bomb in its air campaign over Gaza. Back in September, Israel received congressional authorization to buy up to 1,000 GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs (click here to read the original notification).
According to the Jerusalem Post, the first shipment of the bombs arrived earlier this month. Israeli fighters reportedly employed the bombs to target Qassam rocket launchers during the initial bombardment. They were also used in the bombing of a network of tunnels in Rafah on Sunday.
The Small Diameter Bomb, a 250-pound class weapon, was probably selected for both its bunker-busting capabilities. According to a Boeing factsheet, the GBU-39 is supposed to be able to penetrate 3 feet of steel-reinforced concrete. The smaller warhead is also supposed to reduce the possibility of collateral damage (although you definitely wouldn't want to be in the neighborhood when one goes off).
Employing the GBU-39 also means Israeli aircraft can drop more bombs per sortie. The four-weapon carriage (seen here) means aircraft can typically carry and deliver four of these bombs instead of a single, 2,000-pound bomb.
[PHOTO: U.S. Air Force]
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