USAF forces at RAF Lakenheath in Britain will be one of the first bases to receive USAF’s newest and smallest precision guided weapon, the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb. Officials expect to deploy it on the 48th Fighter Wing’s F-15Es beginning in October 2006. The bomb is also slated for use on the F/A-22 and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
The Pentagon on March 30 announced a a $3.8 billion contract modification to buy F135 engines for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter from contractor Pratt & Whitney.