Behind the Small Bomb:

Oct. 19, 2006

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

The Air Force sent its first small diameter bomb-equipped warplanes—F-15Es from RAF Lakenheath, England—into action in Southwest Asia earlier this month. Among the people and units making that possible were the munitions experts of the 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron, reports Air Force journalist Maj. Anne Knabe. “It’s exciting to be part of this cutting-edge technology,” said A1C Nahtana Williams, a munitions apprentice.

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

Trending Stories

Air Force Wants to Nearly Double EA-37 Electronic Attack Fleet

T-7 Red Hawk Moves into Production with $219M Contract to Boeing

What the F-47’s Projected Budget Suggests About Its Development

USAF Plans $3 Billion-Plus for Executive Airlift, Air Force One

Related

Iran Campaign Demonstrates Need for More B-21s

May 7, 2026
Operations Midnight Hammer and Epic Fury make this crystal clear: Bombers that can precisely deliver large payloads halfway around the world are crucial assets. Given the small size and advanced age of America’s current bomber inventory, it is time to boost investment in the B-21 Raider to ensure long range strike remains a viable option at scale for the foreseeable future.