Boeing recently delivered the last of 500 Focused Lethality Munitions under its current contract with the Air Force on time and within budget, the company announced Dec. 19. The GBU-39B is a variant of Boeing’s collateral-limiting Small Diameter Bomb that utilizes a carbon fiber, rather than a steel casing, to minimize injury to personnel. “This direct attack FLM team not only delivered to our customer with remarkable efficiency, but also provided an important tool to protect the lives of U.S. and coalition forces around the world,” said company SDB program manager Gary Rodenberg in the release. USAF aircraft have dropped a total of 23 of the 285-pound warheads in combat and have a 100 percent mission success rate, Boeing stated. The folding-fin jam-resistant, GPS guided weapon utilizes the same mounting and interface as SDB, allowing RPAs as well as larger combat aircraft to carry the weapon. (GBU-39B factsheet)
The Air Force displayed all the firepower it has amassed on Okinawa in an unusually diverse show of force this week. IIn a May 6 “Elephant Walk,” Kadena Air Base showcased 24 F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters, eight F-15E Strike Eagles; two U.S. Army Patriot anti-missile batteries near the runway; and…