In the framework of the Air Battle Decisive Munitions, the Portuguese Air Force is procuring the Small Diameter Bomb through the Ammunition Support Partnership. The Portuguese Air Force, via NSPA, requested the Royal Netherlands Air Force for a demonstration to load the weapon on the F-16 to create awareness and prepare for the future delivery. This familiarization event shows the excellent cooperation between member nations of the Air Battled Decisive Munitions (ABDM) and demonstrated the professionalism of the Royal Netherlands Air Force. The Royal Netherlands Air Force welcomes the Portuguese Air Force and NSPA Ammunition Support Partnership.
The GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) is a 250 lb (113 kg) precision-guided glide bomb that is intended to provide aircraft with the ability to carry a higher number of more accurate bombs. Most US Air Force aircraft will be able to carry a pack of four SDBs in place of a single 2,000 lb (907 kg) bomb. The original SDB is equipped with a GPS-aided inertial navigation system to attack fixed/stationary targets such as fuel depots, bunkers, etc. The second variant, Raytheon’s GBU-53/B SDB II, will include a thermal seeker and radar with automatic target recognition features for striking mobile targets such as tanks, vehicles, and mobile command posts.
The small size of the bomb allows a single strike aircraft to carry more of the munitions than is possible using currently available bomb units. The SDB carries approximately 36 lb (16 kg) of AFX-757 high explosive.[13] It has integrated “DiamondBack” type wings which deploy after release, increasing the glide time and therefore the maximum range. Its size and accuracy allow for an effective munition with less collateral damage.[14] Warhead penetration is 3 ft (1 m) of steel reinforced concrete under 3 ft of earth and the fuze has electronic safe and fire (ESAF) cockpit selectable functions, including air burst and delayed options.
The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) is the main logistics and procurement agency of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and is the executive branch of the NATO Support and Procurement Organisation (NSPO), formerly NATO Maintenance and Supply Organization (NAMSO). Until 2012, the tasks were organised with the NATO Supply Agency and other institutions. It has about 1200 employees in Luxembourg, France, Italy and Hungary. On 1 April 2015, organisation and structure of NSPO and NSPA changed. This change marks the expansion of Agency capabilities to include all aspects of systems procurement from initial acquisition throughout sustainment.
